[Semmenial]

I don't know if this should be posted here or in the HF API V2 section, if this is the wrong section please let me know and I will delete this thread and make one in the HF API section.


https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=5663026

Looking at this thread, it seems it was planned to add an ability in the HF API to send PM's/read PM's.

Is this still a work in progress or probably not going to happen?

I think it would be a great addition, especially for Vendors when sending messages about their product. I also think that since I feel like Convo is taking over as the primary method to directly communicate with someone on HF, maybe a Convo WRITE/READ feature would be a GREAT addition.

I personally think that: PM or Convo WRITE Abilities in the API would be a much better feature than PM/Convo Read abilities as it will allow for more user privacy.(Owner of API could potentially read all their messages)

Pros:

• It would be easier for Vendors to send product updates to their clients. Instead of having to use 3rd party applications as a source of getting product updates, customers will get updates straight to their PM box(or potentially their Convo box).
  


• Users could create their own variation of a PM/Convo Notify tool. Allowing users to be able to quickly respond to messages as well.
  


• Would make life a lot easier for people who receive a lot of important PM's/Convo on the daily, to be notified about them.
  

Cons:

• Potential for Abuse(Mass Messaging). But I don't think many users would even think about doing this, since every API request is logged. Maybe even set a limit to how many PM/Convo's you can send per hour.
  


• Owner of the API tool could potentially read all their messages. (Way around this: only allow PM/Convo Write ability as a feature. OR Users can set their own 'encryption key' so that they can decrypt messages. )
  


• Owner of the API tool could potentially send out messages. (Since API requests are logged, user can report the owner of the tool)
  

Thanks, and what do you guys think?

[Euro]

I agree this should exist but for Vendors only

[SIM-4931551]

Bumping to blindly support this movement. Lol.

[Isolate]

I support this as well, vendor property only.

[SIM-4704770]

To improve upon this possibly make it so api can only message open convos and not be the first to message others, as to prevent spam.

[Xerotic]

I agree this should exist but for Vendors only

vendor property only.

Why Vendors only? It isn't even a Market feature.

[Isolate]

Why Vendors only? It isn't even a Market feature.

Honestly this was before I figured out what vendor was (been afk) but still a cool feature nonetheless.

[Euro]

Why Vendors only? It isn't even a Market feature.

Potential for abuse as stated in the OP

[SIM-964740]

Potential for abuse as stated in the OP

It's still not a feature exclusive to the marketplace and such not exclusive to Vendors.

Limiting this feature to Vendors only would neglect the wide range of uses that this feature could employ.

There are other options to prevent abuse but maybe in the API, certain messages could be marked as "marketing" which are governed by a different set of rules?

[Euro]

It's still not a feature exclusive to the marketplace and such not exclusive to Vendors.

Limiting this feature to Vendors only would neglect the wide range of uses that this feature could employ.

There are other options to prevent abuse but maybe in the API, certain messages could be marked as "marketing" which are governed by a different set of rules?

Well this was my only reason for stating what I said, but some sort of set of rules to prevent abuse would be better (e.g. limit to 1 PM per person per day).

[Xerotic]

Well this was my only reason for stating what I said, but some sort of set of rules to prevent abuse would be better (e.g. limit to 1 PM per person per day).

Each person approves access to the API. What abuse?

[Euro]

Each person approves access to the API. What abuse?

Spam primarily.

Then you make it for all upgraded users, not just vendor, if that's your primary concern...

My thoughts at the time, were that vendors are more established than upgraded members and would be less inclined to abuse the API.

Since prevention is the best protection, it's probably best to stop it before it even occurs, by adding a daily rate limit (as opposed to my former suggestion).

[Euro]

So add a feature that many people would love but limit it to a minute fraction of a percentage of the user base because you don't want anyone to use it more than once a day. You may as well be against adding it.

Well I honestly do find some merits to this, even when rate limited, such as informative notifications regarding their products and/or services

I don't see any practical applications for this outside of marketing though, if I'm being completely honest.

I'm sure rate limiting would be better then limiting to Vendors

[Semmenial]

Well I honestly do find some merits to this, even when rate limited, such as informative notifications regarding their products and/or services

I don't see any practical applications for this outside of marketing though, if I'm being completely honest.

I'm sure rate limiting would be better then limiting to Vendors

I do understand that there may be applications of spam.

BUT, most of the time, only freshly joined members are dumb enough to spam. And there's already abilities to make posts with the HF API, and we haven't really seen any cases of spamming due to that.

Only UB3R members can host their own API application.

So you see no practical applications for access to read/write for convos and pms outside of marketing? How about every user including myself who would like a mobile app for convo and pms and whatnot to use them in an optimized way instead of through the HF web version which imo isn't the best on mobile. It can be used way beyond marketing. Open your mind. Think about the endless possibilities. I could have a desktop application for my convos and get desktop notifications for convos when I don't have the tab open. My gosh.

Some other good applications for this.

[Euro]

So you see no practical applications for access to read/write for convos and pms outside of marketing? How about every user including myself who would like a mobile app for convo and pms and whatnot to use them in an optimized way instead of through the HF web version which imo isn't the best on mobile. It can be used way beyond marketing. Open your mind. Think about the endless possibilities. I could have a desktop application for my convos and get desktop notifications for convos when I don't have the tab open. My gosh.

Calm down James, you can clearly see I am in support of this, even if I don't see any other uses for it outside of the marketplace.
You do however, raise a very valid point.

I do understand that there may be applications of spam.

BUT, most of the time, only freshly joined members are dumb enough to spam. And there's already abilities to make posts with the HF API, and we haven't really seen any cases of spamming due to that.

Only UB3R members can host their own API application.

I just don't want to see such a thing (that everyone would find a good thing) to be given and then taken back because one bad egg wants ruins it for everyone.