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 configuration to your inventory/host_vars/matrix.DOMAIN/vars.yml file:

#################
## 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.example.com/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:example.com bot to confirm it's working.

Then, register a site by sending register <YourSiteName> (where <YourSiteName> is a unique identifier you choose. It does not have to match your domain). You will then be invited into a moderation room.

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

Embed Cactus Comments

The official documentation provides a useful guide to embed Cactus Comments on your website.

After including the JavaScript and CSS asset files, insert a <div> where you'd like to display the comment section:

<div id="comment-section"></div>

Then, you need to initialize the comment section. Make sure to replace example.com with your base domain and <YourSiteName> with the one that has been registered above:

<script>
initComments({
  node: document.getElementById("comment-section"),
  defaultHomeserverUrl: "https://matrix.example.com:8448",
  serverName: "example.com",
  siteName: "<YourSiteName>",
  commentSectionId: "1"
})
</script>

Adjust the domain name for self-hosting

To have the assets served from your homeserver (not from cactus.chat), you need to adjust the domain name on the official documentation.

Make sure to replace example.com with your base domain before you include the following lines, instead of the one provided by the official documentation:

<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">