[tor-dev] Proposal for a New Web App to Configure Tor Nodes

[Alessandro Greco]

Hello everyone,

I have been thinking about creating a web app that generates a script to configure a Tor node based on the settings defined by the user. Let me explain a bit further.

This web app could work either entirely on the client side using JavaScript or on the server side. I believe a client-side-only approach is preferable because it avoids handling user data in any way and reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks, although it doesn't completely eliminate it.

The main use case would be for a user who wants to contribute by configuring a Tor node. Instead of manually writing all the various configurations — from downloading Tor to following the best practices after configuration — the user would simply need to select a series of options on a user-friendly page (user-friendly = easier setup => more wish to do it, which could realistically lead to more relays), download the auto-generated file, and run it with administrative privileges.

I believe that developing such a web app could not only benefit the Tor network by encouraging the deployment of new nodes, but it could also be highly educational. Alongside the script to execute, a standard report could be generated to technically explain the function of each setting.

Of course, there would be a standard section allowing for basic relay execution and an "advanced" section that opens up multiple functionalities for the user.

I'm not sure if something like this already exists, but I think it could be very helpful. For instance, I often find myself scrolling through the manual to check for the latest updates applicable to the `torrc` file. With this web app, we could also create a "latest updates" section.

This is just my rough idea, and if it proves useful not just for me but for the rest of the community as well, we could consider structuring a development project around it.

Best regards,  

Aleff.

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