Difference between revisions of "IRC help"

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== Connecting to IRC ==
 
== Connecting to IRC ==
  
First, you'll need an IRC client. A comparison of IRC clients can be found [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_Relay_Chat_clients on Wikipedia]; below lists the more popular and tested IRC clients.
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It is simplest to use the Freenode IRC webchat interface: you can find the main channel at <code>[http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#dreamwidth #dreamwidth]</code>, and the development and mentoring channel at <code>[http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#dreamwidth-dev #dreamwidth-dev]</code>.
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However, if you'd like to set up a more customisable interace, you'll need an IRC client or any software which supports chat and the IRC protocol. For IRC-specific clients see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_Relay_Chat_clients this article on Wikipedia]; below lists some of the more popular clients.
  
 
'''Windows:'''
 
'''Windows:'''
  
 
* The most popular standalone IRC client is [http://www.mirc.com/ mIRC].
 
* The most popular standalone IRC client is [http://www.mirc.com/ mIRC].
* Trillian can also handle IRC, along with other chat protocols such as AIM and Jabber.
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* [http://www.trillian.im/ Trillian] can also handle IRC, along with other chat protocols such as AIM and Jabber.
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* [http://pidgin.im/ Pidgin], a general IM client.
  
 
'''Apple:'''
 
'''Apple:'''
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* [http://pidgin.im/ Pidgin] is a popular IM client that handles IRC just fine.
 
* [http://pidgin.im/ Pidgin] is a popular IM client that handles IRC just fine.
 
* [http://konversation.kde.org/ Konversation] is a KDE IRC client.
 
* [http://konversation.kde.org/ Konversation] is a KDE IRC client.
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* [http://xchat.org/ XChat] is for both Windows and Linux.
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'''iOS'''
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* [http://colloquy.info/ Colloquy]
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* [https://palaverapp.com/ Palaver]
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'''Android'''
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* [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.andchat AndChat] (abandonware)
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* [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androirc AndroIRC]
  
 
'''Command line:'''
 
'''Command line:'''
  
[http://irssi.org/ Irssi] works as a command line client for all platforms.
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[http://irssi.org/ Irssi] works as a command line client for all desktop platforms.
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'''Multi-purpose:'''
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* [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/ Mozilla Thunderbird], which is primarily an email client, also works as a chat client and supports IRC. It works on all desktop platforms.
  
 
'''Browser-based:'''
 
'''Browser-based:'''
  
* [http://webchat.freenode.net Freenode webchat]. (Mibbit is not allowed on Freenode.)
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* [https://web.libera.chat/ Libera webchat]. (Mibbit is not allowed on Freenode.)
 
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/16/ Chatzilla for Firefox] also works well.
 
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/16/ Chatzilla for Firefox] also works well.
  
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The IRC server that Dreamwidth uses is:
 
The IRC server that Dreamwidth uses is:
  
  irc.freenode.net
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  irc.libera.chat
  
 
Most clients allow you to leave the port number set to default. However, if your client makes you specify it, the port number is: <code>6667</code>
 
Most clients allow you to leave the port number set to default. However, if your client makes you specify it, the port number is: <code>6667</code>
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Your client will let you select your "nick", or the name that'll display to other people when you join. Every client is different, but poke around for the options. That lets us know what to call you!
 
Your client will let you select your "nick", or the name that'll display to other people when you join. Every client is different, but poke around for the options. That lets us know what to call you!
  
Since Freenode is a large IRC server, some of the common names have already been taken by other people who share that same name. If someone else has taken the name you prefer, try a different name. Changing nicks in IRC is pretty easy, so don't worry overmuch about finding the name that's just perfect.
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Since Libera is a large IRC server, some of the common names have already been taken by other people who share that same name. If someone else has taken the name you prefer, try a different name. Changing nicks in IRC is pretty easy, so don't worry overmuch about finding the name that's just perfect right away.
  
