MSC3613: Combinatorial join rules

proposals/3613-combined-join-rules.md

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+# MSC3613: Combinatorial join rules
+
+[Join rules](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.1/client-server-api/#mroomjoin_rules) define what conditions
+a user must meet in order to, well, join a room. With the current setup it is impossible to have more
+than one rule active at a time, which makes it difficult to allow anyone from room X to join, but also
+join is their knock was accepted. The room would instead have to choose which condition it favoured.
+
+This proposal aims to introduce the smallest possible baseline for a slightly improved join rules
+system, allowing for combinations of join rules to take effect. Alternative MSCs, like
+[MSC3386](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/3386) instead seek to redesign the join rules
+structure entirely. This proposal is intended to fill the gap while the more complex MSCs work out
+their specifics.
+
+## Proposal
+
+In a new room version, we simply add an optional array to the
+[`m.room.join_rules`](https://spec.matrix.org/v1.1/client-server-api/#mroomjoin_rules) event. The
+existing behaviour of the `join_rule` key is kept, though has slightly modified behaviour per below.
+
+The new array, `join_rules`, is simply an array which contains objects representing the `m.room.join_rules`
+event content (minus the array itself - this does not recurse). The array acts as a "first match wins"
+setup, or effectively a bunch of `OR` conditions.
+
+A sample would be:
+
+*Unrelated keys removed to reduce noise.*
+
+```json5
+{
+  "type": "m.room.join_rules",
+  "state_key": "",
+  "content": {
+    "join_rule": "knock",
+    "join_rules": [
+      {
+        "join_rule": "restricted",
+        "allow": [
+          {
+            "type": "m.room_membership",
+            "room_id": "!VzMVEOJOrVWFENLtnO:localhost"
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      {
+        "join_rule": "knock"
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+The sample effectively means a user can join the room if:
+* They receive an explicit invite.
+* They have their `knock` approved (which is an invite).
+* They are a member of `!VzMVEOJOrVWFENLtnO:localhost`.
+
+A setup similar to this is expected to be the most common setup.
+
+Note how the `join_rule` persists in the protocol, even with this MSC's introduction. This is to
+ensure backwards compatibility with clients and various places in the protocol which aren't aware
+of the new rules. While servers will be required to parse the event as described below, areas such
+as the room creation presets, older clients, room directory, etc are not easily made fully aware
+of a new array.
+
+The `join_rule` must always be specified, even alongside `join_rules`. The `join_rule` should represent
+the most semantically relevant join rule for the room - it does not need to be listed in the array,
+but should best represent the room's access control. The sample chose `knock`, but a different scenario
+may very well choose `restricted` or even `private`.
+
+If the `join_rule` is `restricted`, the `allow` array must also be present at the same level. This
+is for backwards compatibility.
+
+Whenever the server (or client) is checking against the join rules it would now check the `join_rules`
+array if present. If not present, and only when not present, the `join_rule` string is checked instead.
+For a `restricted` join rule, the `allow` list must always be next to the `join_rule` string (eg: don't
+have `join_rule: knock, allow: [...]` - the list would be ignored).
+
+For clarity, the server could implement a check similar to:
+
+```python
+def is_join_rule(room_version: RoomVersion, event: EventBase, expected_rule: JoinRules) -> bool:
+    """Returns whether the join rule event matches the expected join rule.
+
+    Args:
+        room_version: The RoomVersion the event is in
+        event: The join rules event
+        expected_rule: The anticipated rule
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if the join rule is as expected.
+    """
+    if not event:
+        return expected_rule == JoinRules.INVITE
+
+    if room_version.msc3613_simplified_join_rules:
+        arr = event.content.get("join_rules", [])
+        if arr and isinstance(arr, list):
+            return expected_rule in list(r.get("join_rule", None) for r in arr)
+
+    return event.content.get("join_rule", None) == expected_rule
+```
+
+As implied, if the `join_rules` array is not an array then the server falls back to `join_rule`.
+
+Finally, the `join_rules` key is to be protected from redaction. This has a drawback of not being
+able to easily remove abuse within the objects, however is simpler on the redaction algorithm itself.
+
+## Potential issues
+
+This representation isn't perfect and can be a bit confusing. As acknowledged in the introduction,
+this proposal is meant to introduce the mixed functionality of join rules without re-architecting
+the system. Other MSCs are welcome/encouraged to explore what a new join rules system might be.
+
+This proposal allows room admins to make bad decisions, though this proposal also does not have an
+interest in preventing bad decisions from happening. For example, a room might decide to mix two
+incompatible rules: `public` and `invite`. If this happens, the room is effectively public as the
+`invite` rule wouldn't be serving a practical purpose (remember: the first passing join rule wins).
+Room admins are recommended by the proposal author to not make bad decisions.
+
+Through effort, room admins can additionally break out their join rules nonsensically. Again however,
+this proposal doesn't have an interest in patching bad decisions. An example would be:
+
+```json5
+[
+  {
+    "join_rule": "restricted",
+    "allow": [
+      {"type": "m.room_membership", "room_id": "!a:example.org"}
+    ]
+  },
+  {
+    "join_rule": "restricted",
+    "allow": [
+      {"type": "m.room_membership", "room_id": "!b:example.org"}
+    ]
+  },
+  {
+    "join_rule": "restricted",
+    "allow": [
+      {"type": "m.room_membership", "room_id": "!c:example.org"}
+    ]
+  }
+]
+```
+
+This could be condensed into a singular `restricted` rule, but the room admin is legal in splitting
+the rule out.
+
+Finally, this proposal favours backwards compatibility to its own detriment. This is intentional to
+give clients (and other areas of the protocol/ecosystem) time to consider what their project might
+look like if the join rules system were to change completely. This acts more like an easing function
+than a complete refactoring by design.
+
+## Alternatives
+
+[MSC3386](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/3386) and similar ideas favour a complete
+rebuild of the join rules system. While a potentially great change for Matrix, it doesn't feel proper
+for the short term.
+
+## Security considerations
+
+Room admins can specify insane or otherwise lengthy lists of join rules. Servers should be wary of
+these sorts of events when considering their loop usage, however this MSC doesn't forbid using all
+65kb of an event to specify join rules.
+
+As mentioned in the potential issues, room admins can additionally make bad decisions about security.
+Clients are encouraged to design and build a user interface which reduces the chances of a `public`
+and `invite` rule set. Such an interface might be:
+
+```
+This room is:
+[ ] Public
+[x] Private
+
+Join rules (disabled when Public):
+[x] Allow members of `#space:example.org` to join
+[x] Allow knocking
+```
+
+## Unstable prefix
+
+While this MSC is not considered stable, implementations should use an `org.matrix.msc3613` room version
+which uses room version 9 as a base.
+
+## Dependencies
+
+No relevant dependencies.
+
+## Considered but not included
+
+During a trial implementation of this proposal there were authorization rules added to validate that
+a `m.room.join_rules` event is properly structured. While an initial reaction is to include auth rules
+for the event, it ultimately doesn't appear important for the protocol. For example, the damage of a
+user sending an empty join rules event (or one with unspecified rules) is naturally self-healing by the
+room becoming invite only in conditions where the join rules don't match exactly.
+
+As such, the changes to auth rules are excluded from this proposal.