How to use IRC: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:04, 11 November 2015

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This document covers installing and using HexChat, a popular and easy to use IRC client.

Alternative clients include:

http://webchat.freenode.net/ (no additional software required)
Chatzilla firefox extension
A list of popular linux clients (outdated)

How to install HexChat

In Fedora 22 and later versions use DNF:

$ sudo dnf install hexchat

In Fedora 21 and earlier versions use YUM:

$ sudo yum install hexchat

How to connect

Upon starting HexChat you will be greeted with a list of networks. Before connecting you may want to set Nick Name to something unique.

Once that is done with freenode active hit the Connect button.

A prompt suggesting a channel to join pops up, select nothing and ignore this for now.

How to join #fedora

To join a channel you simply use the command /join #channel but #fedora specifically requires registration on this network. See https://freenode.net/faq.shtml#registering for information on how to do this.

Once you have registered and identified you can join the channel as well as others such as #fedora-meetings.

How to automate logging in and joining

To avoid identifying and joining every time you can configure the network in the network list (ctrl+s) > freenode > edit.

Here you can check Connect to this network automatically if you like.

In order to identify for freenode you need:

Login type to be SASL (this is default)
User Name to match your nickserv account
Password

See https://freenode.net/sasl/sasl-hexchat.shtml for images.

Then switch to the Autojoin channels tab on that prompt and hit Add to add various channels to join.

You can also just right click on any channel tab to add autojoin channels and auto-connecting networks without opening the network list.

What are the Basic HexChat/IRC commands

/help - Shows all commands.
/help Command - Shows command usage.
/nick NewNickName - Changes the NickName.
/whois NickName - Shows basic whois info for a NickName. To see more info, use /msg NickServ info NickName
/away AwayMessage - Leaves a message when you are away from channel. Use /back when you return.
/quit QuitMessage - Leaves a message when you quit IRC channel.

For more information, see [1]

Meeting Protocol

This only applies to certain IRC meetings. Others are usually more casual.

Please watch what others are doing and do not interrupt
If you have a question, type "?"
If you need to speak, type "!"
If you're done speaking, type "eof"
If you agree, type "+1"

How to create Fedora IRC cloaks for the freenode network

Add your IRC nick in FreenodeCloaks
Once your Fedora IRC cloak has been created, people will not see your real hostname.
Instead they will see something like yournick@fedora/yournick

Where can I find a list of Fedora Project IRC channels

See https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicating_and_getting_help#IRC

