Public server status in TeamTalk v5.9

[bear101]

A new feature in TeamTalk v5.9 will be to see the number of users on each public server in the "Connect dialog box". This way people will be able to sort servers according to popularity.

The way the feature works is that every 5 minutes a bot called "User Count" will log on to the public servers and retrieve user statistics. The user statistics are then publish to the server list that is retrieved by clients.

The "User Count" bot will log on and quit immediately once it has retrieved the statistics. If your TeamTalk client is configured to inform about login/logout events then you'll hear this event every 5 minutes. These events can, however, be disabled in preferences.

Another feature that comes with this public server status is that servers that are not possible to log on to are automatically disabled. If a public server is unable for several days the public server will be deleted from the public server list.

[computertech1012]

Wow, awesome feature.
Is there also going to be one for if you publish a private server in the private server section? Is it automatic?
If yes, then as long as the robot can connect, everything will be fine, but, if the robot is unable to reach the server, then, is there some sort of policy in place that it follows, so for example, if there's a server restart, does it automatically delete the server, or does it take a couple of hours before it will delete the server.
Also, how does it affect servers that use the option called user can see users in all channels?
Awesome feature, keep up the good work!

[bear101]

Yes, it will also have a feature for publishing private servers. You publish a server by using the TeamTalk Qt client. A service running on the BearWare.dk website will then check if the server is available and after that enable it.

[computertech1012]

That's really awesome. The only thing I don't like about it, is the fact that it does have to announce it every five minutes, and if we want to disable it, we have to disable all the events in order to disable, which is not a good thing. Other than that, I like this feature. Could you please build a version for testing?
Also, I suggest that you add backup methods, so that if your server account is not able to reach the server, that's some thing else will try to reach the server. I say this because, sometimes people may have problems with their domains, where certain IP address is can't connect, while others can't. So there should be two or three different ways that it will check to see if the server is available, not just one and Villa when I pee. I hope you understand what my idea was.
Also, for the new creation of Servers, I suggest that you add away so that people are not able to create multiple servers and Spam, by creating several different servers, because, I could see that happening. Someone could just open up a lot of servers on a lot of different ports, and just publish them. Also you should make it so that curse words cannot be added to the names of Servers.

[bear101]

You can download the latest test version in GitHub Actions. Note that this version is without audio preprocessing (echo-cancellation, denoising, etc):
Latest Windows build
Windows builds

[valiant8086]

Hi. Yes I'm concerned about the speech this will generate and the sounds. Any way to set it up so this bot doesn't use an account login, just does something else which won't be transparent like this? I don't have any public servers of my own, but I know that if this was a thing it would ensure I would keep mine private, which might not be so bad a thing but.

On 2/26/2022 9:49 AM, computertech1012 wrote: That's really awesome. The only thing I don't like about it, is the fact that it does have to announce it every five minutes, and if we want to disable it, we have to disable all the events in order to disable, which is not a good thing. Other than that, I like this feature. Could you please build a version for testing? Also, I suggest that you add backup methods, so that if your server account is not able to reach the server, that's some thing else will try to reach the server. I say this because, sometimes people may have problems with their domains, where certain IP address is can't connect, while others can't. So there should be two or three different ways that it will check to see if the server is available, not just one and Villa when I pee. I hope you understand what my idea was. Also, for the new creation of Servers, I suggest that you add away so that people are not able to create multiple servers and Spam, by creating several different servers, because, I could see that happening. Someone could just open up a lot of servers on a lot of different ports, and just publish them. Also you should make it so that curse words cannot be added to the names of Servers. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1247 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADZNWQOS75H2U45SPUEWII3U5DR6RANCNFSM5PMHT4BQ>. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

-- cheers: Aaron Spears AKA Valiant8086 - General Partner Valiant Galaxy Associates. "We make *very good audiogames* for the blind comunity"http://valiantGalaxy.com

[computertech1012]

Hi, I would like to point out another security vulnerability that could happen.
I suggest that you add a way to verify the person is a server owner when they go to publish their server on your private list. The reason I'm saying this is because, let's say somebody gives someone else an account on a private server, they could very easily go publish their account details and server details, on the list. This is not a good thing, this could open up security vulnerabilities for private servers. You should make it so that the robot needs to verify that you are an administrator before it go has add the server to the private list.
I don't know how this could be done, but I do think that this is advised, strongly, because many people could abuse this, and they could add someone else a server without permission.

