Vague Scripts

Posted by Jesse Andrews on Dec 25, 2007

I've added the required code to the database, search engine, and user interface to support hiding of scripts, 1632 scripts so far. Also, you can flag a script as vague...

The 1632 scripts were mostly scrap all scripts. I've not gotten them all, but a good start.

Instead of deleting the scripts, since their are people using them (ugh), I've added a unlisted flag (like flickr's "NSIPA" - not shown in public areas), which removes the scripts from browsing, search, and other public areas. If you go to the script by url, or by visiting the owner's page and then view a list of their scripts, it will still be there.

I've also added an option to flag a script as vague. If the summary, description or title aren't useful to understand what the script is, then flagging it as vague will put it in a list for admins to determine if the script should be unlisted.

Features such as searching including unlisted scripts, and only showing unlisted scripts is still to come, but I wanted to make the site semi-useful again.

As always, ideas for how to make the site better are welcome :)

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Dec 25, 2007 pw Scriptwright	"As always, ideas for how to make the site better are welcome :)" But actually doing so isn't? Twice in recent days, you have, no doubt inadvertently (or perhaps thoughtlessly), broken scripts of mine that made the site more useful. And isn't it just appropriate that users make this site more useful? It's so greasemonkey, don't you think? (And you really should avoid censorship, even of the [s]crap. Let us do it. I was doing it 99.9% effectively, until you broke my rejection by author.)

Dec 25, 2007 Jesse Andrews Admin	damned if I do, damned if I don't

Dec 25, 2007 pw Scriptwright	So, over a 1000 users install my script to improve matters, and you're upset by Dink?? Why not remind users what greasemonkey is for? There's a reason I called my suite of scripts "Because it's your userscripts.org"! It's not perfect, and it's not my job to make the site more useful, but if we users are trying to help, why not embrace us, rather than modifying the site to break scripts that actually help?

Dec 25, 2007 Jesse Andrews Admin	Changes in the last 2 days: jesse@lappie:~/code/uso% git-diff --shortstat cddb1c3c41c2cda47aeebb64e7fd85f86d4c51d5 339 files changed, 14865 insertions(+), 1962 deletions(-) Including: lots of changes required for rails 2, the site is now safe from CSRF attacks, pagination and sorting of scripts and users now works, searching improvements, ... The last thing I want to do is censor... Hence all the work to not delete them. Scripts that don't let you know what they do, I don't think help the community. The scrap all users aren't even greasemonkey users. They are using the site to host scripts. They then use little bookmarklet wrappers to load the javascript on the fly. The users uploading them are following instructions written on other orkut users blogs, and know nothing of greasemonkey... Undoing the "censoring" by hiding scripts from the home page/browsing scripts/... can be done via: Script.find(:all).each { \|s\| s.update_attribute :unlisted, false }

Dec 25, 2007 Yansky Scriptwright	Thanks for your work on the site Jesse. It's appreciated. :)

Dec 26, 2007 Nyks Scriptwright	Great. In my opinion its definitely spam, which means, that the scrap-all could be deleted completely. But, as long as me and all other users dont see them, its OK. So long: Thanks!

Dec 26, 2007 pw Scriptwright	I appreciate it too - really! I just viewed the site with my rejected scripts visible, and there was not a single scrap script among them! So thanks for isolating them. Now my filters can work on stuff I"m just not interested in seeing.

Dec 27, 2007 Asrail Scriptwright	Hi Jesse Andrews, Thanks for improving the site with new features! I agree with what you did about the "scrap all" scripts, but I didn't understand why my script is not being showed in public areas too. Thank you!

Dec 27, 2007 Jesse Andrews Admin	Asrail, Sorry about the hiding of yours, it is re-listed!

Dec 27, 2007 sharmard User	I want to publicly thank both Jesse and pw for what they've been doing to improve this site. I really appreciate the work both of you are doing. Thanks.

Dec 30, 2007 Jordon Kalilich Scriptwright	I, too, appreciate the work you guys have been doing to make the site usable again. I've been trying to do my part by reading the RSS feed and flagging questionable scripts. But is it possible to include a script's listed/unlisted status on its page? That would keep people from flagging scripts that have already been made hidden.

Dec 30, 2007 jerone Scriptwright	I like the effort you do, it's really getting outa hand. But how to check if a scrip is hidden?

Jan 1, 2008 ironside User	It looks like after a lull in the amount of "scrap all" scripts being posted, They now seem to be back with a vegance! I don't know what the answer is to this "infestation" but what i do know it can't carry on at it's current stat5te, As us.o is getting unuaseable onece again. The use of rejection scripts are all well and good but they only mask the problem, Which is not the answer, We must find a proper solultion! Maybe a hard line approch is needed here or we are going to drown in the crap!

Jan 4, 2008 Asrail Scriptwright	Hi Jesse Andrews, The English version of my orkut script is not being listed too. (scripts/show/18772) Thanks again & have a great 2008, Asrail

Jan 5, 2008 nungryscpro Scriptwright	I feel that if The scrap all users aren't even greasemonkey users. They are using the site to host scripts. They then use little bookmarklet wrappers to load the javascript on the fly Then us.o isn't obligated to play host to the scripts. There are plenty of sites that provide free hosting that I'm sure can be used instead. There's no need to hide them, delete them.

Jan 5, 2008 Descriptor Scriptwright	Then us.o isn't obligated to play host to the scripts... The server admin could prevent hot-linking of scripts (though I must admit I haven't tested bookmarlets), and thus disable scripts like this. This wouldn't effect update scripts using GM_xmlhttpRequest.

Jan 8, 2008 Rohit Kumbhar Scriptwright	The scrap all scipts are used this way: Pasting "javascript:d=document;c=d.createElement('script');d.body.appendChild(c);c.src='http://userscripts.org/scripts/source/19299.user.js';void(0)" in the browser location bar. Can you disable this hotlinking?

Jan 8, 2008 Descriptor Scriptwright	http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/52119#24731

Jan 8, 2008 ironside User	Would it be possible to give scriptwriters an option when uploading their scripts to us.o, An option to make their scripts either "public" or "private" scripts, So an script can be hidden form public area's, Especially if it is a test script or just for personal user only. A volutary system may not be ideal, But it may help reduce the amout of scripts where conscientous scriptwriters just want to test a script or just wnat it hosting for personal use and don't wish their scripts to be viewed in the public area's.