A modular Python IRC bot with an assortment of amusing and useful functions. Currently at a rather early stage in development.

$ python bot.py server.example.com "#channel"

The bot will join the specified room with the name "BeardBot".

Note: The bot remembers settings etc. on a per-channel basis, this includes the selection of loaded modules so don't forget to load them!

Send "die" in a PM to the bot. (Note: No security for this at present!)

Module management must be done via private messages to the bot. The following commands are available to facilitate this.

• Load specified module(s).

  modprobe modulename [[modulename] ...]
  

• Unload the specified modules

  rmmod modulename [[modulename] ...]
  

• List available modules.

  lsmod
  

The loaded modules will be remembered on a per-channel basis and the server will attempt to restart them on subsequent runs.

The following modules are shipped with BeardBot (hopefully) ready for use.

The module that provides an interface to load/unload modules. It will eventually have some sort of authentication and other features. See the section on loading/unloading/listing modules above for usage.

Applies corrections made by clients like: *correction Using the most likely word they intended to correct. Only applies corrections if it is 60% certain of the word to be corrected.

Jonathan Heathcote's `beardy' Markov chain generator. It collects messages written by users (and will use logs made by the log module if it is loaded) and produces markov chains which can then be used to generate sentences in the style of the specified user using either 1st order or 2nd order chains. Due to the fact most IM messages are short, 1st order messages are preferable for variety and humour while 2nd order ones tend to be direct quotations disappointingly often. Usage is as follows (where beardbot is the name of the bot in the channel):

• generate a sentence based on the your own messages

  beardbot: what do I sound like?
  

• generate a sentence based on someone else's messages

  beardbot: what does username sound like?
  

• switch to a 2nd order model

  beardbot: grow your beard
  

• switch to a 1st order model

  beardbot: shave your beard
  

Currently experimental help function which uses docstrings. Awaiting further work.

Keeps track of the daily high-score of the number of :D emoticons in one message. Will announce high scores as they occur. Other commands:

• Reset the highscores

  beardbot: we are all sad
  

• Print the leaderboard

  beardbot: who is the happiest of them all?
  

Responds to various classic lines from The End of the World.

Simply corrects users who forget to apply Randal Munroe's translation of hyphens one-word forwards when used in the form adjective-ass noun.

A logging feature. Keeps a log of the channel in an sqlite database and provides access to data to other modules. Also features some querying features:

• Report whether a user said anything matching the regular expression provided. This function automatically appends .* to the start and end of the expression unless you start the regex with a /

  did username say regex.*search
  

• As above but not limited to a particular user.

  who said regex.*search
  

• Prints out the most recently said things on the channel.

  [in a pm] recent messages
  

A spelling-nazi function. It will shout at users who misspell words. Note of warning, this module is bloody annoying. If the spellcheck doesn't know a word that it should you can correct it when it complains by saying:

beardbot: yes I [your choice of expletives here] do

Provides sed-like regex substitution functionality for messages. Simply write a sed-like substitution command in a message and beardbot will apply it to the first of the last five messages that matches the expression. Eg:

s/some(.*)/all \1/

Add the 'g' flag at the end to replace all occurrences.

An acronym decryption module. For occasions when someone uses an obscure acronym which you do not know simply say

wtf is wtf

where the second wtf is your chosen acronym and the module will try to answer your question. This does require you have an acronym file installed on your system which appear to be somewhat uncommon.

Keeps a record of the tone of conversation based on keywords it sees. If the tone of the conversation drops by 50% in one message it will announce the tone of conversation.

• Report the current tone of conversation

  beardbot: what the hell
  

• Disable automatic feedback on large drops (default)

  beardbot: don't judge me
  

• Enable automatic feedback on large drops

  beardbot: tell me if this goes too far
  

Keeps track of the number of times users post xkcd links. Will print out a leaderboard on request:

beardbot: xkcd leader board

Prints out the leaderboard of the number of times users have used xkcd refrences and provided links.

Developed By Jonathan Heathcote with significant architecture contributions and some modules by Tom Nixon and some disturbing contributions by James Sandford

All code GNU GPLv2, no warranties etc. etc.

BeardBot is named after the `Beardy' Markov chain generator which inspired it. Beardy was in turn named in honour of Markov's epic beard.