Internet Relay Chat
From ARG-IRC.NET
IRC, short for Internet Relay Chat, is a method for real-time online chat. Most IRC networks have more than one server. For our network, ARG-IRC uses just two servers, those being hastur.arg-irc.net and thelema.arg-irc.net.
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What do I have to get to use IRC?
To use IRC, there are a few options available. There are many programs that allow people to connect to IRC, whether its a web-application, or a downloadable program.
Downloadable programs
There are many popular downloadable programs used to connect to IRC. Here, we'll list some of the most popular.
- mIRC - mIRC is quite possibly the most popular IRC client available for Windows. It has many features, such as being able to join multiple channels and networks at once, as well as a full scripting system. With enough knowledge of how mIRC's scripting works, one could set up their own bot using it. It is very customizable, and even its most basic settings can be changed.
- Chatzilla - Chatzilla is another popular client, as it's able to be attached to Firefox as an addon. Like mIRC, it has multi-network support.
- xchat - xchat has recently become popular for being able to be used across multiple platforms, as well as being open-source.
For Wikipedia's full list of IRC clients, as well as a comparison, click here.
Web Applications
- Mibbit - Mibbit is a web-based IRC application, and is becoming very popular. Unlike a lot of other web-based IRC applications, Mibbit has multi-network support.
- PJIRC - PJIRC is a web-based IRC application that became popular because of its very simple design. While it doesn't have as many features as other web-based clients, its simplicity makes it a preferred program for many users.
How do I use IRC?
There are actually a few steps to using IRC. The first step is to actually connect to a network. I should explain, a network is a group of servers that host chat rooms. Different networks have different chat rooms, and some rooms you'd find on ARG-IRC, you might not find in other places, and vice-versa.
How do I connect to a network?
The program you use to connect to IRC determines how you use IRC. For home programs, use this tutorial to connect:
For web applications, use the tutorial for the client you chose:
I've connected to a network. Now what?
Now that you've connected to a network, it's time to decide what you'd like yourself to be called. In IRC, the way to change your display name is with /nick newnamehere. This will change your name to whatever you want it to be. However, if the name is taken, it is possible that your name will be forced to change, or you could even be kicked off the network for a moment. Also, if a name is not taken, it can be registered, so that no one else can use it but you. This is optional, and is explained later.
So, I have a name. When can I start chatting?
Right now! All networks have channels you can join to chat in. A channel is basically a room with a bunch of different users in it. To join a channel, type /join #channelname. If you don't know the name of the channel you wish to join, type /list to view a list of all public channels. Pick one, and start chatting! It is also important to note that, for some places, when you use Mibbit or PJIRC, it may automatically connect you to the channel you wish to go to. One good example would be the Mibbit client for the YGOTAS site, which automatically connects to the YGOTAS channel.
Other questions
So, now that you've been chatting for a while, you probably have a bunch of other questions. Let's see if we can help you there.
What does it mean when someone is kicked?
When someone is kicked, it means they were forced out of the channel, likely from bad behavior. This happens fairly often in IRC channels, and isn't something to worry about.
What are the symbols next to people's names?
The symbols next to a person's name indicates what they are allowed to do in a channel. Different symbols mean different things:
- + - The + symbol means that the user is allowed to talk in the channel, even if it's muted. In a muted channel, people must at least have a voice to be allowed to speak.
- % - The % symbol means that the user is a halfop. Halfops can change the topic of a channel, and kick and ban users who abuse the channel. Halfops can not kick Ops.
- @ - The @ symbol means that the user is an Op. Ops can change the topic of a channel, kick and ban users who abuse the channel, and give other people permanent Halfop status.
- & - The & symbol means that the user is a Protected Op. Protected Ops can change the topic of a channel, kick and ban users who abuse the channel, and give other people permanent Op status. Protected Ops can also remove the Op and Halfop status of other people permanently.
- ~ - The ~ symbol means that the user is a channel's Owner. Owners have full access rights. They can give or remove Ops to anyone at all, and change any of the channel's settings.
It is important to note that only registered users can keep an Op status. It is also important to note that Op status is not just given away, and that if someone asks for Op status, they probably will never get it.
How do I register a name?
To register a name, just type /ns register password email, where your password and e-mail are the two you wish to use. It is also advisable that you use a real e-mail account when registering a name, as that makes password recovery possible. Now, every time you go back into the network, just change to your registered name, and type /ns identify password, where the password is the one you have already chosen.
Conclusion
I hope this helps you with starting on IRC. If you still have questions, please, leave a comment on the talk page, and someone will help you as soon as possible.
