User Roles¶
AlienCommons should distinguish basic user identities from responsibility-based permissions. Every signed-in user may publish works without applying to become a column author first.
| Role | Definition | Main Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor | A user who is not signed in | Browse public content and view a random recommendation feed |
| Regular user | A signed-in user | Publish works and use regular community features |
| Column author | A regular user who has published or is preparing a work | No essential permission difference from a regular user; this is closer to a creator identity |
| Editor | A user responsible for reviewing works | Review submissions, leave revision feedback, and unpublish works; cannot edit an author's text directly |
| Community administrator | A selected user who assists with community maintenance | Role design is undecided and currently deferred |
| Official administrator | A staff member with high-risk administrative permissions | For example, banning users and performing other site operations |
Permission Boundaries¶
- Editors and official administrators are separate roles.
- Review permissions do not automatically grant editors high-risk permissions such as banning users.
- Editors may leave revision feedback but cannot directly modify an author's text.
- The responsibilities and permissions of community administrators are still undecided and are not a current-version requirement.