[metrics-bugs] #33493 [Metrics/Relay Search]: Encourage operators to ignore bridge flags on relay search

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#33493: Encourage operators to ignore bridge flags on relay search
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 Reporter:  teor                  |          Owner:  metrics-team
     Type:  enhancement           |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Medium                |      Milestone:
Component:  Metrics/Relay Search  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal                |     Resolution:
 Keywords:                        |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                        |         Points:
 Reviewer:                        |        Sponsor:
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Comment (by karsten):

 Replying to [comment:2 phw]:
 > Replying to [comment:1 karsten]:
 > > But doesn't '''BridgeDB''' use at least the `Stable` flag when
 assigning a bridge to a distributor? Copying phw and cohosh to get a more
 robust answer on that than I could give from looking at possibly outdated
 specs.
 > [[br]]
 > I believe BridgeDB only hands out bridges that have both the `Stable`
 and the `Running` flag.

 So, it looks like BridgeDB only adds
 [https://gitweb.torproject.org/bridgedb.git/tree/bridgedb/Bridges.py#n486
 running bridges] (with the `Running` flag) to its rings and that it can be
 [https://gitweb.torproject.org/bridgedb.git/tree/bridgedb.conf#n258
 configured] to always give out a minimum number of bridges with the
 `Stable` flag.

 How about we keep `Running` and `Stable` in black with a brief explanation
 that only `Running` bridges are being distributed and that BridgeDB
 ''may'' use the `Stable` flag when deciding about distributing the bridge
 to clients or not? And how about we gray out the other flags and says that
 they're ''currently'' not being used by BridgeDB for deciding about
 distributing a bridge?

 Interestingly, the bridge authority doesn't assign the `Stable` flag to
 ''any'' of its bridges right now, and BridgeDB still gives out bridges,
 just none with the `Stable` flag. Is this a known problem or a non-
 problem?

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/33493#comment:3>
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