Site Post » Userscripts and AJAX subrequests · 1:16am Dec 8th, 2013
It's come to my attention that some people have written userscripts for the site that automatically issue additional subrequests via AJAX. Due to the potential for these scripts to create server load issues if large numbers of users use them, you are no longer allowed to advertise or mention scripts which generate AJAX requests without user action, or that generate multiple AJAX requests for a single user action. (A user action is defined as either a click or a keyboard shortcut.)
I would also request that any users using such scripts please disable them, and that anyone who is distributing such scripts on or off site stop. If this continues we may have to implement additional rate controls on various site actions which will impact all users, and we would prefer to not have to tighten restrictions if an alternative can be found.
whats a userscript, and what is an AJAX?
Does AdBlock Plus (I have it off, but to my knowledge it's still *there*) and Ghostly Chrome add-ons use AJAX or whatever it is? I am not good with computers.
A completely reasonable request, badly written scripts of this sort make the site worse for everybody.
make an actual functioning site api, then.
I have no idea what any of that meant, and thus have no idea if I'm running anything that does it.
I'll happily comply, just need a quick question answered? Do you have any specific examples for what you're talking about? I don't write scripts so I'm not familiar with which ones I need to disable that violate what you've described.
1583333
Lack of functionality != right to abuse server resources.
1583333
Bulk API requests are still an issue, this rule still applies. Secondly, there are plans to release an API, but we have no timeframe on that yet.
1583325 No.
1583324 They are both auto pagers that ask pages for information repeatedly
1583345 1583344 You are not running any then
To those who don't understand the technical terms:
Uninstall any addons you have that claim to "fix" 502fiction, as all they do is increase server load and make the site worse for everyone.
Not sure how related....
dertrojanischekrieg.de/bilder3/cinematrix36.jpg
1583376 Not at all
Are these the scripts folks are releasing to change the site background, etc? Or are they something else?
1583349 lack of functionality == the problem
anyway, humans will always look for ways to exploit, it will never change.
1583355 what about the notification count getter? am I prohibited from using it for a periodically updating widget?
1583394
The ability to exploit doesn't make it right. That's why we're outlining it here. Anyone who seriously thinks that not having an API gives them a right to exploit things is both a very irresponsible developer and disrespectful person.
1583411 I am not trying to defend it here, just stating that it will probably always be a problem.
1583421
Hence why I didn't target my point at you, though I was unsure which side you were on.
1583392
The problem scripts are primarily ones that go and download other pages in order to display additional information. I've seen other violations, but this is the one that's easiest for users to identify without looking at the code.
Scripts that only adjust CSS, or that include additional information computed off info already on the page, are fine; however, I've seen a few that combine functionality like that with something that's an issue, so there's no easy way to determine this.
I can't really give specific examples unfortunately, I would suggest asking the script developer if you are unsure.
Reasonable request, and I didn't even understand most of it.
But it was reasonable, nevertheless.
I just want the customization options back, and an interface that isn't clearly optimized for phones/tablets instead of PCs.
1583394
The notification counts actually do have a (limited) API, however the documentation is only available on-request. If you have a specific use-case, PM me about it and I can provide information on it. I should note that we reserve the right to modify how this API works, however. (so don't expect a 100% stable interface... this is one of the reasons it's not documented.)
1583431
Just curious, because I was looking into maybe getting one of the color change scripts, because the current background is harsh on the eyes, even with a dimmed monitor. I saw that you don't have an ETA for the ability to customize that aspect again, but I really hope you plan on bringing that back soon. In the meantime, I guess I'll just continue to visit here sparingly, dim the monitors and squint hard as fuck. Thanks
AJAX spray and wipe...
1583463
If all it's doing is changing the color scheme, I highly doubt it's doing anything that would violate this rule. You can ask the author if you want to be sure, of course.
1583475
Gotcha. Much appreciated. I do like most of the changes y'all have rolled out, so keep up the good work.
1583454 thanks.
