LibreNS++ 0.1.2 | Secure NationStates++ Alternative

[South Jarvis]

Tada! Version 0.0a4!

Now with puppet switching! (Don't blame me if your data gets stolen; maybe test with a less important puppet!)
Criticism and advice welcome!

That is traditionally, not a wise comment to make. People should never install any extension to their browsers if they aren't 100% sure that it does not facilitate data loss.

I don't foresee any possibility for data loss, however as with any in-development product, I can't guarantee that some overzealous hacker might find a way into the password database of some early adopter. I'll keep the message as a warning until I thoroughly review Greasemonkey and Tampermonkey's handling of data storage (which shouldn't be too long).

[A Colour Out of Space]

Hi, Afforess speaking.

I love that new open source projects are being spun up. That is why open source is so great. My code is licensed MIT, so that means you can do whatever with it, as long as you: give me credit for the bits I wrote, and don't sue me if it blows up your computer.

That is all, good luck and carry on!

[The Leningrad Union]

You should have a way to transfer NS++ puppet data over to the new extension.

Anyways, I'm not going to install this because I'm a loyal NS++ user and I'll only switch over in the event that NS++ stops being developed.

[Hobbesistan]

I'm not sure you've really studied all of what NS++ does, if you're planning on writing a clone that doesn't call back to a third-party server. :\

There are far too many features for me to comprehensively analyse, but I believe that most of the (what I consider) important features of NS++ should be able to be implemented without using a third-party server. For example, NS++ implemented regional newspapers using third-party servers, while I intend to implement them using NationStates dispatches.

-Newspaper requires third party server
-Recruitment either requires third party server or a pesky on-computer app that requires you run it 24/7 to work.
-Regional Map/Designation/Ect/News require third party server

NS++ avoids being a huge addon in that a lot of it just calls for and pulls webpages from the server; you'll need to substitute this into the addon itself.


just whats off my head.

[Ratateague]

I've got some feedback if you're interested. It doesn't seem to be dark-theme compatible. When I posted a message on the rmb and tried to look at it, it did this strange transition where everything turned to grey for a couple seconds, and then finally white on white with some dark boxes scattered.

don't recreate what I did if you value your vision
http://i.imgur.com/POV9zL7.png

[Hobbesistan]

That is traditionally, not a wise comment to make. People should never install any extension to their browsers if they aren't 100% sure that it does not facilitate data loss.

I don't foresee any possibility for data loss, however as with any in-development product, I can't guarantee that some overzealous hacker might find a way into the password database of some early adopter. I'll keep the message as a warning until I thoroughly review Greasemonkey and Tampermonkey's handling of data storage (which shouldn't be too long).

Don't make comments on something if you aren't educated on it.

If a hacker can get into your computer, your local files, and access your puppet passwords, loosing your NS accounts should be the least of your concern.

Example:

Code: Select all

localStorage.getItem("last_puppet_email");

Your passwords and ect are stored on your local machine, not some external server, and, as a result, are as secure as your machine is.

edit: this is entirely presumptous on the assumption that you are using NS++'s puppet script, but either way Greasemonkey should use localStorage, too.

[SquareDisc City]

The best of luck to both these projects. Being mainly forum-side myself I've not felt much need for more than the stock site gives, but each to their own.

[South Jarvis]

I've got some feedback if you're interested. It doesn't seem to be dark-theme compatible. When I posted a message on the rmb and tried to look at it, it did this strange transition where everything turned to grey for a couple seconds, and then finally white on white with some dark boxes scattered.

don't recreate what I did if you value your vision
http://i.imgur.com/POV9zL7.png

That's… interesting. I don't use any themes other than the normal one personally, but I'll have to take a look at that.

Unfortunately, that means I have to recreate it… Wish me luck!

UPDATE: Issue has been fixed in 0.0a5.

