IRC How-ToCode 'n' Splode - Sept 2012

Agenda● Welcome● Introductions● Announcements● Talk● Questions● 'Splode!

What is IRC?● Internet Relay Chat● Multi-user chat system● Users participate in group chat via

"channels" or communicate privately● Constantly evolving● It's simplicity makes it powerful● There are many, many chat networks

IRC History● Written by Jarkko Oikarinen, a BBS admin

at University of Oulu in Finland● First released August 1988● Needed an improvement for existing talk

feature● Modeled after Bitnet Relay for BITNET● Many specifications: RFC 1459, RFC 2810-

13, but none are official

Tech Details● Text-based, client-server protocol● Uses TCP, typically on port 6660-6669 and

7000 (officially assigned port 194)● Each message and reply is a single line● Each chat network has at least 1 server, but

can have many (in a tree structure)

Raw IRC Messages<< JOIN #codensplode IegaThai4>> :christiek!~christiek@pdpc/supporter/active/christiekoehler JOIN #codensplode<< MODE #codensplode<< WHO #codensplode>> :pratchett.freenode.net 332 christiek #codensplode :http://cat-shaming.tumblr.com/>> :pratchett.freenode.net 333 christiek #codensplode akfarrell!~afarrell@www.amykfarrell.com 1345957605>> :pratchett.freenode.net 353 christiek @ #codensplode :christiek addiemew_ ephany1 kcomandich spinnerin skgolden akfarrell reidab>> :pratchett.freenode.net 366 christiek #codensplode :End of /NAMES list.>> :pratchett.freenode.net 315 christiek #codensplode :End of /WHO list.>> :services. 328 christiek #codensplode :http://codeandsplode.org

Raw IRC Messages<< JOIN #codensplode IegaThai4>> :christiek!~christiek@pdpc/supporter/active/christiekoehler JOIN #codensplode<< MODE #codensplode<< WHO #codensplode>> :pratchett.freenode.net 332 christiek #codensplode :http://cat-shaming.tumblr.com/>> :pratchett.freenode.net 333 christiek #codensplode akfarrell!~afarrell@www.amykfarrell.com 1345957605>> :pratchett.freenode.net 353 christiek @ #codensplode :christiek addiemew_ ephany1 kcomandich spinnerin skgolden akfarrell reidab>> :pratchett.freenode.net 366 christiek #codensplode :End of /NAMES list.>> :pratchett.freenode.net 315 christiek #codensplode :End of /WHO list.>> :services. 328 christiek #codensplode :http://codeandsplode.org

Thankfully, you don't have to type these commands...

...unless you only ever want to use telnet.

Terminology● Network● Client● Channel● Operator● Channel Operator● Commands

Network● Consists of at least one server, but can

consist of many servers in a spanning tree.● What your client connects to so that you can

chat with others.● Each server in the tree is running IRC

daemon software.● In a multi-server network, two users don't

have to be on the same server to chat with one another.

Client● Anything that connects to an IRC network

that isn't a server.● Includes your chat program and bots as well. ● Each client must be uniquely identified.● Messages to clients are transmitted through

the server (no need for direct connection).

Channel● A "room" that users can join and chat as a

group.● Messages sent to a channel are seen by all

who have currently joined that channel.● Channel names are unique and usually

prefixed with hash character (#).● Channels are created when the first user

joins the channel and destroyed when the last user leaves.

Operator● A client with special privileges on a network.● Help maintain the network by adding and

removing servers; adding, removing and banning (if necessary) other clients, etc.

Channel Operator● A client with special privileges on a channel.● Help maintain the channel by removing

disruptive clients, setting the topic and changing channel settings (like keywords).

● If you are the first to join a channel, you are often made its operator automatically.

Commands● Commands are how clients interact with

servers.● Prefixed with a forward-slash (/).● They often take one or more arguments.● On most networks you can issue the help

command for more info about any command○ /help○ /help <command>

● Can usually run commands for one channel while in another by specifying other channel.

Let's Connect!Freenode:

chat.freenode.netSSL enabled, port 6697, 7000 or 7070

List of location specific servers:http://freenode.net/irc_servers.shtml

Basic Commands● Get list of channels

○ /list○ /list -min 30○ note: not recommended for large networks

● List who is in a channel○ /who○ /who #channel

● Get info about a user○ /whois nick

● Change your nickname○ /nick newnick

Basic Commands● Join a channel

○ /join #channel○ /join #channel keyword

● Leave (part) a channel○ /part○ /part #channel

● Invite someone to a channel:○ /invite nick #channel

● Set away status (message optional)○ /away message

● Set returned status○ /back

Basic Commands● Send a private message

○ /msg nick message● Open privmsg window to a user

○ /query nick● Actions

○ /me description of action○ produces "christiek does something"○ always in the third person

● Ignore a user○ /ignore hostmask types options○ some networks use nick, freenode uses hostmask

Register with NickServ● NickServ is a service that helps manage

clients on IRC networks.● Registering with NickServ preserves your

nickname and is often required to do things like join channels with keywords.

● To register, enter this once:○ /msg NickServ REGISTER password

youremail@example.com● On subsequent connects, enter:

○ /msg NickServ IDENTIFY password● Record your password in a safe place!

Register with ChanServ● Like NickServ, ChanServ is a service that

helps maintain channels on IRC networks.● Registering your channels with ChanServ

links you with the channel and provides a mechanism for recovering the channel should it be taken.

● Usage:○ /msg ChanServ register <channelname>

<password> description_of_channel● Record that password in a safe place!

Items not covered...● Channel management● Bouncers● Bots● DCC and filesharing● Operating an IRC network

Thank you!Questions? Get in touch!Christie KoehlerTwitter: christiekoehlerFreenode: christiekchristiekoehler@gmail.com