Botodon

A pretty simple random message bot using Mastodon statuses as source of truth.

• no database: store volatile data in statuses
• easy edit: allows easy edit from web ui or apps.
• community: allows public submit with strict or community driven moderation

Install

Mastodon

• Create an account for this bot. Please mark it as bot in configuration page.
• In settings page, create a new application with read write permission and copy the private key.
• Create a status to store messages (could be private) and copy his id. Called data status after
• Reply to this status to add content. (Removing @acct, to limit self spam)

Botodon

git clone <url> botodon
cd botodon
npm install
cp .env.sample .env

Edit .env at least set INSTANCE=domain.tld, TOKEN={ACCOUNT_PRIVATE_KEY} and DATA_STATUS={STATUS_ID}

Run node index.js with cron.

Enjoy

Options

.env file currently contains all need options but will maybe a day be moved to mastodon statuses.

key	format	description
INSTANCE	Domain name	Mastodon instance domain name
TOKEN	Private key	Bot account application private key
DATA_STATUS	Status id	Messages storage status
VISIBILITY	visibility	Bot message(s) visibility
TARGET	See Target	Define statuses targets
TARGET_STATUSES	Statuses id (comma separated)	Used with some TARGET options
TIMEOUT	milliseconds	API timeout
MODERATION	See Moderation	Define moderation method
MODERATION_LIMIT	int	Used with MODERATION=favourites_count

Note: malformed .env could produce unexpected behaviors

Target

Define statuses targets with TARGET option:

• none: nothing send (default)
• global: single without target
• self: single with self as target
• followers: one to each follower
• replies: use direct replies to TARGET_STATUSES
• replies_deep: use deep replies to TARGET_STATUSES
• replies_smart: same as replies but override VISIBILITY with reply visibility
• favourites: use favourites of TARGET_STATUSES
• favourites_smart: use favourites on TARGET_STATUSES by using tags as options

Favourites Smart

WIP

Moderation

You could let community produce messages by making your data status public or unlisted.

For moderation, simply use MODERATION option:

• none: no check (default)
• self: one your messages
• favourited: bot account need to fav valid messages
• favourites_count: need at least the number of fav defined with MODERATION_LIMIT option

Multiple bots

Add .env.XXX files and run BOT_NAME=XXX node index.js

Notes

Limits

Mastodon context API use an arbitrary limit of 4096 since #7564, it's so the limit were new replies are excluded.

Followers soft limit of 999 (must include pagination) and hard limit of 7500.

TODO

every thing add selection mode multiple target