[bear101]

The only way to verify that a person is owner (admin) of a server is to create an administrator account for the service (currently called "User Count") that checks it. I don't think people would want to do that.

[computertech1012]

This is true, but you could also make it so that it only has to sign in once with the account, or make it so that you have to put something in the note field, and then when the bot varifies it, it will leave, and then you can remove the note. I'm saying this because there will now be a chance that someone could put a server on the list without permission.

[computertech1012]

@bear101 What would happen if the User count was band for some time? I asked this because if we have a lot of people, we would like to empeararly disable the UserCount bot from coming in and out beacuse it spams users. Does it authenticate before it reports that it is band? If so, we could use this to disable it, as long as we enable it so that it can refresh itself after a few hours. Is this possible?
Remember, I am just saying to ban it's IP so that it can't spam, but it wouldn't be permanent. It would just be done when there is so much people that they don't want to here it log in and out. Sometimes some people use it to do school work together, and don't want to here it, so during work hours, it could be our way of disabling the bot. But, it could only be done if it can still make sure that the server is active without logging in, or, if it authenticates before reporting that it's band.

[bear101]

If the UserCount-bot cannot login the server will be removed from the list but will reappear once it can log in again. If the UserCount-bot cannot log in for several days then the server will be completely removed.

[computertech1012]

@bear101 That makes sence, however, there were a few public servers in the public server list that did not have User Count, and the servers are still on the list, so the rule does not apply to those, only the private ones, right?

[ahmednaalik51]

Hi,
I like feature to, but I also think that there should be a way to disable such.
If it's true, then you can disable it for public servers at least for a short time when the server is crowded, because many people don't want to here that log in and out all the time, but this is a realy good feature though.
Keep up the great work!

[CoBC]

Hi,
I think the only way to be able to don't hear bot logged in/out is to use a special username for this bot, with a bearware account or a local account, but with a special string in the username, for example something like usercount-bot. But to do that all admins who want to have his server listed have to create this account. I don't see any other idea to be able to filter events relative to the bot...

[computertech1012]

I agree with this, because it also needs to be a way to varify if someone is a server owner if you publish server. Because, as of now, anyone can publish practicly any server, this makes me feel a bit unsecure for my private servers, knowing that if I don't want a server public, it can still be made public because there is no way to varify.
About the string, I like this idea, but, it should be a setting, that people could choose that they wish to know when this bot comes in and out. For me personally, I like to know when the bot logs in.
But I strongly advise you add a way to make server owners varify, there is a lot of security risks involved with not adding such a feature. A private server can be added without permission of the owner, among other things.

[computertech1012]

I still think you could possibly add a feature to disable it for a short time too.

[CoBC]

For bot logs in/out events, yes if it implemented it will be an option.

[ahmednaalik51]

@CoBC For it to have user account, that does not work because he say u have to varify that account work in teamtalk that you publish.
As I said before though I still do think that feature good.
Also, I also worry about the other feature with publishing a server, about people doing it without admin.

[CoBC]

We can maybe imagine the bot to check if the user account used to register the server have admin rights. @bear101 any opinion on this?

[computertech1012]

@bear101 I think htis is a great idea! Would this apply to green list as well or only the private list? Also, can you make it so that only the bot can see this status, but not users? I think this is a good way to ensure that only a owner can do it.

[bear101]

Also the green list (public servers) should put this special string. The users will also be able to see this message on the root-channel (since it's the server name).

