Panhandle Martinez
08-16-2005, 04:45 AM
For the uninitiated.
Chapter 1. What is IRC?
IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It is a venerable old protocol for writing client/server applications we use to chat with one another online. It is likely older than you are.
You use an IRC "client" program (such as xchat, mIRC, etc.) to connect to an IRC "server" or "network" of servers (such as irc.blitzed.org, irc.ephemereal.com). Chat rooms on an IRC network are called "channels" and their names are prefaced with a pound sign, #. When you send a message to a channel, the IRC server relays that message to all other users connected to the server and those on other servers on the network.
Chapter 2. Controlling the client.
Commands in IRC are prefaced with a front slash /. You issue commands from the same input window that you type messages. The most relevant commands are as follows:
/server {name} | instructs your IRC client to connect to an IRC server or network given by {name}.
/nick {name} | instructs your IRC client to inform the server that you are changing your screenname to {name}
/join #{name} | instructs your IRC client to join a channel called {name}, n.b. the leading #. All messages sent to a channel called {name} will then be relayed on to you.
/motd | Causes the server to issue you the Message Of The Day, thereby bringing you up to speed on anything you may need to know about using the network or its services.
/quit | disconnects you from a server/network.
/me {name} | issues a message to the chatroom as though you were performing {action}. Used for role-playing and being annoying.
Chapter 3. What you'll see, and etiquette.
In a channel, IRC users are grouped by privileges like channel Ops and voice. Channel Ops or operators have the authority to kick users out of a channel or ban them indefinitely. They can also voice users and set the channel to mode +m, for "moderation", which disallows non-voiced users from talking.
Above chanOps you have IRCops, who are responsible for administering the server/network. They are generally unhelpful in most cases but these are the people you want to talk to if you get banned from the network unfairly. Depending on their attitude, they may also be interested in illegal activity on the network, or information about trojans/worms which may predicate a global message being sent out to all windows users that they are about to be pwned.
Chapter 4. Advantaging yourself of "IRC services".
IRC services are special server programs which connect to an IRC network and offer extra control beyond what the normal IRC protocol dictates. On a typical network you are interested in the following two services, which can be accessed by messaging these usernames in the default case:
ChanServ provides for the persistent naming and control of IRC channels. You can register a channel and identify yourself as the channel operator. The IRC network will then remember the channel even if no one is using it, making items like the channel topic, mode, and access passwords persistent. You can learn how to control ChanServ by issuing the following command:
/msg ChanServ HELP COMMANDS
NickServ allows you to register a screenname or screennames with a password and prevent other users from stealing your identity. You can also kick users off the network who have taken your username by issuing a command with your password. This is known as Ghosting. Learn more about NickServ:
/msg NickServ HELP COMMANDS
That about covers it.
Chapter 1. What is IRC?
IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It is a venerable old protocol for writing client/server applications we use to chat with one another online. It is likely older than you are.
You use an IRC "client" program (such as xchat, mIRC, etc.) to connect to an IRC "server" or "network" of servers (such as irc.blitzed.org, irc.ephemereal.com). Chat rooms on an IRC network are called "channels" and their names are prefaced with a pound sign, #. When you send a message to a channel, the IRC server relays that message to all other users connected to the server and those on other servers on the network.
Chapter 2. Controlling the client.
Commands in IRC are prefaced with a front slash /. You issue commands from the same input window that you type messages. The most relevant commands are as follows:
/server {name} | instructs your IRC client to connect to an IRC server or network given by {name}.
/nick {name} | instructs your IRC client to inform the server that you are changing your screenname to {name}
/join #{name} | instructs your IRC client to join a channel called {name}, n.b. the leading #. All messages sent to a channel called {name} will then be relayed on to you.
/motd | Causes the server to issue you the Message Of The Day, thereby bringing you up to speed on anything you may need to know about using the network or its services.
/quit | disconnects you from a server/network.
/me {name} | issues a message to the chatroom as though you were performing {action}. Used for role-playing and being annoying.
Chapter 3. What you'll see, and etiquette.
In a channel, IRC users are grouped by privileges like channel Ops and voice. Channel Ops or operators have the authority to kick users out of a channel or ban them indefinitely. They can also voice users and set the channel to mode +m, for "moderation", which disallows non-voiced users from talking.
Above chanOps you have IRCops, who are responsible for administering the server/network. They are generally unhelpful in most cases but these are the people you want to talk to if you get banned from the network unfairly. Depending on their attitude, they may also be interested in illegal activity on the network, or information about trojans/worms which may predicate a global message being sent out to all windows users that they are about to be pwned.
Chapter 4. Advantaging yourself of "IRC services".
IRC services are special server programs which connect to an IRC network and offer extra control beyond what the normal IRC protocol dictates. On a typical network you are interested in the following two services, which can be accessed by messaging these usernames in the default case:
ChanServ provides for the persistent naming and control of IRC channels. You can register a channel and identify yourself as the channel operator. The IRC network will then remember the channel even if no one is using it, making items like the channel topic, mode, and access passwords persistent. You can learn how to control ChanServ by issuing the following command:
/msg ChanServ HELP COMMANDS
NickServ allows you to register a screenname or screennames with a password and prevent other users from stealing your identity. You can also kick users off the network who have taken your username by issuing a command with your password. This is known as Ghosting. Learn more about NickServ:
/msg NickServ HELP COMMANDS
That about covers it.