From e7598b666ba6c91f69f312d367017caca8f44a8f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Richard van der Hoff Date: Wed, 23 May 2018 11:14:23 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] Some docs about server notices --- docs/server_notices.md | 53 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 53 insertions(+) create mode 100644 docs/server_notices.md diff --git a/docs/server_notices.md b/docs/server_notices.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..a37aed679 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/server_notices.md @@ -0,0 +1,53 @@ +Server Notices +============== + +'Server Notices' are a new feature introduced in Synapse 0.30. They provide a +channel whereby server administrators can send messages to users on the server. + +They are used as part of the communication of Privacy Polices (see +[privacy_policy.md]), however the intention is that they may also find a use +for features such as "Message of the day". + +This is a feature specific to Synapse, but it uses standard Matrix +communication mechanisms, so should work with any Matrix client. + +User experience +--------------- + +When the user is first sent a server notice, they will get an invitation to a +room (typically called 'Server Notices', though this is configurable in +`homeserver.yaml`). They will be **unable to reject** this invitation - +attempts to do so will receive an error. + +Once they accept the invitation, they will see the notice message in the room +history; it will appear to have come from the 'server notices user' (see +below). + +The user is prevented from sending any messages in this room by the power +levels. They also cannot leave it. + +Synapse configuration +--------------------- + +Server notices come from a specific user id on the server. Server +administrators are free to choose the user id - something like `server` is +suggested, meaning the notices will come from +`@server:`. Once the server notices user is configured, that +user id becomes a special, privileged user, so administrators should ensure +that **it is not already allocated**. + +In order to support server notices, it is necessary to add some configuration +to the `homeserver.yaml` file. In particular, you should add a `server_notices` +section, which should look like this: + +```yaml +server_notices: + system_mxid_localpart: server + system_mxid_display_name: "Server Notices" + room_name: "Server Notices" +``` + +The only compulsory setting is `system_mxid_localpart`, which defines the user +id of the server notices user, as above. `system_mxid_display_name` and +`room_name` define the displayname of the system notices user, and of +the notices room, respectively.