[South Jarvis]

Unstable 0.0a6
Changes in this version

• Added custom titles for regional founders and delegates

Instructions
(A user-friendly configuration interface is in the works, but not yet available.)
While the original NationStates++ used a database on the nationstatesplusplus.net website, LibreNS++ uses regional dispatches to store information. When on a region (RMB/WFE) page, LibreNS++ looks through the pinned regional dispatches. (The dispatch can be placed below the third dispatch to make it not visible by default) If the name of a dispatch is ‘LibreNS++’, it will open the dispatch and parse the second paragraph of content as Base64-encoded JSON data. Example JSON data is:

Code: Select all

{
  "titles": {
    "founder": "Overseer",
    "delegate" :"President"
  }
}

The content of the dispatch would thus be:

Code: Select all

This paragraph is ignored. Following empty line is required to start a new paragraph.

ew0KICAidGl0bGVzIjogew0KICAgICJmb3VuZGVyIjogIk92ZXJzZWVyIiwNCiAgICAiZGVsZWdhdGUiIDoiUHJlc2lkZW50Ig0KICB9DQp9

For a working example, see the LibreNSpp Test Region.

[A Colour Out of Space]

I have to say, the idea of using dispatches to store data is ingenious. I like it. The possibility of a totally decentralized extension has significant appeal.

[The Blaatschapen]

Why are you base64 encoding it, rather than just putting the raw json there?

[South Jarvis]

Why are you base64 encoding it, rather than just putting the raw json there?

In case the stored data contains content that might be interpreted as BBCode, or other funky data that would be more difficult to put as text into a dispatch.

[The Blaatschapen]

Why are you base64 encoding it, rather than just putting the raw json there?

In case the stored data contains content that might be interpreted as BBCode.

Ah, gotcha

[Planeia]

Does it tell you when you get telegrams, like NS++ does?

[New Mushroom Kingdom]

I'm not a an of this method. It looks spammy and unlike NS++, does not appear invisible to non-users. To them this is a wasted dispatch covering space. It also could be a form of unblockable advert.

[South Jarvis]

I'm not a an of this method. It looks spammy and unlike NS++, does not appear invisible to non-users. To them this is a wasted dispatch covering space. It also could be a form of unblockable advert.

This is unfortunately true, though I will be sticking with it (unless I can find another way to easily store region-based information in a decentralized manner). I'll see if I can make it look for the relevant dispatch in any slot, so it can be placed below the third pinned dispatch and thus not visible by default.

EDIT: Done! See LibreNSpp Test Region for how it looks.

[A Colour Out of Space]

Another idea, if a bit more cumbersome, would be to check the founder & delegate nation's list of dispatches instead of pinned dispatches. It would require a few more ajax calls to the site, but it would avoid the pinning requirement.

[South Jarvis]

Tada! A user-friend editor for regional settings!

Instructions

1. Create a Dispatch and title it ‘LibreNS++’. The content of the dispatch is irrelevant.
2. On the Dispatch page, go to the bottom right corner and click ‘Edit → as Regional Settings’. You should be presented with a slightly modified editor interface, with fields for ‘Founder Title’, ‘Delegate Title’ and so on.
3. Edit these fields. The ‘Text’ field should automatically update as you type.
4. Save the Dispatch.
5. Pin the Dispatch to your region.
6. Done!

[New Mushroom Kingdom]

You seem to lack confidence.

http://www.nationstates.net/region=demo ... 7#p6958747

[South Jarvis]

You seem to lack confidence.

I do indeed seem to lack confidence. A more obvious example might be the large block of ‘ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY’ text at the bottom of the post.

After looking through my code, and looking into Greasemonkey and Tampermonkey's implementations of local storage, however, I am confident in my implementation and as such have downgraded my ‘there could be serious security issues’ stance that was in place at the time of that comment, to a standard, more moderate ‘be wary around alpha software’ recommendation, and have edited my form post accordingly.

[South Jarvis]

Tada! Regional IRC!

Configured using the regional dispatches method.

[Elessar Telcontar]

Will recruitment be available through this alternative??

[North Jarvis]

Will recruitment be available through this alternative??

I certainly would like to implement recruitment, however there are some other features I'd like to implement before that.

[Islamic Mujahideen]

I got tapermonkey + the link for github but i have no idea how to enable it.
Please help.

[South Jarvis]

I got tapermonkey + the link for github but i have no idea how to enable it.
Please help.

First, make sure you've got ‘Tampermonkey’. I wouldn't trust installing a ‘Tapermonkey’ in my browser. ;​)

You should just be able to (once you've installed Tampermonkey) browse to the GitHub link. Tampermonkey should ask you if you want to install the userscript.