UCubeClient

class UCube.UCubeClient(username: Optional[str] = None, password: Optional[str] = None, token=None, web_session=None, verbose: bool = False, hook=None)

Abstract & Parent Client for connecting to UCube and creating the internal cache.

Warning

Do not create an object directly from this class. Instead, create a UCube.UCubeClientSync or UCube.UCubeClientAsync object since those are concrete.

Parameters

  • username (str) – Email or Username to log in with.

  • password (str) – Password to log in with.

  • verbose (bool) – Whether to print out verbose messages.

  • web_session – An aiohttp or requests client session.

  • token – The account token to connect to the UCube API. In order to find your token, please refer to Get Account Token

  • hook – A passed in method that will be called every time there is a new notification. This method must take in a list of models.Notification objects.

verbose

Whether to print out verbose messages.

Type

bool

web_session

An aiohttp or requests client session.

cache_loaded

Whether the Internal UCube Cache is fully loaded. This will change for a split moment when grabbing a new post.

Type

bool

clubs

A dict of all Clubs in cache with the slug as the key.

Type

Dict[str, models.Club]

boards

A dict of all Boards in cache with the slug as the key.

Type

Dict[str, models.Board]

posts

A dict of all Posts in cache with the slug as the key.

Type

Dict[str, models.Post]

users

A dict of all Users in cache with the slug as the key.

Type

Dict[str, models.User]

notifications

A dict of all Notifications in cache with the slug as the key.

Type

Dict[str, models.Notification]

get_board(board_slug: str) → Optional[UCube.models.board.Board]

Get a Board if it exists.

Parameters

board_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Board.

Returns

The Board associated with the slug if it exists.

Return type

models.Board

get_club(club_slug: str) → Optional[UCube.models.club.Club]

Get a Club if it exists.

Parameters

club_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Club.

Returns

The Club associated with the slug if it exists.

Return type

models.Club

get_comment(comment_slug: str) → Optional[UCube.models.comment.Comment]

Get a Comment if it exists.

Parameters

comment_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Comment.

Returns

The Comment associated with the slug if it exists.

Return type

models.Comment

get_notification(notification_slug: str) → Optional[UCube.models.notification.Notification]

Get a Notification if it exists.

Parameters

notification_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Notification.

Returns

The Notification associated with the slug if it exists.

Return type

models.Notification

get_post(post_slug: str) → Optional[UCube.models.post.Post]

Get a Post if it exists.

Parameters

post_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Post.

Returns

The Post associated with the slug if it exists.

Return type

models.Post

get_user(user_slug: str) → Optional[UCube.models.user.User]

Get a User if it exists.

Parameters

user_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the User.

Returns

The User associated with the slug if it exists.

Return type

models.User

static replace(url, **kwargs) → str

Will replace the args in an endpoint url.

Parameters

  • url (str) – The URL to replace args for.

  • kwargs (dict) – The args that need to be replaced followed by what they need to be replaced with.

Returns

Return type

str

stop()

Stop the hook loop.

Clients

UCubeClientSync

class UCube.UCubeClientSync(**kwargs)

Synchronous UCube Client that Inherits from UCubeClient.

Parameters

kwargs – Args for UCubeClient.

check_new_notifications() → List[UCube.models.notification.Notification]

Checks and returns new notifications for every club.

Compares with the already existing notifications. This will also create the posts associated with the notification so they can be used efficiently.

Returns

A list of new Notifications.

Return type

List[models.Notification]

check_token_works()

Check if a token is valid and will set the general information about the client if it is.

Returns

(bool) True if the token works.

fetch_all_clubs(clubs_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.club.Club]

Fetch all Clubs from the UCube API.

Returns

A list of Clubs

Return type

List[models.Club]

fetch_board_posts(board_slug: str, feed=False, posts_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.post.Post]

Retrieve a list of Posts from a board.

