Difference between revisions of "Bot"

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{{Help|Glossary=*}}
{{Help|Glossary=*}}
A bot is an [[avatar]] which is controlled by a machine, rather than by a human.  
A bot is an [[avatar]] which is controlled by a machine, rather than by a human. This can have various uses, such as to perform group invitations (which isn't possible via [[LSL]]), perform as a non-player character (NPC) in a roleplaying game, as mannequin in a shop etc.


Ever since residents [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_engineering reverse engineered] the [[Second Life]] protocols and released their work to the public, anyone could program a custom client. Therefore, it is possible to write a program to perform automated actions with an avatar. This can have various uses, such as to perform group invitations (which isn't possible via [[LSL]]), performing as a ''non-player-character'' (NPC) in a roleplaying game, as mannequin in a shop, to increasing [[traffic]] by camping, etc. Later the graphical SL viewer was also released as [[Open_Source_Portal|open source]], but it is more common to use the resident-developed libraries for automation.
= History and regulations =


Not all bots are not banned from Second Life, but the software is now subject to the [[Linden Lab Official:Third Party Policy and Viewer Directory FAQ|third party viewer policy]] and bot users are expected to mark their avatars as [[Linden Lab Official:Scripted Agent Status|scripted agents]]. Since the third party viewer policy came into effect, it is a [http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php terms of service] violation to use [[#CopyBot|CopyBot]] and programs like it on the Second Life grid.
Ever since residents [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_engineering reverse engineered] the [[Second Life]] protocols and released their work to the public, anyone could program a custom client. Therefore, it is possible to write a program to perform automated actions with an avatar. Later the graphical SL viewer was also [[Open_Source_Portal|released as open source]], but it is more common to use the resident-developed libraries for automation.


== CopyBot ==
Bots are allowed in Second Life, but client software of any kind is a subject to the [[Linden Lab Official:Third Party Policy and Viewer Directory FAQ|third party viewer policy]].
CopyBot is a program written with [http://www.libsecondlife.org/ libsecondlife] (not affiliated with or distributed by the libsecondlife team) that connects to Second Life which allows users to make copies of objects without the permission of their creators.
* CopyBot does not need permissions to copy an object.  The copier does not even need to own the object.
* CopyBot cannot copy [[scripts]].
* CopyBot can only copy objects it can directly see.  It cannot enter a shop and copy all of the products because all it can see is the vendors.  In other words, CopyBot can't copy contents of prims.
* CopyBot is not an object in Second Life, nor a script.  It is a program which a person runs on their computer instead of running the regular Second Life viewer.  It logs in as an avatar.
* Using CopyBot or any other software to make copies of avatars, objects, or textures that you do not own without the permission of the creator is a breach of the Second Life Terms of Service and will result in being banned.
* If an object of yours is copied, you can [http://secondlife.com/corporate/dmca.php file a DMCA notice] against the copier. You can also file an [[abuse report]] about the use of a noncompliant client, but this ''is not'' an effective replacement for a DMCA notice.
* Help or Mentors will not tell you where to get the CopyBot.
* CopyBot and other clients that work like it have been banned from SL, unless they have been programmed to restrict themselves to copying only the user's own creations. The use of programs that can copy other residents' creations is a violation, even if you do not use that ability.
* The '''CopyBot Defeater''' tries to get rid of CopyBots by sending the message "!quit" over and over again to everyone in range. This did work for a few hours as the original CopyBot would interpret it as a command to quit, '''''but CopyBot was quickly patched to ignore it'''''. These objects only serve a historical purpose now and '''do not have any real effect except to annoy everyone'''.


=== How can I stop the messages from CopyBot Defeater ? ===
= Second Life bot setup =


# Go to your chat history window by click on the "Communication" at bottom left corner of your interface.
Second Life bot account can be created in the same way as a human-controlled avatar. The only requirement is to mark the bot's account as a [[Linden Lab Official:Scripted Agent Status|scripted agent]].
# Open "Local Chat" tab at the bottom, and click [<<] button at upper right corner.
# Scroll through the list of names and find the one called copybot and click on it then check "Mute Text" below. NOTE: There may be more than one bot so you might have to do this several times to stop them all.


'''Attention''': Doing this can in most cases mute the owner of the land you muted the copybot defeater in so if you can't hear the owner of the land you might want to temporarily unmute the copybot defeater.
Bot is being controlled by a program, and owner has to choose it from available alternatives. Program can run on user's PC or be hosted at [[Second Life bot software comparison|Second Life bot hosting]]. With hosted bot it's not necessary to have PC running 24 hours per day.