[computertech1012]

@bear101 Good, thank you for addressing this. Now the only problem I see is that of the UserBot logging in and out, and that people may want to disable that feature temporarily in a learning envronment, and then enable it again later. That was the reason I recommended the ban idea, especially if it's able to read the server name without a login. This is a great feature, can't wait to see it in action! If we can make it so that it only varifies the account every couple hourse, I see this working, or if it waits a couple of hours before it deletes the server. So if it reports band from server, even if a moderator bans it from mistake, it should wait at least 2 or 3 hours in case someone accedintly bans it or kicks it or something. I can see it happening via bots that people create to kick out people, or if something happens I think instead of removing the server right away, you should make it wait and keep trying at least for 3 or so hours befroe it disable. If after 3 hours it still can't get in because of a ban, then it disable the server. Then after maybe 7 days of not being able to come still, it then removes it completely. This still adds security, but insures that if someone acccidently bans it, and stuff, that it won't be removed right away. It also enable us to be able to disable it for a time, so long as it can at least connect. Yes, of course, the list will then say that the server has 0 users, but people won't mind that as much. I think this would be better, especially that it gives an admin time to notice it got band before it gets disabled. What do you think?

[computertech1012]

@bear101 I also think, for when a server goes down, if it's a server restart, you could spesify it in some way, or if the bot sees it is down, it puts in a catigory on the list currently down, and does the same thing. It tries for at least 2 hours, because I know of people that have had problems with domains, so if the domain is down, for some strange reason, that gives people time to fix it before the server goes away from the list. These are things that I think would be better.

[computertech1012]

@bear101 Sorry about the multiple replies, but I have so many ideas :). Also it is a good thing too, if someone crashes a server, as it's happened in UK server before, it should wait a couple of hours before taking action.

[ahmednaalik51]

Good thinking, but can you also ensure that a private server that is already published cannot be published again, for example, if the server is already existed in the list but it can't be published with another account.

[bear101]

Yes, I can ensure the same IP-address and port number cannot appear twice.

[bear101]

@CoBC I've changed the private server publication so server name must include string #teamtalkpublish# to be published. 1fb8648

[ahmednaalik51]

@bear101 This good.
Question, does the server have to have that text all the time, or only when the server is going to publish, then it's possdible to remove the text?
What about the server now that are on the public list, we need to include now?
Also, I agree with idea that bot should wait at least a few hour before deleting a server.

[bear101]

You only need to put the text until the server has been listed. Then you can remove it again. The list of currently running public server don't need to put the information.

[valiant8086]

Hi. This looks good to me. The other thing is to get clients to be able to ignore speaking or playing sounds for events related to the account the bot uses. Cheers: Aaron Spears, AKA Valiant8086 General Partner at Valiant Galaxy Associates "we make (VERY GOOD AUDIOGAMES) for the blind comunity" http://valiantGalaxy.com

…

On 3/1/2022 1:52 PM, Bjørn Damstedt Rasmussen wrote: To ensure it's only server owners that can publish a servers, I think the best way is to have a special string in the server-name, e.g. "$teamtalkstats$". The server name is visible without logging in, so the "user-count service" can skip the server if this string is not present. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1247 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADZNWQI3ZAM44Q5VKGPM5ATU5ZRQRANCNFSM5PMHT4BQ>. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>. You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[computertech1012]

@bear101 would you be willing to publish the user count program in the repository, so people can contribute, also so it can then be possible for someone to, say, take it and use it to publish how many users are on their server, on their websites?

[computertech1012]

I agree with this. I think it would be useful to find a way, so that it doesn't announce it every time, or, be able to disable it temporary early.

[bear101]

The user-count program is basically this example which does a HTTP request afterwards.

Most of the logic is on my website. I don't plan to publish my website on GitHub.

[beqabeqa473]

to for example display a usercount and some other information on your website, it is as simple as creating a bot even not using library at all, simple tcp sockets and a simple http api which could be fetched for example from javascript client would do a trick.