Parameters

  • board_slug (str) – The slug (unique identifier) of a board to search the feed for.

  • feed (bool) – Whether to use the feeds endpoint. The feeds endpoint would retrieve the user information of a post.

  • posts_per_page (int) – The amount of posts to retrieve per page.

  • page_number (int) – The page number when paginating.

Returns

A list of Posts

Return type

List[models.Post]

fetch_club_boards(club_slug: str) → List[UCube.models.board.Board]

Retrieve a list of Boards from a Club.

Parameters

club_slug (str) – The slug (Unique Identifier) of a Club.

Returns

A list of Boards

Return type

List[models.Board]

fetch_club_notifications(club_slug: str, notifications_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.notification.Notification]

Retrieve a list of Notifications from a club.

Parameters

  • club_slug (str) – The slug (unique identifier) of a club to search the notifications for.

  • notifications_per_page (int) – The amount of notifications to retrieve per page.

  • page_number (int) – The page number when paginating.

Returns

A list of Notifications

Return type

List[models.Notification]

fetch_post(post_slug: str, load_comments=False) → Optional[UCube.models.post.Post]

Fetch a Post by it’s slug.

Parameters

  • post_slug (str) – The post’s unique identifier.

  • load_comments (bool) – Whether to load up the comments of the Post.

Returns

The Post Object if there is one.

Return type

models.Post

fetch_post_comments(post_slug: str, comments_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.comment.Comment]

Retrieve a list of Comments from a Post.

Parameters

  • post_slug (str) – The slug (unique identifier) of a Post to search the Comments for.

  • comments_per_page (int) – The amount of notifications to retrieve per page.

  • page_number (int) – The page number when paginating.

Returns

A list of Comments

Return type

List[models.Comment]

follow_club(club_slug: str) → bool

Follow a club.

Parameters

club_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the club to follow.

Returns

Whether following the Club was successful.

Return type

bool

start(load_boards=True, load_posts=True, load_notices=True, load_media=True, load_from_artist=True, load_to_artist=False, load_talk=False, load_comments=False, follow_all_clubs=True)

Creates internal cache.

This is the main process that should be run.

Parameters

  • load_boards (bool) – Whether to load up all of a Club’s boards.

  • load_posts (bool) – Whether to load up all of the Posts of a Board.

  • load_notices (bool) – Whether to load up all of the Notice posts.

  • load_media (bool) – Whether to load up all of the Media posts.

  • load_from_artist (bool) – Whether to load up all of the From Artist posts.

  • load_to_artist (bool) – Whether to load up all of the To Artist posts.

  • load_talk (bool) – Whether to load up all of the talk posts.

  • load_comments (bool) – Whether to load up comments.

  • follow_all_clubs (bool) – Whether to follow all clubs that are not followed.

Warning

All Clubs and Notifications are always created no matter what. The params are dependent on each other. Attempting to load notices/media/from artist/to artist/talk/comments will not work without load_posts set to True. Attempting to load any posts will not work without load_boards set to True.

Raises

UCube.error.InvalidToken If the token was invalid.

Raises

UCube.error.InvalidCredentials If the user credentials were invalid or not provided.

Raises

UCube.error.BeingRateLimited If the client is being rate-limited.

Raises

UCube.error.LoginFailed Login process had failed.

UCubeClientAsync

class UCube.UCubeClientAsync(loop=<_UnixSelectorEventLoop running=False closed=False debug=False>, **kwargs)

Asynchronous UCube Client that Inherits from UCubeClient.

Parameters

  • loop – Asyncio Event Loop

  • kwargs – Args for UCubeClient.

loop

Asyncio Event Loop

async check_new_notifications() → List[UCube.models.notification.Notification]

Checks and returns new notifications for every club.

Compares with the already existing notifications. This will also create the posts associated with the notification so they can be used efficiently.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Returns

A list of new Notifications.

