Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/KolbertBot 2

The following discussion is an archived debate. Please do not modify it. To request review of this BRFA, please start a new section at WT:BRFA. The result of the discussion was

Approved.

KolbertBot 2

Operator: Jon Kolbert (talk · contribs · SUL · edit count · logs · page moves · block log · rights log · ANI search)

Time filed: 19:43, Tuesday, January 30, 2018 (UTC)

Automatic, Supervised, or Manual: automatic

Programming language(s): Python

Source code available: affected links can be seen here

Function overview: Replacing HTTP links with HTTPS links in template-protected pages, when available

Links to relevant discussions (where appropriate): Wikipedia:Bots/Requests for approval/KolbertBot

Edit period(s): continuous

Estimated number of pages affected: A few hundred thousand

Exclusion compliant (Yes/No): Yes

Already has a bot flag (Yes/No): Yes

Function details: Requesting the template-editor permission to edit protected templates. Previously, I have made edit requests to templates but in most cases the bot will be able to make the appropriate changes, if not the change will be skipped and a manual edit will be needed.

Discussion

Administrator note This was proceduraly denied at WP:PERM. — xaosflux ^Talk 04:57, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Do you expect there to be "A few hundred thousand" protected templates that need changing? — xaosflux ^Talk 04:57, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Xaosflux: Not individual protected templates, no. It's more of an estimate on how many transclusions + modifications to other content pages will be performed in the near future due to increased support/migration to HTTPS. Jon Kolbert (talk) 06:00, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Jon Kolbert: what is your estimate as to the number of protected pages that need to be updated? — xaosflux ^Talk 12:36, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Xaosflux: I'd give a liberal estimate of around 300-400 in the short term. Jon Kolbert (talk) 16:51, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Do you plan on updating scribunto pages with this bot? — xaosflux ^Talk 04:59, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Xaosflux: It's not an enabled namespace, but if desired it can be. I don't have much previous experience with modules and I am not aware if there would need to be any special consoderations for edits in that namespace. Barring any concerns with expanding KolbertBot's scope to that namespace, it can be enabled there as well. Jon Kolbert (talk) 06:00, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not keen on an escalation of rights for something that requires a couple hundred edits or a bot making automatic edits to templates. I would be more comfortable with someone who has the rights currently going through and making the fixes to make sure each one is done correctly. However, if the right is granted, then it should only be temporary. Nihlus 19:41, 31 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Nihlus: Could you list some plausible scenarios where the bot would trip up on a template? We could also compile some test cases to run the bot through to spot any issues. As the bot deals exclusively with external links, running it through on templates shouldn't be a problem. Jon Kolbert (talk) 00:26, 1 February 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Please provide a list of pages that would be altered and I will look. Nihlus 00:33, 1 February 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Nihlus: I've compiled a shortlist of a few edit requests I have put in to make similar changes. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I can make a more current list with unchanged templates tonight if desired. Jon Kolbert (talk) 19:38, 1 February 2018 (UTC)[reply]

A user has requested the attention of a member of the Bot Approvals Group. Once assistance has been rendered, please deactivate this tag by replacing it with {{t|BAG assistance needed}}. Given that there have been no comments for well over a month, and there has been an exemption added to the bot to "skip" over "Template:Did you know nominations/" pages, I think it's OK to add the right to the bot, barring any other concerns. Jon Kolbert (talk) 19:37, 14 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

@Xaosflux: Any concerns regarding this request before attempting a trial? Jon Kolbert (talk) 18:49, 23 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Approved for trial (50 edits). Please provide a link to the relevant contributions and/or diffs when the trial is complete. You have 10 minutes.—CYBERPOWER (Chat) 18:57, 23 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Trial complete. Done, the bot made several changes to templates, most of which were not protected. Some examples of edits made on template-protected pages include Template:Cricketarchive, Template:Open Audio License, and Template:GNF protein box among others. As more and more sites support HTTPS and the list of domains KolbertBot edits expands, being able to edit template-protected templates will be an asset in achieving this task. I do think it would be useful if I were to apply for the TE as well, so I could implement any necessary edits to templates I may come across (such as Special:Diff/832092947) in addition to correcting any errors. Jon Kolbert (talk) 19:50, 24 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Approved.—CYBERPOWER (Chat) 21:03, 24 March 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. To request review of this BRFA, please start a new section at WT:BRFA.