Creating a User Account via link or Registration Form

[jonathanroz]

Here is what I would love to be able to do.

1) End users clicks on a URL that we are adding to subsonic. Something like http://..../music/activate.view?ID=myid&PW=mypw

The last portion of the URL passes the ID and PW of the user to be created to the java code being added to subsonic.

2) The Java code "gets" the variable information from the URL and passes it to the code in subsonic to create a new user.

I understand there are other variables required for Subsonic to create a new user other then Username, Password and Confirm Password (the last 2 in this case would be the same value)

For the Streaming role I would like the Boolean to be = true and for the Upload role I would like the Boolean to be = true. I believe everything else defaults to False and that is fine with me.

When they click on the link the user gets a message saying "Your Music ID has been activated. Click here to close this screen -->"

Any takers? I think this would be fairly "simple" to do but I have spent many hours looking through the code as a non-java guy and I can't figure out how to do this myself. I understand the new JSP page would need to be added in subsonic-servlet file as well. I also understand I will need to set the security for the new page to allow anonymous connections but that isn't too tough.

Why do this

I honestly think this could be used by many people in similar situations. I run a music forum already on phpbb (although I think this code could be reused for other forums and apps as well).

Today I can have someone sign up for the Forum and send them their ID and PW. Of course if I also want to give them access to subsonic I have to manually create their ID and Password. This means that people either have to tell me what pw they used for the forum (I dont want that info) or they will have a pw that does not match the one for the forum.

What I can do though is add a link at the bottom of their forum activation email that says "To activate your music ID click here http://..../music/activate.view?ID=myid&PW=mypw".

This same code could be used for anybody who already runs a site that requires user registration. If they can modify the emails sent from their system they could add this link.

[sindre_mehus]

Hi,

I would like to put this in the slightly wider context of user self registration. What if Subsonic could support several different ways of creating new users:

1. New users are manually created by admin. (Implemented)
2. New users are automatically created when using an external LDAP server for authentication. (Implemented)
3. Users must register login, password and email. Activation link sent automatically by email. Same as Facebook and many others. (Not implemented)
4. Same as 3, but admin must approve the registration request before activation email is sent. (Not implemented)

What you suggest, Jonathan, is a special case of 3, in which the user details is provided directly in the URL, rather than being typed into a form.

Of course 2, 3 and 4 will be optional and disabled by default.

What do people think about this? Is it something many will use? Is it worth the time it takes to implement it?

[deriksen]

I think quite a lot of people might use the functionality and find it useful, however I'm concerned about legality issues by making the software expand beyond a 'small private group' of people.

Could the developer(s) be held responsible for making available large file-sharing networks? Not sure about the specifics here. Anyone?

[jonathanroz]

Sindre,

You know I believe this would be very useful. I know there have been others that have requested to have a user registration form so if you could use that same form to pass user and password that would be great as well.

When it comes to questions of legality there are many applications that allow for file sharing. The developer cannot be held responsible for what people choose to do with it. There is already the ability to allow guest access and in reality a named account allows better tracking then using guest access.

In my instance I do not have downloading turned on for any users and I make users agree to legal terms about not posting illegally obtained music or trying to capture music that is being streamed from my site when signing up on the user forum. They have to agree to this before I approve their ID and setup their account.

Of course as you stated if someone doesn't want to use this new functino in Subsonic they can just choose to not utilize it.

Edit Modified the subject to fit the topic better

[jonathanroz]

Anyone else interested in what Sindre is suggesting?

[nublet]

yes very much so interested

[primary]

That is a very cool feature to implement.
So realy would like to see that.

[twent4]

big +1 to Sindre's option 4

[jigsaw]

big +1 to Sindre's option 4

agreed

[brumisko]

Hello,

It could be a very nice new feature !!!

Regards.

Brumisko
________

[jjjedwards]

I'd love to see a "controlled" self registration page.

[woohah]

I would LOVE to have a user registration added to this awesome application. Any time frame as to when it will be implemented?

[jjeffries]

While my music is all on my internal network, I hate having to set up accounts for friends who come over, I would love to see a registration and approval (if set) process

[kroken]

+1

[Aethies]

+1

+1 for me..