Return type

List[models.Notification]

async check_token_works() → bool

Check if a token is valid and will set the general information about the client if it is.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Returns

(bool) True if the token works.

async fetch_all_clubs(clubs_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.club.Club]

Fetch all Clubs from the UCube API.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Returns

A list of Clubs

Return type

List[models.Club]

async fetch_board_posts(board_slug: str, feed=False, posts_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.post.Post]

Retrieve a list of Posts from a board.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Parameters

  • board_slug (str) – The slug (unique identifier) of a board to search the feed for.

  • feed (bool) – Whether to use the feeds endpoint. The feeds endpoint would retrieve the user information of a post.

  • posts_per_page (int) – The amount of posts to retrieve per page.

  • page_number (int) – The page number when paginating.

Returns

A list of Posts

Return type

List[models.Post]

async fetch_club_boards(club_slug: str) → List[UCube.models.board.Board]

Retrieve a list of Boards from a Club.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Parameters

club_slug (str) – The slug (Unique Identifier) of a Club.

Returns

A list of Boards

Return type

List[models.Board]

async fetch_club_notifications(club_slug: str, notifications_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.notification.Notification]

Retrieve a list of Notifications from a club.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Parameters

  • club_slug (str) – The slug (unique identifier) of a club to search the notifications for.

  • notifications_per_page (int) – The amount of notifications to retrieve per page.

  • page_number (int) – The page number when paginating.

Returns

A list of Notifications

Return type

List[models.Notification]

async fetch_post(post_slug: str, load_comments=False) → Optional[UCube.models.post.Post]

Fetch a Post by it’s slug.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Parameters

  • post_slug (str) – The post’s unique identifier.

  • load_comments (bool) – Whether to load up the comments of the Post.

Returns

The Post Object if there is one.

Return type

models.Post

async fetch_post_comments(post_slug: str, comments_per_page: int = 99999, page_number: int = 1) → List[UCube.models.comment.Comment]

Retrieve a list of Comments from a Post.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Parameters

  • post_slug (str) – The slug (unique identifier) of a Post to search the Comments for.

  • comments_per_page (int) – The amount of notifications to retrieve per page.

  • page_number (int) – The page number when paginating.

Returns

A list of Comments

Return type

List[models.Comment]

async follow_club(club_slug: str) → bool

Follow a club.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Parameters

club_slug (str) – The unique identifier of the club to follow.

Returns

Whether following the Club was successful.

Return type

bool

async start(load_boards=True, load_posts=True, load_notices=True, load_media=True, load_from_artist=True, load_to_artist=False, load_talk=False, load_comments=False, follow_all_clubs=True)

Creates internal cache.

This is the main process that should be run.

This is a coroutine and must be awaited.

Parameters

  • load_boards (bool) – Whether to load up all of a Club’s boards.

  • load_posts (bool) – Whether to load up all of the Posts of a Board.

  • load_notices (bool) – Whether to load up all of the Notice posts.

  • load_media (bool) – Whether to load up all of the Media posts.

  • load_from_artist (bool) – Whether to load up all of the From Artist posts.

  • load_to_artist (bool) – Whether to load up all of the To Artist posts.

  • load_talk (bool) – Whether to load up all of the talk posts.

  • load_comments (bool) – Whether to load up comments.

  • follow_all_clubs (bool) – Whether to follow all clubs that are not followed.

Warning

All Clubs and Notifications are always created no matter what. The params are dependent on each other. Attempting to load notices/media/from artist/to artist/talk/comments will not work without load_posts set to True. Attempting to load any posts will not work without load_boards set to True.

Raises

UCube.error.InvalidToken If the token was invalid.

Raises

UCube.error.InvalidCredentials If the user credentials were invalid or not provided.

Raises

UCube.error.BeingRateLimited If the client is being rate-limited.

Raises

UCube.error.LoginFailed Login process had failed.

Raises

asyncio.exceptions.TimeoutError Waited too long for a login.

