The Basics

Rameses · Senior Member Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 182

Okay. Welcome to the wonderful world of programming and chatter bots. Chatter bots, or bots, are EXTREMELY fun to play around with. The first thing to decide is whether you would like to download a bot template and edit responses, or if you would like to create your very own bot (you can start from scratch, but I recommend that for your first bot, you download a template and alter/add on to it).

Once you have made that descision, you must choose what instant messenger service you want your bot to run on. The two main ones are MSN Messenger and AIM (AOL Instant Messenger). Personally, I find AIM bots more fun, but most people use MSN bots.

Anyway, now you have to download a "computer language" called Perl (although you don't have to use Perl, most people think that it's the easiest and most fun to program bots in). You can download Perl at www.ActiveState.com.

Okay, now its time for you AIM and MSN users to split up. AIM users, follow number one, and MSN users, follow number two. First of all, click "Start", "Run" (for Windows users). Now type in the letters "ppm" and hit the "OK" button.

1. Type "install Net::AIM"
2. Type "install Net::MSN"

I hope I'm right about step number two, lol. I think I am... Anyway, now you are ready to download your bot template.

In the Bot-Depot forums, go to the Downloads section, and click "Bots". If you are using AIM, I suggest RBot, it is a bot that I created, and it is for users who don't want a bot with a ton of commands, but want a few starter ones. If you are going to use an MSN bot, I highly recommend the Andromeda bot, created by our very own Eric (the creator of Bot-Depot).

If you want to learn Perl to program your bot to personalize it, try searching www.google.com for "perl tutorial". Click around, and get ready to have some fun Laughing

.

Be creative! Think of something new and original! If you can't think of anything, keep an eye out for something to spark your imagination. Post ideas on Bot-Depot so we can work with you, help you out, and add on to your ideas! Who knows, you could start a revolution of a new type of bot or command! Very Happy

Also, be sure to give credit where credit is due. If you download a template and add on two commands and change the name, don't go around saying "look at my bot! I made it all on my own!" Not only is that illegal in most places (plagiarism), but it is down-right rude.

Once you are all finished with your bot and you are happy with how it has turned out, you can post it in the "Promote A Bot" section of Bot-Depot, and you can also try www.botwork.com to advertise it.

NOTE: Don't be afraid to ask questions! Think about it for a while, do some checking up on google, search Bot-Depots forums, then post a question (make <*lazy*>sure that your post is in the correct forum)! You can also e-mail me at ramesesofegypt@yahoo.com or send an instant message through AIM to me at RamesesOfEgypt. I'm pretty new with bots myself, but I hope that this short tutorial has helped you out a bit.

Have fun with your bots! Wink

night · Not Yet a God Joined: 06 Jan 2004 Posts: 498

alot 2 swollow, but nicely put Smile

-Mi- · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:08 pm Post subject:

Id also like to add if youre in linux once you've downloaded PERL then to install modules type:
[CODE] Cpan
Install Net::(Aim/Msn/Oscar)
[CODE]

cjguare · Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 48

I got Upto: '' Okay. Welcome ''

No joking! Thats good! thanks !

tibbs629 · Newbie Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 2

when i run ppm it runs it but then in the program thing it says "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/ActiveState/PPM/InstallLocation'no *lazy* 'HKET_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/ActiveState/PPM/InstallLocation' found in registry at C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\TIBBS\ACTIVE\~1.811\PERL\BIN\PPM3.BAT line 29."

:huh: plz help me

tibbs629 · Newbie Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 2

i got the thing to work but when i type install Net::MSN
it says bad command or file name then it says unkown error and terminatates the program
Surprised

draget · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:24 am Post subject:

Please dont revive old threads like this.

PPM gave me the same errors

uninstall perl

delete all files left behind

reboot

reinstall from scratch

btw i reccommend you use MSN.pm (available on this forum, but not through ppm) or at msndev.com I believe its a touch more complete than net::msn

alienz · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject:

He's right, reinstall Perl and that should fix your problems with PPM. Net::MSN is a bit outdated at the moment I believe, but the developer is working on it. Most bots currently use MSN.pm which can be found on this forum.

alienz · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject:

He's right, reinstalling Perl should fix any probs with PPM. As for Net::MSN, its a bit outdated...use MSN.pm, it can be found on this forum.

XTTX · Newbie Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 2

OK. Well I installed Perl. These are the logs.

m1rag3 · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2005 Posts: 1

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=1][COLOR=green]Hey Guys! What's up? I am new to this very interesting and fun forum. I am new to all the bot making stuff and Perl, however, I have some knowledge of other languages like PHP and VB. I have followed the tutorial at wired-bots.com. I have installed Perl and downloaded the template bot. Where it says to put in the username, password and admin screenname, I dont think I am doing it correct.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#BOT'S HANDLE:
$handle = "HANDLE\@DOMAIN.COM";
(Is that the bot username? Should it be like "mybot\@hotmail.com" or just "mybot@hotmail.com"?)

#BOTS PASSWORD:
$password = "PASSWORD";

#ADMIN'S SCREENNAME (for admin-only commands):
$admin = "ADMIN@DOMAIN.COM";
(What should this be? The same username I have as $handle?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have tried all possible combinations but still didnt work. Also, do I have to login he bot into msn brfore running it?

When I followed the instructions at wired-bots.com, and did the command prompt instruction, which I am sure I did correct this is what I am getting on the command screen:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C:\Perl\bin>perl bot.pl
Possible unintended interpolation of @gmail in string at bot.pl line 20.
Name "main::gmail" used only once: possible typo at bot.pl line 20.

Including on_im.pl.. OK!
Including docrypt.pl.. OK!
Including commands.pl.. OK!
Including log_im.pl.. OK!
Including thought.pl.. OK!
(3)TX: VER 0 MSNP2
print() on closed filehandle MSN::LOG at C:/Perl/lib/MSN.pm line 77.
(3)RX: VER 0 0
print() on closed filehandle MSN::LOG at C:/Perl/lib/MSN.pm line 77, line
1.
Use of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at C:/Perl/lib/MSN.pm
line 34, line 1.
(3)TX: INF 1
print() on closed filehandle MSN::LOG at C:/Perl/lib/MSN.pm line 77, line
1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What did I do wrong? Please help me. Thanks! (sorry for the "too extra long"
post.)

Kazuya · Newbie Joined: 03 Apr 2005 Posts: 1

Hi, Im having trouble with pretty much...everything... Im new to this perl and MSn bot stuff and it's not sinking in... May i have a step by step tutorial that explains everything on how to get a bot up and running eith er by using the Andrometa Bot or one from scratch please, Thanks.

HELP US, HELP YOU!