…

On 3/3/22, Bjørn Damstedt Rasmussen ***@***.***> wrote: The user-count program is basically [this example](https://github.com/BearWare/TeamTalk5/blob/master/Client/ttserverlogpy/main.py) which does a HTTP request afterwards. Most of the logic is on my website. I don't plan to publish my website on GitHub. -- Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: #1247 (reply in thread) You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread. Message ID: ***@***.***>

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[computertech1012]

Hi everyone, I'm noticing two issues. The first issue I noticed, is the sort option is not very accessible when trying to sort the server list. The second thing I'm noticing, is, servers are not getting automatically deleted after you delete the guest account from a server. Also, at the time of this writing, I see two servers, of the same entry in a list. Just thought I'd let you guys know about these issues. Have a nice day!

[bear101]

We'll add a sort option.
Inactive servers will be deleted after 2 hours.

[ahmednaalik51]

IS it actually varifying a server? I ask because there is entry called manny@localhost:10333 in the list if privit servers.
How u add that is imposible.

[bear101]

There was a bug. I fixed it.

[computertech1012]

Feature is working wonderful! On your test server that you created in the UK, are you planning to keep that server alive, because, it's a nice server, and would like to know if it's possible to use? Also, what is the #teamtalkskip# used for? How does it work? According to that server, that robot doesn't login, so as not to enable and disable the robot? If so how do you enable or disable it?

[lbk2907]

Since you already enable the #teamtalkdelete# flag, I think is better for you to remove the server that are already not able to connect anymore. Since this beta version was release, I believe many people including keep testing this stuff. They keep adding and removing server to figure out how it actually work until you add the #teamtalkdelete# flag. Not sure though. This is just my oppinion.

…

On Sun, Mar 6, 2022, 12:18 AM StormProductionsMusic < ***@***.***> wrote: Fully agreed with the web interface. Will be fully appreciated. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1247 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AM64WYSALCDYWCU5AVY3BS3U6OCOBANCNFSM5PMHT4BQ> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Nardol]

I am a little bit lost on these lists.
For private, OK I see, these are server published using the publish private server and for official servers, these are servers from bearware.dk if I understand correctly.
But what about these public servers? How these are published?

[computertech1012]

Hi @Nardol in order to add a server to the public list, you have to have a server from a country that is not already listed, and email [email protected].

[Nardol]

So official servers are these @bear101 runs himself on Bearware servers in different countries and public are only country based and run by volunteers?

[computertech1012]

@Nardol No, only the official servers are ran by bearware.dk, if you ask to add a server in the public list, you still have to run it yourself.

[computertech1012]

I'm so sorry, I miss read your question, now I reread it and understood what you're asking, yes, the official servers are ran by them, and yes, public servers that are in other countries, are ran by other people, so for example if you wanted to host a public server, then you would still have to be hosting it, yes only the official servers run with the company bearware

[StormProductionsMusic]

Will TeamTalk for Android and iOS be able to connect to the private servers from the list? At least for now, I don't see any way to connect to one. Either I'm not doing something right, or the latest beta from Play Store doesn't have this feature yet.

[bear101]

I've just updated iTeamTalk so it's possible to select which servers to show in the server list: 28a6d4a

It will be in the v5.9 build 2

[lbk2907]

I think the latest beta version for Android hasn't push to play store yet. From the change log, the only way that you can access the private server list for now is through TeamTalk default QT client for Windows.

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On Mon, Mar 7, 2022, 6:15 AM StormProductionsMusic ***@***.***> wrote: Will TeamTalk for Android and iOS be able to connect to the private servers from the list? At least for now, I don't see any way to connect to one. Either I'm not doing something right, or the latest beta from Play Store doesn't have this feature yet. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1247 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AM64WYWOA6IED5TIAAIAKS3U6UU6HANCNFSM5PMHT4BQ> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[StormProductionsMusic]

aren't there any ways i could get the latest apk that has not been posted to the play store?

[lbk2907]

Not sure though. I just sign up for beta program and wait for update.