Models

BaseModel

class UCube.models.BaseModel(slug: str, name: Optional[str] = None)

The Base Class for Model objects.

x == y

Checks if two models have the same slug.

x != y

Checks if two models do not have the same slug.

str(x)

Returns the model’s name.

Parameters

  • slug (str) – The unique identifier of the model.

  • name (Optional[str]) – The name of the object.

slug

The unique identifier.

Type

str

name

The name of the object.

Type

Optional[str]

static remove_html(content: str) → str

Removes HTML tags of the html content and returns a cleansed version.

Parameters

content (str) – The raw html content to remove html tags from.

Returns

A cleansed string with no HTML.

Return type

str

Club

class UCube.models.Club(artist_name: str, create_image, **options)

A Club object that represents a UCube Club.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create a Club manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_club

The information retrieved on a Club is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Clubs have the same slug.

x != y

Checks if two Clubs do not have the same slug.

str(x)

Returns the Club’s name.

Parameters

  • slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Club.

  • artist_name (str) – The artist’s name. Could also be a group.

  • create_image (UCube.create_image) – The method to call for creating an image.

  • color_1 (str) – The first color hex code.

  • color_2 (str) – The second color hex code.

  • artist_logo_file (dict) – The raw information about the artist logo image.

  • thumbnail_file (dict) – The raw information about the thumbnail.

  • thumbnail_small_file (dict) – The raw information about the smaller version of the thumbnail.

  • external_url (str) – Any external url to the Club.

  • register_datetime (str) – The datetime for when the club was first registered.

artist_name

The artist’s name. Could also be a group.

Type

str

The artist logo as an Image. May be None.

Type

Optional[Image]

color_one

The first color hex code.

Type

str

color_two

The second color hex code.

Type

str

thumbnail_image

The thumbnail Image for the Club.

Type

Optional[Image]

small_thumbnail_image

The smaller version of the thumbnail Image for the Club.

Type

Optional[Image]

external_url

Any external url to the Club.

Type

str

registered_time

The datetime for when the club was first registered.

Type

str

boards

A Dict of Boards that belong to the Club with the slug as the key.

Type

Dict[str, Board]

notifications

A list of Notifications that belong to the Club.

Type

List[Notification]

Board

class UCube.models.Board(**options)

A Board object that represents a UCube Board.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create a Board manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_board

The information retrieved on a Board is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Boards have the same slug.

x != y

Checks if two Boards do not have the same slug.

str(x)

Returns the Board’s name.

Parameters

  • slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Board.

  • active_flag (bool) – Whether the board is active.

  • club_slug (str) – The club slug that the board belongs to.

active_flag

Whether the board is active.

Type

bool

club_slug

The club slug that the board belongs to.

Type

str

posts
Type

Dict[str, Post]

Post

class UCube.models.Post(create_image, create_video, create_user, **options)

A Post object that represents a UCube Post.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create a Post manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_post

The information retrieved on a Post is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Posts have the same slug.

x != y

Checks if two Posts have the same slug.

str(x)

Returns the Post’s content.

Parameters

  • slug (str) – The unique identifier of the Post.

  • create_image (UCube.create_image) – The method to call for creating an image. You can also use a custom method.

  • create_video (UCube.create_video) – The method to call for creating a video. You can also use a custom method.

  • create_user (UCube.create_user) – The method to call for creating a user. You can also use a custom method.

  • content (str) – The body content of the post with HTML.

  • board_slug (str) – The board slug that the post belongs to.

  • media (List[dict]) – Media that belongs to a post.

  • base_url (str) – The Base URL of the image site. This is especially useful if there are several base urls for an image if UCube is using an external image host.

slug

The unique identifier of the Post.

Type

str

content

The post content (without HTML).

Type

str

board_slug

The Post Board slug.

Type

str

videos

A list of videos that belong to the post.

Type

List[Video]

images

A list of images that belong to the Post.

