Wanha Project is IRC bot software scripted in Perl that watches channels for URLs. Its purpose is to efficiently monitor and report any URLs that appear in a given IRC chat room.
I recently had the opportunity to try out the wanha project, a combination of Perl-scripts designed to run a bot on IRC channels and a web-interface on an HTTP-server. The bot is a friendly companion that keeps the conversation going, while discretely discouraging users from pasting URLs that have already been shared.
One of the things I appreciated most about wanha is its flexibility. Currently, it uses PostgreSQL as a database for persistent information, and the Pg module as the API. However, it's possible to modify the db.pl file to use any other SQL-database. Additionally, the bot makes use of the Socket module, which is easy to find and install.
Setting up the web-interface is also straightforward, requiring only an HTTP-server that can run external applications. The web-interface relies heavily on the Socket module, however, if desired, it can take advantage of mod_rewrite.pl to create clean and SEO-friendly URLs.
One of the most valuable features of wanha is how it tracks pasted links. Once a URL is added to the database, the bot remembers who shared it first and when. When someone shares the same URL again, the original sharer is awarded a "fame point". Conversely, if someone shares a URL without using the designated "w!" marker, they will receive a "shame point". Using the "w!" marker, on the other hand, will earn the user a "wanha point".
There are a couple of exceptions to these rules. For instance, pasting an unseen URL with the "w!" marker will be categorized as a cheat and the original sharer is free to repost their link as many times as they like without accumulating points.
Overall, I was impressed with the wanha project. Its simple yet effective design helps keep conversations flowing while tracking links in an efficient and user-friendly manner. If you're in need of a bot for IRC channels or a web-interface for tracking links, I highly recommend giving wanha a try.
One of the things I appreciated most about wanha is its flexibility. Currently, it uses PostgreSQL as a database for persistent information, and the Pg module as the API. However, it's possible to modify the db.pl file to use any other SQL-database. Additionally, the bot makes use of the Socket module, which is easy to find and install.
Setting up the web-interface is also straightforward, requiring only an HTTP-server that can run external applications. The web-interface relies heavily on the Socket module, however, if desired, it can take advantage of mod_rewrite.pl to create clean and SEO-friendly URLs.
One of the most valuable features of wanha is how it tracks pasted links. Once a URL is added to the database, the bot remembers who shared it first and when. When someone shares the same URL again, the original sharer is awarded a "fame point". Conversely, if someone shares a URL without using the designated "w!" marker, they will receive a "shame point". Using the "w!" marker, on the other hand, will earn the user a "wanha point".
There are a couple of exceptions to these rules. For instance, pasting an unseen URL with the "w!" marker will be categorized as a cheat and the original sharer is free to repost their link as many times as they like without accumulating points.
Overall, I was impressed with the wanha project. Its simple yet effective design helps keep conversations flowing while tracking links in an efficient and user-friendly manner. If you're in need of a bot for IRC channels or a web-interface for tracking links, I highly recommend giving wanha a try.
What's New
Version 2008-06-06-r207: N/A