 
== Specify the channel ==
 
== Specify the channel ==
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That's about it on the IRC basics -- everything else can be picked up on-the-fly. :)
 
That's about it on the IRC basics -- everything else can be picked up on-the-fly. :)
  
== Freenode-specific stuff ==
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== Libera-specific stuff ==
  
[http://freenode.net/faq.shtml Freenode's FAQ]
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'''Note: these suggestions were known to work with Freenode and before the move to Discord happened, but may no longer do, or work differently, with Libera Chat and Discord. Feedback of actual experience welcome.'''
  
[http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#helpfromstaff How do I get help from Freenode staff?]
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[https://libera.chat/guides/faq Libera Chat's FAQ]  
  
[http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#userexpirations When does a registered nickname on the Freenode network expire?]
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[https://libera.chat/guides/registration Nickname registration]
  
[http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#cloaks How do I hide my hostname (get a hostname cloak)?] Dreamwidth-affiliated users are eligible for Dreamwidth-related cloaks, although not all who are eligible have chosen to use them. Underscores are not allowed in requested cloak hostnames; use a hyphen instead. <dwuser>mark</dwuser>/@xb95 is the contact person for adding people to the Dreamwidth cloak; please see the latest information-gathering entry in his [http://mark.dreamwidth.org/ journal] and comment there. Dreamwidth cloaks are of the form: <code>@dreamwidth/<security group>/<name></code>
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[https://libera.chat/guides/registration#nickname-expiry Nickname Expiry]
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If you would like to use a nickname that's already been registered, sometimes that nick has expired but has not yet been dropped. Check to see whether it is expired, then [https://libera.chat/guides/faq#how-to-find-libera-chat-staff ask Libera Chat staff for help]. For this, entering the #libera channel (/join #libera) and stating in that channel that the nickname in question looks expired, and you would appreciate someone dropping it so you may register it, is often sufficient, as it reaches multiple staff people at once without having to send them all private messages until you reach someone available. The #libera channel has a mix of staff members and other people seeking help. The links above have more detail about getting help from Libera Chat staff and nickname expiration.
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Dreamwidth-affiliated users are eligible for Dreamwidth-related cloaks, although not all who are eligible have chosen to use them. Underscores are not allowed in requested cloak hostnames; use a hyphen instead. <dwuser>mark</dwuser>/@zorkian is the contact person for adding people to the Dreamwidth cloak or removing or changing their cloaks; please see the latest information-gathering entry in [http://mark.dreamwidth.org/ his journal] and comment there. Dreamwidth cloaks are of the form: <code>@dreamwidth/<security group>/<name></code>
  
 
:Staff: <code>@dreamwidth/staff/<name></code>
 
:Staff: <code>@dreamwidth/staff/<name></code>
 
:Department heads: <code>@dreamwidth/delegate/<name></code>
 
:Department heads: <code>@dreamwidth/delegate/<name></code>
  
If you just need a cloak, any cloak, fast, ask Freenode staff. They are available in the #freenode channel.
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You can also [https://libera.chat/guides/cloaks#requesting-a-self-service-user-cloak ask for a standard cloak].  
 
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To remove a cloak, ask Freenode staff.
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== Related links ==
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To [https://libera.chat/guides/cloaks#removing-your-cloak remove a standard cloak], ask Libera Chat staff.
  
Back to [[IRC]].
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== Once you're connected... ==
  
[[IRC Advanced|Advanced maneuvers mostly for delegates]].
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Once you're connected to our IRC channel, you should check out our [[IRC]] page. It goes into much more detail about the culture of the channel and the bots used in the channel. (An IRC bot appears as a normal user in the channel, but is actually controlled by a computer. The main bot we use is called Fig-Bit, but RWHell is another favourite.)
  
[[Category: Community]]
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[[Category: Obsolete]]
[[Category: IRC]]
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Latest revision as of 06:47, 29 October 2023

There are some pretty good IRC tutorials out there if you look for them. This page is primarily an overview, for assisting Dreamwidth users with entering and interacting within an IRC channel.

Connecting to IRC

It is simplest to use the Freenode IRC webchat interface: you can find the main channel at #dreamwidth, and the development and mentoring channel at #dreamwidth-dev.

