matrix-docker-ansible-deploy/docs/configuring-playbook-cactus-comments.md

Setting up Cactus Comments (optional)

The playbook can install and configure the Cactus Comments system for you.

Cactus Comments is a federated comment system built on Matrix. It respects your privacy, and puts you in control.

See the project's documentation to learn what it does and why it might be useful to you.

The playbook contains 2 roles for configuring different pieces of the Cactus Comments system:

• matrix-cactus-comments - the backend appservice integrating with the Matrix homeserver

• matrix-cactus-comments-client - a static website server serving the cactus-client static assets (cactus.js and styles.css)

You can enable whichever component you need (typically both).

Configuration

Add the following block to your vars.yaml and make sure to exchange the tokens to randomly generated values.

#################
## Cactus Comments ##
#################

# This enables the backend (appservice)
matrix_cactus_comments_enabled: true

# To allow guest comments without users needing to log in, you need to have guest registration enabled.
# To do this you need to uncomment one of the following lines (depending if you are using Synapse or Dendrite as a homeserver)
# If you don't know which one you use: The default is Synapse ;)
# matrix_synapse_allow_guest_access: true
# matrix_dendrite_allow_guest_access: true

# This enables client assets static files serving on `https://matrix.DOMAIN/cactus-comments`.
# When the backend (appservice) is enabled, this is also enabled automatically,
# but we explicitly enable it here.
matrix_cactus_comments_client_enabled: true

# Uncomment and adjust this part if you'd like to host the client assets at a different location.
# These variables are only make used if (`matrix_cactus_comments_client_enabled: true`)
# matrix_cactus_comments_client_hostname: "{{ matrix_server_fqn_matrix }}"
# matrix_cactus_comments_client_path_prefix: /cactus-comments

Installing

After configuring the playbook, run the installation command: just install-all or just setup-all

Usage

Upon starting Cactus Comments, a bot.cactusbot user account is created automatically.

To get started, send a help message to the @bot.cactusbot:your-homeserver.com bot to confirm it's working.

Then, register a site by typing: register <sitename>. You will then be invited into a moderation room.

Now you are good to go and can include the comment section on your website!

Careful: To really make use of self-hosting you need change a few things in comparison to the official docs!

Insert the following snippet into you page and make sure to replace example.com with your base domain!

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://matrix.example.com/cactus-comments/cactus.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://matrix.example.com/cactus-comments/style.css" type="text/css">
<div id="comment-section"></div>
<script>
initComments({
  node: document.getElementById("comment-section"),
  defaultHomeserverUrl: "https://matrix.example.com:8448",
  serverName: "example.com",
  siteName: "YourSiteName",
  commentSectionId: "1"
})
</script>