1583475
But I guess if those customizing types of scripts aren't the kinds you're talking about then there's nothing for me to get upset about.
1583510
Nope, in fact, I'd encourage users to write cosmetic-only scripts or scripts that provide useful functionality, as long as they don't violate these rules. If it improves the user's experience with using the site (in the user's opinion) and doesn't violate the rules... it's not an issue.
I'm aware that this will affect me in some way as a site user.
Unfortunately, I'm not aware what the majority of what has been said actually means in everyday terms. From what I have to go on in the comments, the people using these scripts are reducing site functionality, I think?
It's times like this where I wish I'd chosen to study computing as opposed to ICT. Either way, can anyone clarify this for me?
This is way over my head in terms of terminology, but would this extend to spidering programs that allow you to download multiple pages within a web site?
1583537
Spidering programs are basically the ultimate example of web-scraping and are disallowed by most websites unless they request at a fairly low rate. For example, for most websites, Google will request a page every few minutes.
So, yes, spiders are disallowed unless they stick to standard long-delay spider rates. I'd say 30s at minimum, preferably 1 minute or more.
Pretty sure I am in the clear as far as using any of these thingys. It seems that any time I try to think about high tech computer terminology and uses. My head starts to hurt, I pee myself, and forget who I am for an hour.
1583560
I primarily deal with behind-the-scenes, including server administration and some of our software development.
I have no
-ing clue what the heck is going on, so I'll assume that I'm not part of the problem.
All because for some reason my group randomly blew up this week. I didn't know there would such a huge following, and as such didn't worry about the 502 Reloader script being used by a few people.
My apologies. I will immediately remove this script and think of a more resource-friendly alternative.
I cheat in computer class, what did I just read?
However, I have no damn idea on how to use userscripts, so I'm cool. 
My solution?
Ban the offenders.
Very simple.
Also, how do I blacklist that "Blocking Ads?" thing? Just need the address.
1583589
Ban me for being a gullible programming newbie? 27 weeks after I published the script I've just removed? Yeah no.
I don´t understood everything that came after that sentence and I don´t even understood 20% of this sentence.
How can I know if I use something with this AJAX-Whatever-userscript-thingie as a total computer neewb?
1583596
Click the adblock icon in your browser, choose "create filter" and click the box.
1583567
And being awesome!
1583531
Is there any way that an exception could be made for scripts which do heavy enough caching?
I'd really like to implement some kind of "hide search results that are on my faves list" script and it seems rather silly to design the script to pop up a notification ordering me to manually browse through my faves list so it can scrape it.
1583567
i.imgur.com/tdXikVj.png
dohoho motherfucker
~The Hat Patrol
1583596 1583636
I think that's only for "AdBlock" under Chrome. "AdBlock Plus" on Firefox or Chrome only has that kind of functionality if you've got the Element Hiding Helper addon as well.
(The relationship between "AdBlock" and "AdBlock Plus" is a little confusing. AdBlock Plus came first but didn't release a Chrome port until the extension API was improved. While they were waiting, someone else wrote a Chrome extension named "AdBlock".)
1583690
You don't need to scrape for that. You can work out if a story is favourited or not from the information on the page already.
I only used the scripts to make the wallpaper a different color. The gray dull background, one hurts my eyes, and two I don't find it pleasing to look at. Is there anyway that I can have a different colored wallpaper without affecting the servers? The gray, at least to me, doesn't really represent what the show is about.
1583324
Userscripts are things that you can add to your browser which customize the sites you're looking at.
AJAX is a way for scripts to grab data from the server without reloading the whole page. (Like what GMail's non-basic UI does when you click on an e-mail)
The problem is that, if a userscript uses AJAX, what looks like just loading one page can actually be loading multiple pages under the hood... which puts unfair strain on the servers.
1583746
That's harmless. If you really want to play it safe, use Stylish (Firefox, Chrome) rather than Greasemonkey or TamperMonkey with a userstyle like this one I just finished converting.
Userstyles can't to AJAX and, as a bonus, you don't have to edit any code to customize the one I linked.