…

On Mon, Mar 7, 2022, 6:45 AM StormProductionsMusic ***@***.***> wrote: aren't there any ways i could get the latest apk that has not been posted to the play store? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1247 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AM64WYQR4Y2OSSEN4R5J33TU6UYO5ANCNFSM5PMHT4BQ> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[computertech1012]

I'm just curious, out of curiosity, what is the PHP file that gets the private servers list? I know where the public one is located, it's in the TeamTalk directories on your website, but I can't find the private one. I was just wondering out of curiosity, for those who might want to look at the people on each server via the web.

[bear101]

See here: https://github.com/BearWare/TeamTalk5/blob/master/Client/iTeamTalk/iTeamTalk/AppInfo.swift#L77

[StormProductionsMusic]

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} -->Hi, Sorry, I asked this but got no response – any way I can get the APK for Android before it gets released to the Play Store so that I can join private servers from my phone dirrectly? Thanks.  From: Bjørn Damstedt RasmussenSent: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 11:39 PMTo: BearWare/TeamTalk5Cc: StormProductionsMusic; CommentSubject: Re: [BearWare/TeamTalk5] Public server status in TeamTalk v5.9 (Discussion #1247) See here: https://github.com/BearWare/TeamTalk5/blob/master/Client/iTeamTalk/iTeamTalk/AppInfo.swift#L77—Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***> 

[computertech1012]

Hi, I was wondering if you could put your private server back up, so people can use it? Also, will you be releasing a version for android, and will it have support for private servers? @bear101

[computertech1012]

Hi @bear101
So, if we put a server in the list, and we get Spam, and we went to temporary disable the server, instead of having to re-publish it again, we could just close our guest account, and then, how long would it take before the robot will delete the server from the list? In this way, we can suspend the server, but, we also need to know how long it's going to take before it's going to be removed from the list, so we don't exceed that limit. It will be disabled after two hours, but what about permanent dilation?

[bear101]

If the 'stats' user is not able to log on for two hours then the server will be disabled from the server list.

If you get spammed then put #teamtalkskip# in your server name. Then your server will remain on the list but with zero users.

[lbk2907]

After use #teamtalkskip# flag, how to return back to the normal state? Are just use #teamtalkpublish# flag?

…

On Fri, Mar 25, 2022, 4:19 AM Bjørn Damstedt Rasmussen < ***@***.***> wrote: If the 'stats' user is not able to log on for two hours then the server will be disabled from the server list. If you get spammed then put #teamtalkskip# in your server them. Then your server will remain on the list but with zero users. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1247 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AM64WYT3GRIRNBNJPX5OK2DVBTE6RANCNFSM5PMHT4BQ> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[bear101]

Just remove #teamtalkskip# and the server will show up again after around 5 minutes.

[lbk2907]

Thanks.

…

On Sat, Mar 26, 2022, 3:53 AM Bjørn Damstedt Rasmussen < ***@***.***> wrote: Just remove #teamtalkskip# and the server will show up again after around 5 minutes. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#1247 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AM64WYW3R2HERSIVIONYCC3VBYKTLANCNFSM5PMHT4BQ> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[ahmednaalik51]

At the time of this write, the privat server list is empty, what is wrong?
Can you fix?

[bear101]

Fixed!

[computertech1012]

Hello all, I have a suggestion.
I am noticing that with the stats user sometimes it takes a little bit longer than five minutes to connect and check for status in the server. I'm wondering if this is due to the fact that there are so many servers that it has to check. I have an idea that you could possibly make it be able to check multiple servers at once, so that it can continue checking every five minutes. The more servers that are added, the more the stats is going to have to check, and therefore the less time it's going to check on a server, and therefore it's not going to be accurate and telling you how many users are connected to each server. For example, at one point it took eight minutes to connect and check again to another server, so, maybe you should add a way to make it be able to connect to multiple at the same time, otherwise, the user count is going to not be accurate.
I noticed that the stats users only able to check one server at a time and then go onto the next one. It's better if it can can check multiple servers at a time as well. This may also make a better judgment of how many people are on the server if you can make it continue coming every five minutes, rather than sometimes coming every six minutes, or sometimes eight minutes, I'll show them times five minutes. Just a suggestion.