pmxbot-glossary

Glossary extension for pmxbot.

Commands

Get a definition

!whatis carrot

Add a definition

!set carrot: An orange rod

Update a definition

Same as adding one:

!set carrot: An orange vegetable. For more, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot

This creates a new definition without overwriting the old one.

Get an older definition

!whatis carrot: 1

This returns the first definition. !whatis carrot: 2 would return the second, and so on.

Get a random definition

!whatis

Redirect an entry to another

redirect burger: hamburger

Remove a redirect

unredirect burger

Find out who wrote something

!whowrote hamburger

Why?

This extension is an effort to test the following hypothesis:

Maintaining definitions of domain lingo via a chat bot is the best way to keep those definitions up to date and readily accessible (assuming the group uses some form of internet chat).

This may be the case because:

• It allows painless updating of the definitions (no pull requests, etc.).
• It allows painless retrieval of the definitions.
• It provides a single entry point to docs that are spread among a number of sources (assuming you provide links).
• It enables somewhat automatic review of definitions as they are added or retrieved.
• It creates "accidental" education: you'll learn stuff just sitting in a channel and seeing the definitions scroll by.
• It keeps the definitions in front of the eyes of the domain experts, maximizing the chances they will spot an obsolete, misguided, or missing entry.