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-= How to configure IRC  =
+{{autolang|base=yes}}
+This document covers '''installing and using HexChat''', a popular and easy to use IRC client.
+Alternative clients include:
+* http://webchat.freenode.net/ (no additional software required)
+* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/chatzilla/?src=ss Chatzilla firefox extension]
+* A list of [http://www.ircreviews.org/clients/platforms-unix.html popular linux clients] (outdated)
+== How to install HexChat ==
-== How to install X-Chat ==
+In Fedora 22 and later versions use [[dnf|DNF]]:
-To check if you have X-Chat installed in your system, type following command:
 <pre>
-$ rpm -q xchat
+$ sudo dnf install hexchat
 </pre>
-If it's not installed, install it with following command.
+In Fedora 21 and earlier versions use [[yum|YUM]]:
 <pre>
-$ su -c 'yum install xchat'
+$ sudo yum install hexchat
 </pre>
-Now, you should be able to open X-Chat client from '''Applications''' > '''Internet''' > '''IRC'''
+== How to connect ==
-== How to join Fedora Project IRC Meeting ==
+Upon starting HexChat you will be greeted with a list of networks.
+Before connecting you may want to set ''Nick Name'' to something unique.
-For example, if you want to join [[Ambassadors/Meetings|  Fedora Ambassadors Meetings]] :
+Once that is done with ''freenode'' active hit the ''Connect'' button.
-# Open X-Chat: Applications > Internet > IRC
+A prompt suggesting a channel to join pops up, select nothing and ignore
-# Type your choice of <code>Nick name</code>, <code>User name</code> and <code>Real name</code>
+this for now.
-# Highlight <code>FreeNode</code> (formerly Open<code></code>Projects.net) and click Edit.<br/>[[Image:Communicate_IRCHowTo_xchat-server-list.png]]
-# Highlight <code>irc.freenode.net</code>
-# Type in fedora
-# Register your nick. Refer http://www.wikihow.com/Register-a-User-Name-on-Freenode
-# Type in your password in <code>Server password</code> and click Close.<br/>[[Image:Communicate_IRCHowTo_xchat-fedora-mktg.png]]
-Click on Connect button to connect to freenode IRC network.
+== How to join #fedora ==
-{{Anchor|Protocol}}
+To join a channel you simply use the command <code>/join #channel</code> but
-== Meeting Protocol ==
+''#fedora'' specifically requires registration on this network.
+See https://freenode.net/faq.shtml#registering for information on how to do this.
-This only applies to certain IRC meetings. Others are usually more casual.
+Once you have registered and identified you can join the channel as well as
+others such as #fedora-meetings.
-* Please watch what others are doing and do not interrupt
+== How to automate logging in and joining ==
-* If you have a question, type "?"
-* If you need to speak, type "!"
-* If you're done speaking, type "eof"
-* If you agree, type "+1"
-* See more in [http://fedoraunity.org/fup/meeting-guidelines/ fedora-unity-project-meeting-guidelines]
-== What are the Basic IRC commands ==
+To avoid identifying and joining every time you can configure the network
+in the network list ''(ctrl+s) > freenode > edit''.
-* <code>/help</code> - Shows all commands.
+Here you can check ''Connect to this network automatically'' if you like.
-* <code>/nick NewNickName</code> - Changes the Nick<code></code>Name (limited to 9 characters).
-* <code>/name</code> -  Shows all Nick<code></code>Names on that channel.
-* <code>/whois NickName</code> -  Shows basic whois info for a Nick<code></code>Name.  To see more info, use <code>/msg NickServ info NickName</code>
-* <code>/away AwayMessage</code> -  Leaves a message when you are away from channel.
-* <code>/quit QuitMessage</code> - Leaves a message when you quit IRC channel.
-For more information, see [http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/irctutorial.html#cmds]
+In order to identify for freenode you need:
+* ''Login type'' to be SASL (this is default)
+* ''User Name'' to match your nickserv account
+* ''Password''
-== How to create a login script for a private channel in X-Chat ==
+See https://freenode.net/sasl/sasl-hexchat.shtml for images.
-Create login script:
+Then switch to the ''Autojoin channels'' tab on that prompt
-<pre>
+and hit ''Add'' to add various channels to join.
-$ cd ~/.xchat2
-$ vi login-script.txt
-msg chanserv invite #private-channel
+You can also just right click on any channel tab to add
-join #private-channel
+autojoin channels and auto-connecting networks without opening
-</pre>
+the network list.
-Use following information in X-Chat:
+== What are the Basic HexChat/IRC commands ==
-* IRC Server: irc.freenode.net
-* Channels to join: #private-channel
-* Connect command: load -e ~/.xchat2/login-script.txt
-* Server password: {your password}
+* <code>/help</code> - Shows all commands.
+* <code>/help Command</code> - Shows command usage.
+* <code>/nick NewNickName</code> - Changes the Nick<code></code>Name.
+* <code>/whois NickName</code> -  Shows basic whois info for a Nick<code></code>Name.  To see more info, use <code>/msg NickServ info NickName</code>
+* <code>/away AwayMessage</code> -  Leaves a message when you are away from channel. Use <code>/back</code> when you return.
+* <code>/quit QuitMessage</code> - Leaves a message when you quit IRC channel.
-== What is the difference between NickServ Password and Server Password in X-Chat ==
+For more information, see [http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/irctutorial.html#cmds]
-Technically speaking, they aren't the same.  X-Chat has knowledge of the
+{{Anchor|Protocol}}
-NickServ system, and will automatically send a message to NickServ when
+== Meeting Protocol ==
-prompted to save you the hassle.  Server passwords are a more embedded part
-of IRC and are passed during the early connection phase, before you are fully
-operational on the network and before you join channels.  NickServ, part of
-freenode services, was added to their IRC system to enable user management
-that is not part of the original IRC protocol.  Other networks may also use
-NickServ, but it usually works a little differently.  It has proven very
-flexible and valuable.  Server passwords were initially used as part of an
-authentication system at connect time for IRC servers, but are now used by
-freenode to create a shortcut for NickServ services.  Other IRC networks
-often work things a little differently, but similar practices have become
-widespread because they do work quite well.
-freenode services, as are permitted by Hyperion IRCD and powered by a custom
+This only applies to certain IRC meetings. Others are usually more casual.
-backend, allow a number of features to be added and used that are not part of
-the IRC protocol.  NickServ is used to interface with user account features.
-ChanServ is used to interface with channel management features.  Other
-services are handled transparently using more typical IRC components.  These
-kinds of techniques are how IRC has evolved over the original [http://rfc.net/rfc1459.html RFC 1459]
-standard to survive in a useful fashion for the last 13 years.
--- PatrickBarnes
+* Please watch what others are doing and do not interrupt
+* If you have a question, type "?"
+* If you need to speak, type "!"
+* If you're done speaking, type "eof"
+* If you agree, type "+1"
 == How to create Fedora IRC cloaks for the freenode network ==
-* Add your IRC nick in FreenodeCloaks
+* Add your IRC nick in [[FreenodeCloaks]]
 * Once your Fedora IRC cloak has been created, people will not see your real hostname.
 * Instead they will see something like <code>yournick@fedora/yournick</code>
@@ Line 108: / Line 88: @@
 == Where can I find a list of Fedora Project IRC channels ==
-* See http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicate#IRC
+* See https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicating_and_getting_help#IRC
-----
 [[Category:Communicate]]
+[[Category:How to]]

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