[Feature request] Automatically inform and cleaning up inactive users

StevenGLee

I wonder if I can inform users who haven't logged in for over 6 months via email and remove their account after 12 months inactivity, due to the limit of usage on the server. However, to best of my knowledge, there isn't an extension that can achieve my demand.

jslirola

As far as I know, there is no extension for that purpose. But perhaps something could be achieved with "AutoModerator" options.

https://discuss.flarum.org/d/27306-flarum-automoderator

StevenGLee

jslirola I have tried AutoModerator, but there doesn't exist an option that can filter/trigger users' last login/activity.

FullThrottle83

Does inactive users stress the server in any way?
Shouldn't take any resources..(?)

But I get that it looks poor to have XXXXXX members and only a few active ones..

StevenGLee

FullThrottle83 In fact, my forum is hosted on FreeFlarum.com. In their Fair Use Policy, maintainers addressed that there should be no more then 20,000 users in a forum, or the forum will be marked Too active (consuming too much resource on their server) and should be migrated. That's why I'm trying to keep the logged on users in a relatively small count hahaha.

luceos

I agree, there are two feature requests here. One relates to user deletion/clean up, the other relates to user engagement. I agree that both probably would be doable with auto moderator, but it needs some work to get that functional.

user engagement

Offer functionality in the form of an open source extension, where:

an extension admin setting is introduced to allow the admin to configure the period after the last log in of a member, upon which an email has to be sent
allow customizing email template, preferably using fof/pretty-mail
introduce the console command that is added to the scheduled tasks to process these emails based on setting and template

stale account deletion

Offer functionality in the form of an open source extension, where:

an extension admin setting is introduced to allow the admin to configure the period after the last log in of a member, upon which a member is supposed to be deleted
introduce a permission group so that the admin can choose which permission groups should be valid for deletion
introduce the console command that is added to the scheduled tasks to process these account deletions

In case you want these two to be made into crowdfunded tasks, it would probably be best to split them both out into new topics, with their requirements added as well.

Ralkage

luceos love these requirements, simple, clean, and definitely feels right on the money with what OP is requesting 🙂

luceos

StevenGLee if you forcefully remove users to reduce cost, you will be in the way of your own success. The cost of a database is not problematic. A database can hold millions of records without issue.
Also, if you can't make a 20k users forum financially sustainable, why would you succeed at ten times the amount.
Another thing to notice is that I can imagine FreeFlarum looking more at the activity on the forum than the number of users. Yes its listed as a check, but only to point to when you're simply too busy for their server.