Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/JabbaTheBot

The following discussion is an archived debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section. The result of the discussion was Approved.

JabbaTheBot

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Operator: I already forgot

Automatic or Manually Assisted: Automatic

Programming Language(s): PHP

Function Summary: Collect link data for additional work such as removing "GET" link variables that contain referral information (amazon.com associate link program), updating stale links and removing linkspam.

Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): Daily

Edit rate requested: Request recommendation

Already has a bot flag (Y/N): N

Function Details: Script is created/maintained and operated on my local server. Currently the bot is set to collect data (no editing) with a sleep function of 5 seconds (avg 10 second cycles) in addition to the data writes to my DB. In addition to being able to pull the plug on the bot locally, I run a packet sniffer so I can read the data exchanges in case the bot goes haywire. I'm currently collecting data so I can create the appropriate sql queries and logic for the link editing and would like the bot to assist in formatting external links such as removal of "GET" variables (amazon.com link program) that may associate the link with an account and to format links as suggested by the community.

Discussion

Is there a problem with this type of spam? --Selket ^Talk 06:58, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

I’ve gathered 25,500 links for amazon.com and it seems the majority have a referral ID with many other links with old formatted dead urls. [1]

Compare the two links:

• http://www.amazon.com/Along-Amazon-Charlie-Bisharat/dp/B00000162P
• http://www.amazon.com/Along-Amazon-Charlie-Bisharat/dp/B00000162P/sr=1-1/qid=1162518423/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9767417-4226536?ie=UTF8&s=music

The one on the bottom contains user browser info (ie=UTF8, etc.) from the person who added the link in addition to possible paid referral ids.-- I already forgot  talk  07:19, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Good idea. Snowolf ^(talk) _CON ^COI - 10:56, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

I think it's an excellent idea. Any referral link spam related to Amazon would be dealt with. Aquatics ^{Guard Alert} 17:29, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

I like the bot's name.--eskimospy (talk • count) 18:47, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Approved for trial. Please provide a link to the relevant contributions and/or diffs when the trial is complete. for up to 100 edits at no more than 5 edits per minute, report back when finished. ST47Talk 15:10, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

Put the bot through its first basic run. Haven't noticed any issues yet... standing by.-- I already forgot  talk  09:57, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

Looks good.  Approved., bot flag approved. ST47Talk 23:00, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.