If it still doesn't stop after this you should contact the owner of the object and point them to this page, explaining that their script does not have any functional purpose. As a last resort you can file a Help Request to attempt to mediate the issue. If you are familiar with libsecondlife programming, there is source code for a program available at http://libsecondlife.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/IMResponder/ to log a bot in that automatically responds to !quit messages from objects and informs the owner of the issue and where the object is located.
= Usage =
 
The Second Life bot account can be used in various ways, allowing to add user interaction, roleplaying and automation to Second Life project or location. The most common usage of SL bots includes (but not limited to):
 
== Allowed usage ==
 
* [[Group Inviter|Direct group inviters]] - to effectively invite other residents to Second Life group (included closed and paid groups)
* Automatic group management - group chat translator, automatic antispam monitor, remote (web based) group chat access tool
* Mannequin (model bot), catwalk models
* Roleplaying NPC (non-player characters) for gaming and interactive areas
* In-world office greeter and/or autoresponder
* Security bot - as automatic sim manager to detect and ban greefers, spammers and abusers
 
== Forbidden usage ==
 
According to Linden Lab Terms of Service usage of scripted agents is forbidden for:
 
* increasing the parcel [[traffic]] by camping ("gaming" traffic);
* stealing an in-world content; violate the copyright (see [[CopyBot]] for details)
* performing any other activity prohibited by TOS.
 
See [[Linden Lab Official:Inworld policy on bots]] for more details.


== Related Topics ==
== Related Topics ==
*[[What is a bot|What is a bot?]]
 
*[[User:Crone Dryke]]
* [[Second Life bot software comparison]]
*Blog Posts:
* Service providers:
**[http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/land/blog/2009/03/26/much-ado-about-bots SL Blog: Much Ado About Bots] - Discussion of whether or not certain bots should be banned
** [http://www.smartbots2life.com SmartBots - Second Life bot hosting]
**[http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/land/blog/2009/04/23/conclusion-to-the-blog-post-on-bots Conclusion to the Blog Post on Bots] - Conclusion that camping bots will be banned, land bots are fine (for now)
* Linden Lab Official:
* CopyBot:
**[[Linden_Lab_Official:About CopyBot, similar tools, and the Terms of Service|About CopyBot, similar tools, and the Terms of Service]]
** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CopyBot
** [[Trademarks and Copyright in Second Life]]
** [[Trademarks and Copyright in Second Life]]
** [[Linden Lab Policies]]
** [[Linden Lab Policies]]
* Discussions:
** [http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/land/blog/2009/03/26/much-ado-about-bots SL Blog: Much Ado About Bots] - Discussion of whether or not certain bots should be banned
** [http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/land/blog/2009/04/23/conclusion-to-the-blog-post-on-bots Conclusion to the Blog Post on Bots] - Conclusion that camping bots will be banned, land bots are fine (for now)
[[Category: SL Bots]]

Latest revision as of 18:05, 16 November 2011

A bot is an avatar which is controlled by a machine, rather than by a human. This can have various uses, such as to perform group invitations (which isn't possible via LSL), perform as a non-player character (NPC) in a roleplaying game, as mannequin in a shop etc.

History and regulations

Ever since residents reverse engineered the Second Life protocols and released their work to the public, anyone could program a custom client. Therefore, it is possible to write a program to perform automated actions with an avatar. Later the graphical SL viewer was also released as open source, but it is more common to use the resident-developed libraries for automation.

Bots are allowed in Second Life, but client software of any kind is a subject to the third party viewer policy.

Second Life bot setup

Second Life bot account can be created in the same way as a human-controlled avatar. The only requirement is to mark the bot's account as a scripted agent.

Bot is being controlled by a program, and owner has to choose it from available alternatives. Program can run on user's PC or be hosted at Second Life bot hosting. With hosted bot it's not necessary to have PC running 24 hours per day.

Usage

The Second Life bot account can be used in various ways, allowing to add user interaction, roleplaying and automation to Second Life project or location. The most common usage of SL bots includes (but not limited to):

Allowed usage

  • Direct group inviters - to effectively invite other residents to Second Life group (included closed and paid groups)
  • Automatic group management - group chat translator, automatic antispam monitor, remote (web based) group chat access tool
  • Mannequin (model bot), catwalk models
  • Roleplaying NPC (non-player characters) for gaming and interactive areas
  • In-world office greeter and/or autoresponder
  • Security bot - as automatic sim manager to detect and ban greefers, spammers and abusers

Forbidden usage

According to Linden Lab Terms of Service usage of scripted agents is forbidden for:

  • increasing the parcel traffic by camping ("gaming" traffic);
  • stealing an in-world content; violate the copyright (see CopyBot for details)
  • performing any other activity prohibited by TOS.

See Linden Lab Official:Inworld policy on bots for more details.

Related Topics

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