Official Everybody Edits Forums

LukeM

Member

From: England

Joined: 2016-06-03

Posts: 3,009

Website

[Guide] Bot tips

This is a list of a few simple things that (IMO) all bots should do, both to make them easier to use, and generally better

▼1. Convert all commands to lowercase

This is probably the simplest and most important tip

Due to the current spam check, which only lets you send commands up to 4 times, sometimes you can no longer use a command, and are forced to spam something else in chat, or wait a long time to use it again

The best way to deal with this is to convert commands to lowercase, because then !command and !Command count towards different spam counts, but do the same thing

This also means that if players try to type commands with capital letters, or with caps lock on, they still work

private void OnMessage(object sender, Message m)
{
    switch (m.Type)
    {
        case "say":
            if (m.GetString(1).StartsWith("!")) {
                string[] arguments = m.GetString(1).Substring(1).ToLower().Split(' ');
                switch (arguments[0]) {
                    case "example":
                        // do something
                        break;
                }
            }
    }
}

▼2. Dont hard-code passwords

Its generally a good idea to get the user to input their password every time they use the bot, this means that your password isnt inside the code, and you have no chance of accidentally uploading it or whatever, as well as meaning that you can use it with a different account without needing to change anything

Console.Write("E-mail: ");
string email = Console.ReadLine();
Console.Write("Password: ");
string password = Console.ReadLine();
Console.Write("World ID: ");
string worldID = Console.ReadLine();

(or you could use textboxes if you are using forms)

▼3. Dont have a save (progress) command

This is one of the most annoying things I find in bots
IMO there is no point having a save command. It means that sometimes players lose progress, forces you to type extra commands, means that if you (or the bot) disconnect then you lose your progress, etc

A much better solution would be to just save progress periodically, when players leave, and / or when something is changed that needs saving
This way you almost never lose progress, and players dont need to be worried about typing a command when they leave

I will add things to this list when / if I think of them. If you can think of any, or if you disagree with any of the above tips, then post below, and if I agree ill change this post too

Tomahawk

Forum Mod

From: UK

Joined: 2015-02-18

Posts: 2,847

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

I disagree with #4, about using only ! for commands. Instead, do this:

public char[] prefixes = { '!', '.', '$' }; //etc.

...

if (prefixes.Contains(chatString[0]))
{
    ...
}

Personally I prefer using a full stop because it's the easiest to type, but it's not for us to dictate which prefix players use, so let them use any of the common ones.

---

One bot to rule them all, one bot to find them. One bot to bring them all... and with this cliché blind them.

Latif

Member

From: The Netherlands

Joined: 2015-03-13

Posts: 1,206

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

I have always done these things in my bots.

Also something else about the converting commands to lowercase: The reason why I use .ToLower() is because of usernames. Most players use the [TAB] button to complete an username in the chat. The username will also be converted to uppercase characters when you press it.

Sometimes EE changes the uppercase characters to lowercase when you send the message. And sometimes it keeps uppercase. So that's a problem for the bot.

Btw you can also just add a space after the command when you get the spam message.

drunkbnu

Formerly HG

Joined: 2017-08-16

Posts: 2,306

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

Or what about requiring the user to send a command via private message? No prefix required, and no spam!

LukeM

Member

From: England

Joined: 2016-06-03

Posts: 3,009

Website

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

I disagree with #4, about using only ! for commands.
Personally I prefer using a full stop because it's the easiest to type, but it's not for us to dictate which prefix players use, so let them use any of the common ones.

I guess youre right about it being easier to type (mostly for people who cant touchtype, as I just sort of do it unconsciously)... Maybe a \ would be the best option then? But I guess that nobody would think to use it (or might get mixed up between the slashes)...

I guess I might remove it later then, or maybe replace it with your suggestion

Tomahawk

Forum Mod

From: UK

Joined: 2015-02-18

Posts: 2,847

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

Or what about requiring the user to send a command via private message? No prefix required, and no spam!

Or implement a full cleverbot where you ask the bot to do something and it'll do it.

"hey bot save the world pls ty"

---

One bot to rule them all, one bot to find them. One bot to bring them all... and with this cliché blind them.

drunkbnu

Formerly HG

Joined: 2017-08-16

Posts: 2,306

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

Or what about requiring the user to send a command via private message? No prefix required, and no spam!

Or implement a full cleverbot where you ask the bot to do something and it'll do it.

"hey bot save the world pls ty"

What's wrong with private messages? You'll not only reduce chat spam, but you won't have spam restrictions when using the command. Plus, you won't need to add any prefix, just the command word.

LukeM

Member

From: England

Joined: 2016-06-03

Posts: 3,009

Website

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

Or what about requiring the user to send a command via private message? No prefix required, and no spam!

This would be the best thing to do if you could pm the bot with only a few button presses, but I think that having to type /pm [bot] and having to know the bots username would be a bit annoying

drunkbnu

Formerly HG

Joined: 2017-08-16

Posts: 2,306

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

Or what about requiring the user to send a command via private message? No prefix required, and no spam!

This would be the best thing to do if you could pm the bot with only a few button presses, but I think that having to type /pm [bot] and having to know the bots username would be a bit annoying

Pressing Backspace lets you directly reply the latest user you PMed or that PMed you.

LukeM

Member

From: England

Joined: 2016-06-03

Posts: 3,009

Website

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

▼destroyer123 wrote

Or what about requiring the user to send a command via private message? No prefix required, and no spam!

This would be the best thing to do if you could pm the bot with only a few button presses, but I think that having to type /pm [bot] and having to know the bots username would be a bit annoying

Pressing Backspace lets you directly reply the latest user you PMed or that PMed you.

I never knew that :O
So much time wasted typing pm and cycling through usernames...

It might still be a bit annoying if you are also PMing someone else though, or if you don't know about the backspace thing (like me)

den3107

Member

From: Netherlands

Joined: 2015-04-24

Posts: 1,025

Re: [Guide] Bot tips

Or what about requiring the user to send a command via private message? No prefix required, and no spam!

Personally feel like it's more annoying on the user side. Generally commands aren't spammed that badly (I mean... max 30 people can be on your world, can't get that bad...).

Aside from that, what if you have a bot running, but at the same time are there in the world yourself too, pming to the bot owner would then constantly give an "unknown command" message.