Type

List[Image]

comment_count

The amount of comments.

Type

int

posted_at

When the post was created.

Type

str

user

The user that created the Post.

Type

Optional[User]

comments

A list of comments that belong to the Post.

Type

List[Comment]

User

class UCube.models.User(slug: str, base_url: str, **options)

A User object that represents a UCube User.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create a User manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_user

The information retrieved on a User is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Users have the same slug.

x != y

Checks if two Users do not have the same slug.

str(x)

Returns the User’s name.

Parameters

  • slug (str) – The unique identifier of the User..

  • nick_name (str) – The name of the user.

  • base_url (str) – The Base URL of the image site. This is especially useful if there are several base urls for an image if UCube is using an external image host.

  • profile_path (str) – The path to the profile photo of the user.

profile_image

The URL to the profile photo of the user.

Type

Optional[str]

Notification

class UCube.models.Notification(uid, **options)

A Notification object that represents a UCube Notification.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create a Notification manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_notification

The information retrieved on a Notification is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Notifications have the same slug.

x != y

Checks if two Notifications do not have the same slug.

str(x)

Returns the Notification’s title.

Parameters

uid (str) – The unique identifier (basically a Slug) of the Notification.

body

The content of the notification.

Type

str

topic_slug

The slug of the topic.

Type

str

channel_type

The channel type of the Notification.

Type

str

created_at

The timestamp of when the Notification was created.

Type

str

Direct link to access the content.

Type

str

data_type

The type of the data.

Type

str

club_name

The club’s name.

Type

str

club_slug

The club’s slug.

Type

str

post_slug

The slug of the Post.

Type

str

board_name

The name of the Board.

Type

str

board_slug

The slug (unique identifier) of the board.

Type

str

board_type

The type of the Board.

Type

str

Comment

class UCube.models.Comment(uid, create_user, **options)

A Comment object that represents a UCube Comment.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create a Comment manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_comment

The information retrieved on a Comment is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Comments have the same slug.

x != y

Checks if two Comments do not have the same slug.

str(x)

Returns the Comment’s content.

Parameters

  • uid – The unique identifier (basically a Slug) of the Comment.

  • create_user (UCube.create_user) – The method to call for creating a user. You can also use a custom method.

comment_count

Amount of comments that belong to the comment.

Type

int

content

Content of the comment

Type

str

parent_slug

The parent slug/uid if there was one.

Type

str

created_at

The timestamp for when the comment was created.

Type

str

user

The User that created the comment.

Type

Optional[User]

Image

class UCube.models.Image(path, base_url, **options)

An Image object that represents a UCube Image/Logo.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create an Image manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_image

The information retrieved on an Image is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Images have the same path.

x != y

Checks if two Images have the same path.

str(x)

Returns the Image’s name.

int(x)

Returns the Image’s size.

Parameters

  • slug (str) – The unique identifier of the image. This can be the full link to the image.

  • path (str) – The path to the direct link of the image.

  • base_url (str) – The Base URL of the image site. This is especially useful if there are several base urls for an image if UCube is using an external image host.

  • size (int) – The size of the Image. This may be set to 0 if it is unknown.

  • width (int) – The width of the Image. This may be set to 0 if it is unknown.

  • height (int) – The height of the Image. This may be set to 0 if it is unknown.

slug

The unique identifier of the image. This can be the full link to the image.

Type

str

base_url

The Base URL of the image site.

Type

str

path

The path to the direct link of the image.

Type

str

size

The size of the Image.

Type

int

width

The width of the Image. This may be set to 0 at times.

Type

int

height

The height of the Image. This may be set to 0 at times.

Type

int

Video

class UCube.models.Video(url, **options)

A Video object that represents a UCube Video.

