Automatic or Manually Assisted: autonomous
Programming Language(s): Python, Perl
Function Summary: interwiki (see initial request); + update of Template:Popular_articles (see example reference), see also this discussion that made me aware of this bureaucracy. Idea of updating such template is from Wikinews.
Edit period(s) (e.g. Continuous, daily, one time run): continuously (template update: hourly)
Already has a bot flag (Y/N): Y
Function Details: Updates Template:Popular_articles hourly, see also n:Template:Popular_articles (same source/server).
Seems fine to me. Support speedy approval. -- MZMcBride ( talk) 21:58, 10 December 2008 (UTC) reply
While you may not like the bureaucracy, it does help prevent people from running bots to do things that are not supported by the community. For example, without the bureaucracy this recent request would probably have just been run without notice, and much drama would probably have resulted. Sure, it's not perfect, but IMO it's better than nothing. And it's not like there is much bureaucracy, it's just a bit slow to work sometimes. Regarding the block discussed in your linked discussion, blocking unapproved bots is explicitly authorized in the blocking policy.
I note that you replied to the discussion you mentioned at 21:14 UTC, and your bot has edited the template at 22:08 UTC and 23:08 UTC. I do not find that encouraging. Anomie ⚔ 23:58, 10 December 2008 (UTC) reply