Hi Everyone,
I have written a new app using the Glitch API that some of you might find interesting.
It's called:
Glitch Academy
The Academy allows a player to create a schedule of classes (a queue of skills) for their glitch to learn. When their glitch is done learning a skill, they are automatically enrolled in the next skill in their queue. If a player chooses, they will receive report cards (emails) when their glitch is enrolled in a new class.
The guts of the app are pretty standard: LAMP setup with a JQuery enhanced interface and AJAX communication to the server. A cron job runs every fifteen minutes to see which registered players are available to learn a new skill and then attempts to enroll them based on their queue. The same job sends emails to the players who enabled them with the appropriate notifications of new skill enrollment or of any problems encountered (i.e. requirements not met such as an achievement).
I created an original script with this same basic functionality for my own toons after I got tired of needing to keep a browser opened to Glitch.com while using the currently popular
greasemonkey skill queuers. From there, I decided to turn it into a full application anyone can use.
To the API Devs:
- Naturally, I used the assets provided to create a smooth transition for Glitch players to this app. If and when you create policies regarding their use, I will modify/remove them as needed.
- The cron job makes a decent amount of API calls. If you get the chance to document (or simply let us know in the forums) the appropriate call rates and whether they are per API key or per player token, I will adjust the program to use them. I also want to take this chance to throw my support behind the request for API calls that accept multiple player tokens at once. Such a feature would reduce the calls of my cron job down to 3 and I bet there are many other developers here in a similar situation. This could help reduce the load on everybody's side.
- Thanks for all the good work!
Peace.
Posted 14 months ago by
Code Dev

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In TOS: Finally, you will not use the Licensee Application for commercial purposes (for example, you receive payment for the Licensee Application or you receive revenue through advertising) without our express, prior written consent. We may charge a licensing or other fee for API access, and in certain cases, we may require a business relationship.
Posted 14 months ago by
Inspirare

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I think that a "Buy Me a Beer" link to show gratitude on an otherwise ad-free no-cost piece of software hardly constitutes a breach of the TOS. If the devs think differently, they can contact me.
Posted 14 months ago by
Code Dev

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Your not forcing anyone to pay for the service. or even offering any benefit for paying. I doubht they will have an issue tbh.
Posted 14 months ago by
Fusspawn

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@Inspirare: By Commercial Purposes, it implies making a profit (well that's what my Mac says). I don't think an odd beer or two is going to make 'Code Dev' a massive profit, nor make him millions ;)
Posted 14 months ago by
GravityGrip

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Seems your email address validation rules are a little strict - my .org address is refused, despite being well-formed and indeed real. Switching the .org for a .com (for testing purposes only) allows it to be saved.
localpart.domain.org and localpart.domain.com are also forbidden. I usually use a local machine part in my mail address.
Posted 14 months ago by
Spong

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Rate Limits, from what ive gathered. You get 3 requests over 3 seconds. more than that incur a delay before responding.
Posted 14 months ago by
Fusspawn

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Not that I am suggesting you have evil intent, but why do you need permission to edit my entire character (including my name!)? Doesn't the API allow a finer level of access? If the API is really this blunt, then I suspect that this is likely to be the source of several "security" incidents in the future, and tiny speck probably want to rethink this...
Posted 14 months ago by
Glumesc

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@Glumesc - I think you are right about the 'bluntness' of the API authorization. There are many developers here who would want a finer security control. But the truth is: we can't do any of the things that the authorization form says. In fact, the API only allows us to create auctions or tell your glitch what to learn.
You can see these commands and all the commands the API can do on the developer site:
http://developer.glitch.com/api/
Truthfully, I think it would be beneficial if Glitch changed the wording of the authorization page until they actually implemented those functions. And as you pointed out, hopefully they will fine-tune the access at the same time.
Posted 14 months ago by
Code Dev

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Hey @Spong, thanks for the catch. My validator should be allowing all email addresses according to the RFC which is actually not very strict.
I could not, however, replicate the error you were experiencing. I tried a handful of .org domains without problem. Would you mind posting the problematic domain?
I should also note that it does a DNS check on the domain name to make sure it's registered and able to be sent mail, so it needs to be a real domain.
Posted 14 months ago by
Code Dev

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Signed up for class and enrolled. I'll find out in ~10h how it works :) GJ Code Dev
For the purposes of discussion... does this sort of app somehow violate the ToS by providing an "in-game advantage" to players who utilize the site and no longer have to interact with the game in order to continue progressing up the skill tree? I'm new to Glitch development, but I know there were some discussions that went out regarding some of the greasemonkey scripts which did this, and another one which would auto-buy from the auction. I'm trying to figure out for my own projects where Tiny Speck is currently "drawing the line" and this one seems pretty close to it based on what I had previously read, which is why I'm hoping for some additional clarification.
Posted 14 months ago by
Chuck Stone

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I haven't seen any comment from staff on this subject beyond stoot's post
here, which was quite some time ago now. (Executive summary, he liked the auction sniping Greasemonkey script, but the jury was out on the skills queuing script. I don't know that the jury has returned a verdict yet.)
Posted 14 months ago by
dopiaza

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I don't believe this is a violation of the automation clause of the ToS; basically, the guideline I am currently using -- unless
specifically instructed otherwise -- is that anything which is possible through the API or on the website is fair game. "In game" advantage would be things such as speed hacking, taxi-botting, auto-mining, and the like. That said, I'm not a lawyer or Tiny Speck, so take that as you will :)
All that aside! Wonderful app, Code Dev! Its simple design which could flow right into the Glitch website is just great, and it functions just perfectly. Keep up the good work. :)
Posted 14 months ago by
rintaun

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Will there be an update to the app now that new skills have been added? :)
Posted 13 months ago by
Alyxandra

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FYI: potionmaking3 is still in the list and able to be added to your course list, but Tiny Speck has removed it from public view again. The PM line only goes to PM2
Posted 13 months ago by
Chuck Stone

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Thanks @Chuck Stone, the list of classes has been updated!
Posted 13 months ago by
Code Dev

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I'd like to make a suggestion! (I hope this app is still being worked on)
A way to arrange the order of skills on the queue would be very nice - Or at least a more obvious way to do it, if the feature is there already. Having to drop and reassign lots of skills just so I can fiddle with those I've chosen earlier is... not fun. :(
Posted 44 days ago by
Rosedrake

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