However, if you'd like to set up a more customisable interace, you'll need an IRC client or any software which supports chat and the IRC protocol. For IRC-specific clients see this article on Wikipedia; below lists some of the more popular clients.

Windows:

  • The most popular standalone IRC client is mIRC.
  • Trillian can also handle IRC, along with other chat protocols such as AIM and Jabber.
  • Pidgin, a general IM client.

Apple:

  • The old-school client is Ircle.
  • The newer client-of-choice is Colloquy.

Linux:

  • Pidgin is a popular IM client that handles IRC just fine.
  • Konversation is a KDE IRC client.
  • XChat is for both Windows and Linux.

iOS

Android

Command line:

Irssi works as a command line client for all desktop platforms.

Multi-purpose:

  • Mozilla Thunderbird, which is primarily an email client, also works as a chat client and supports IRC. It works on all desktop platforms.

Browser-based:

Specify the server

Once you have a client, you need to specify the server name (and sometimes the port number), so your client knows which IRC server to connect to.

The IRC server that Dreamwidth uses is:

irc.libera.chat

Most clients allow you to leave the port number set to default. However, if your client makes you specify it, the port number is: 6667

Specify your nick

Your client will let you select your "nick", or the name that'll display to other people when you join. Every client is different, but poke around for the options. That lets us know what to call you!

Since Libera is a large IRC server, some of the common names have already been taken by other people who share that same name. If someone else has taken the name you prefer, try a different name. Changing nicks in IRC is pretty easy, so don't worry overmuch about finding the name that's just perfect right away.

Specify the channel

Once you've connected, your client may have different ways to specify what channel you want to join. If you can't find the "join this channel" button or option or widget or what-have-you, type:

/join #dreamwidth

That will bring you to the #dreamwidth channel. You'll see a list of everyone who's in the channel, and be right in the middle of the conversation. (When joining any channel, remember the # -- that's part of the channel name.)

Go here for a list of all Dreamwidth IRC channels.

How to talk

Anything you type in your client's text input box will now appear in the channel! Just type normally, and everyone else in the channel will see you.

For example, say you type this:

this is a test irc message!

Everyone else in the channel will see some variation (depending on their client's formatting) of this:

<rahaeli> this is a test irc message!

If you want to perform an action, start off your action with /me (and try not to twitch at the bad grammar):

/me sends an irc message!

This results in:

rahaeli sends an irc message!

That's about it on the IRC basics -- everything else can be picked up on-the-fly. :)

Libera-specific stuff

Note: these suggestions were known to work with Freenode and before the move to Discord happened, but may no longer do, or work differently, with Libera Chat and Discord. Feedback of actual experience welcome.

Libera Chat's FAQ

Nickname registration

Nickname Expiry

If you would like to use a nickname that's already been registered, sometimes that nick has expired but has not yet been dropped. Check to see whether it is expired, then ask Libera Chat staff for help. For this, entering the #libera channel (/join #libera) and stating in that channel that the nickname in question looks expired, and you would appreciate someone dropping it so you may register it, is often sufficient, as it reaches multiple staff people at once without having to send them all private messages until you reach someone available. The #libera channel has a mix of staff members and other people seeking help. The links above have more detail about getting help from Libera Chat staff and nickname expiration.

Dreamwidth-affiliated users are eligible for Dreamwidth-related cloaks, although not all who are eligible have chosen to use them. Underscores are not allowed in requested cloak hostnames; use a hyphen instead. [info]mark/@zorkian is the contact person for adding people to the Dreamwidth cloak or removing or changing their cloaks; please see the latest information-gathering entry in his journal and comment there. Dreamwidth cloaks are of the form: @dreamwidth/<security group>/<name>

Staff: @dreamwidth/staff/<name>
Department heads: @dreamwidth/delegate/<name>

You can also ask for a standard cloak.

To remove a standard cloak, ask Libera Chat staff.

Once you're connected...

Once you're connected to our IRC channel, you should check out our IRC page. It goes into much more detail about the culture of the channel and the bots used in the channel. (An IRC bot appears as a normal user in the channel, but is actually controlled by a computer. The main bot we use is called Fig-Bit, but RWHell is another favourite.)