Inherits from BaseModel

Warning

It is not suggested to create a Video manually, but rather through the following method: UCube.objects.create_video

The information retrieved on a Video is directly from the UCube API and altered to fit this class.

x == y

Checks if two Videos have the same url (slug for a video).

x != y

Checks if two Videos have the same url (slug for a video).

str(x)

Returns the Video’s slug (url).

Parameters

  • slug (str) – The unique identifier of the video. This can be the full link to the video.

  • url (str) – The URL of the video.

  • name (str) – The title of the video. This can also be passed in as title.

  • image (str) – The link to the thumbnail.

slug

The unique identifier of the video. This can be the full link to the video.

Type

str

name

The title of the video.

Type

str

url

The URL to the Video.

Type

str

thumbnail

The thumbnail of the video.

Type

str

Model Creation

UCube.objects.create_board(raw_board: dict) → UCube.models.board.Board
Parameters

raw_board (dict) – The raw information about a board directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

A Board Model

Return type

UCube.models.Board

UCube.objects.create_club(raw_club: dict) → UCube.models.club.Club
Parameters

raw_club (dict) – The raw information about a club directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

A Club Model

Return type

UCube.models.Club

UCube.objects.create_comment(raw_comment) → UCube.models.comment.Comment
Parameters

raw_comment (dict) – The raw information about a comment directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

A Comment Model

Return type

UCube.models.Comment

UCube.objects.create_image(raw_image) → UCube.models.image.Image
Parameters

raw_image (dict) – The raw information about an image directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

An Image Model

Return type

UCube.models.Image

UCube.objects.create_notification(raw_notification) → UCube.models.notification.Notification
Parameters

raw_notification (dict) – The raw information about a notification directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

A Notification Model

Return type

UCube.models.Notification

UCube.objects.create_post(raw_post) → UCube.models.post.Post
Parameters

raw_post (dict) – The raw information about a post directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

A Post Model

Return type

UCube.models.Post

UCube.objects.create_user(raw_user) → UCube.models.user.User
Parameters

raw_user (dict) – The raw information about a user directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

A User Model

Return type

UCube.models.User

UCube.objects.create_video(raw_video) → UCube.models.video.Video
Parameters

raw_video (dict) – The raw information about a video directly from a UCube API endpoint.

Returns

A Video Model

Return type

UCube.models.Video

Exceptions

Invalid Token

exception UCube.InvalidToken

An Exception Raised When an Invalid Token was Supplied.

InvalidCredentials

exception UCube.InvalidCredentials(msg: str = 'The credentials for a token or a username/password could not be found.')

An Exception raised when no valid credentials were supplied.

Something Went Wrong

exception UCube.SomethingWentWrong(msg: str = 'UCube came across an unexpected issue.')

An Exception raised when something went wrong.

LoginFailed

exception UCube.LoginFailed(msg: str = 'The login process for UCube had failed.')

An Exception raised when the login failed.

Page Not Found

exception UCube.PageNotFound(url)

An Exception Raised When a link was not found.

Parameters

url (str) – The link that was not found.

Being Rate Limited

exception UCube.BeingRateLimited

An Exception Raised When UCube Is Being Rate-Limited.

NoHookFound

exception UCube.NoHookFound(msg: str = 'No Hook was passed into the UCube client.')

An Exception raised when a loop for the hook was started but did not actually have a hook method.

Get Account Token

There are two ways to log in. The first way is using a username and password to login which will automatically refresh your token. The second way is getting your account token manually and being logged in for a very short amount of time.

In order to get your account token, go to https://www.united-cube.com/ and Inspect Element (F12). Then go to the Network tab and filter by XHR. Then refresh your page (F5) and look for popup or clubs under XHR. Under Headers, scroll to the bottom and view the request headers. You want to copy everything past Authorization: Bearer.

For example, you may see (This is just an example): Authorization: Bearer ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Then ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ would be your auth token for UCube. It is suggested to have the auth token as an environment variable.

The first method to log in (username & password) is the best way and SHOULD be the way that you log in.