Simple Machines Community Forum

SMF Development => Feature Requests => Topic started by: player.samp on July 05, 2014, 12:22:15 PM

Title: More logging features
Post by: player.samp on July 05, 2014, 12:22:15 PM
Hello.

I think that making a logs for editing a membergroup's permissions (like there is a log for editing membergroup) must be added to the administration log as soon as possible.

In forums with many admins, it is very easy to ****** up the forum by changing the permission and it would be good if there could be a way to find it in the administration log (if it's not found there after the feature has been added then it was probably removed via the database so it will decrease the amount of people, no?), or is there a way to find it?
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: Kindred on July 09, 2014, 10:14:16 PM
Or maybe rather, you don't hand out admin permissions quite so freely?

I have run a forum for over 10 years now and have never needed this sort of tracking.
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: kat on July 10, 2014, 05:22:09 AM
The problem is, you have to draw the line, somewhere. The more things get logged, the slower and slower the site'll run, one would assume.

As Kindred said, the more admins there are, the bigger the chance of a visit by Mr. Fukkup... ;)
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: radu81 on July 10, 2014, 05:36:25 AM
OT: I don't think it's a good idea give admin privileges to your moderators. I usually assign a global moderator with some privileges to Simple Portal articles and blocks, but not full admin
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: 青山 素子 on July 14, 2014, 12:28:28 PM
Logging is always good, but at some point you'll run into an issue. You'll start generating so much logging that it will be difficult to sort the important parts from the noise. Additionally, each additional thing to log adds execution time. If you have a busy site or you're logging a common action, things will get slow really quick.

The best solution to this problem isn't more logging. That will only allow you to detect things after they have happened, and admins can clear the logs anyway. What would work best is setting a policy that certain changes are to be avoided unless conditions are met and then doing your best to have administrators that follow those policies. If you make smart use of group owners, global moderators, and local moderators you won't have to give so much power to too many people. A responsive group of two to three people can easily manage a very busy forum if the right policies and structures are put in place.
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: Joshua Dickerson on January 31, 2015, 12:12:33 PM
I think it makes sense to log every change done in the admin screens. It can help you go back through your own changes to see what might have gone wrong. Obviously only changes and those changes aren't going to amount to much space nor will they require much time. If it's a big deal with logging in a database, you can always make it a flat file which is stupid fast to always append. Also you could use a MyISAM table which is optimized for this. Make it so that you either need another password or database access to clear the log.
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: margarett on January 31, 2015, 06:21:10 PM
/me considers this a niche feature and welcomes a mod that fills this gap :)
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: Joshua Dickerson on January 31, 2015, 10:01:03 PM
Problem with a mod is that it could be uninstalled so what's the point of logging?
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: Burke ♞ Knight on January 31, 2015, 10:51:42 PM
Well, that's why you don't give admin rights to people that may uninstall the tracking mod.

If you feel the need to track everything your "admins" do, then, there's no point in having them as admins.

If you trust them, then do spy on everything they do.

If you don't trust them, get them out of the admin section.

Plain and, pun intended: SIMPLE.
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: Joshua Dickerson on February 02, 2015, 01:08:36 PM
What if your account is compromised?
Title: Re: More logging features
Post by: Burke ♞ Knight on February 02, 2015, 05:08:59 PM
Well, if your account in compromised, I'm pretty sure enough would already be in the logs, not to warrant adding more to them. :P

Also, if that happens, you more likely wont have the chance to see a blasted LOG, due to the fact the person more likely would have totally messed things up too badly. ;)