[twitch.tv](https://www.twitch.tv) is an online streaming platform commonly used for people to watch people play computer games. It is can also be used for live streaming lectures.
#### Going live on Twitch
### Going live on Twitch
In order to go live on twitch.tv you will first need to create an account there. With the account created go to [your dashboard](https://dashboard.twitch.tv/). In your dashboard in the menu on the left (open it by clicking the menu bottom in the top left) go to "Preferences" -> "Channel". This is where you can find your `Primary Stream Key` which you will need to input into a program like [OBS](OBS) to actually get your content to show up on Twitch.
##### Finalising the set-up.
#### Finalising the set-up.
On your main channel page (`twitch.tv/<your_username>`) you can edit the title of your stream and other settings by clicking the pencil icon in the bottom right.
In this menu we recommend changing the title of your stream to match the content (e.g. "Automata, Computability & Complexity, Lecture week 5"). We recommend adding the `English` tag, but leaving the category empty (that way it is harder for random strangers to find an join your audience).
In this menu, we recommend changing the title of your stream to match the content (e.g. "Automata, Computability & Complexity, Lecture week 5"). We recommend adding the `English` tag, but leaving the category empty (that way it is harder for random strangers to find and join your audience).
#### Moderating Twitch Chat (thanks to our TA Yoshi van den Akker for text contributions)
### Moderating Twitch Chat (thanks to our TA Yoshi van den Akker for text contributions)
Twitch comes with a chat feature in which viewers can comment and ask questions to the live streamer. For [interactive lectures](Interactive Lectures) this can be a good way to receive questions from the students.
Twitch comes with a chat feature in which viewers can comment and ask questions to the live streamer. For [Interactive Lectures](Interactive Lectures) this can be a good way to receive questions from the students.
##### Enabling Slow mode
#### Enabling Slow mode
On Twitch it is common for users to "spam" lots of messages very quickly. With al kinds of jokes and emoji/emoticons quickly filling up a stream's chat. To prevent users from spamming, you can enable "Slow Mode".
On Twitch, it is common for users to "spam" lots of message, with all kinds of jokes and emojis/emoticons quickly filling up a stream's chat. To prevent users from spamming, you can enable "Slow Mode".
This can be done by clicking "Chat Settings" and then "Slow Mode".
The interval you select determines how often students are allowed to type something in chat.
We recommend selecting at least 10 seconds to prevent an overflow of comments from students.
(NOTE: This only prevents one person from posting messages more often than you set, it does not stop everyone commenting at the same time.)
##### Automod
#### Automod
Twitch comes with a free automated moderation service that can monitor chat for racist, sexist, or other undesirable comments. This moderation service can be configured to some degree, but has four basic levels.
Please refer to [this page](https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/how-to-use-automod?language=en_US) to see how to configure it.
We are currently using Automod at level 4 (which is the most strict setting), as we believe serious questions about course content should not be caught by this. If you experience the mod blocking messages incorrectly at this setting, please do let us now!
We are currently using Automod at level 4 (which is the most strict setting), as we believe serious questions about course content should not be caught by this. If you experience the mod blocking messages incorrectly at this setting, please let us now!
##### Teaching Assistants as moderators
#### Teaching Assistants as moderators
Due to the large and uncontrolled setting however, it is probably wise to ask one or more teaching assistants to be present to moderate chat. To this end:
- Make them a moderator by executing the command `/mod <username>` in chat with `<username>` being the username of your TA (without the angular brackets).
- The TA should now have a screen similar to this 
- With the mod abilities you can enable "mod icons" in the settings menu. With this 3 buttons appear next to each chat message: ban the user, give the user a timeout of 10 minutes, remove the message.
- Other commands include
- BLOCK
This command will allow you to block all messages from a specific user in chat and whispers if you do not wish to see their comments.
- Usage (chat): /block USERNAME, or click on a username and then on the Block button on the user badge that appears.
- Usage (whisper): Click on the cog icon at the top of the whisper window, and then on Block USERNAME.
- Make them a moderator by typing `/mod USERNAME` in the chat with `USERNAME` being the username of your TA.
- The TA should now have a screen similar to this: 
- With the mod abilities you can enable "mod icons" in the settings menu. Three buttons then appear next to each chat message: ban the user, give the user a timeout of 10 minutes, remove the message.
- Other commands include:
-**BLOCK**
This command will allow you to block all messages from a specific user in chat and whispers (personal messages) if you do not wish to see them.
- Usage (chat): type `/block USERNAME` in the chat or click on a username and then on the `Block` button on the user badge that appears
- Usage (whisper): Click on the cog icon at the top of the whisper window and then on `Block USERNAME`
You’ll be asked to provide one of three reasons for blocking the user.
- UNBLOCK
This command will allow you to remove users from your block list that you previously added.
- Usage: /unblock USERNAME, or click on the Unignore button which replaces the Block button.
-**UNBLOCK**
This command will allow you to remove previously added users from your block list.
- Usage: type `/unblock USERNAME` in the chat or click on the `Unignore` button which replaces the `Block` button
- And more found [here](https://help.twitch.tv/CS_TwitchHelpLogin?startURL=https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/chat-commands?language=en_US)
- In the moderation settings (see bottom of "Tasks" list) a chat delay can be enabled. For a couple of seconds new messages are only visible to moderators. This makes sure inappropriate messages are also not seen by other students just before deleting them.
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- In the moderation settings (see bottom of `Tasks` list), a chat delay can be enabled. For a couple of seconds new messages are only visible to moderators. This makes sure inappropriate messages are also not seen by other students just before deleting them.
### Terms of Service
It is advised to read the [Terms of Service](https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/terms-of-service/) of [twitch.tv](https://www.twitch.tv). Some lecturers have opted not to use this platform as the terms include a point on [A License to Twitch](https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/terms-of-service/#a-license-to-twitch) saying that by streaming on Twitch, you grant them sublicensees to anything you submit, transmit, display, perform, post or store on their services - meaning they can freely use your video.
### Other Sources
Here are some other sources for teaching on Twitch:
