Quick Start Guide

What is IRC?

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a worldwide collection of chat servers. Each server has different features, rules, and users, but one thing they have in common is the IRC protocol. The IRC protocol is a standard language spoken by all IRC servers, which means that an IRC client (such as ViRC) can connect to any server.

Most large IRC servers are run by universities or businesses. The people in charge of running the server are called IRC operators (IRCops).

Networks

Most servers are linked into networks. If you're connected to a server that's on a network, you'll be able to talk to anybody who is using any server from that network; if your server is not on a network, you'll only be able to talk to people who are using the same server.

Nicknames

Everyone on IRC is identified by a unique nickname (a nick). The various networks have different limits on nicks, but generally they can be up to 9 characters long and must not start with digits or contain any spaces. (Some networks allow nicks as long as 30 characters.)

Nicknames are case-insensitive: MeGALiTH, megalith, and MegaLith are all the same person.

Some networks allow you to register a nickname to prevent others from using it, but usually it's first come, first served. You cannot choose a nickname that's being used by someone who came before you; you have to wait for him to change his nick or go offline.

Channels

An individual "chat room" on IRC is called a channel. Channels are named with # and a word, like #Seattle, #math, or #ViRC. Each channel has options that can be set, including a key, limit, topic, and modes.

ViRC opens a new window for each channel you join. The channel window has an output pane where you see what's being said in the channel, an input line where you type what you want to say, and a nick list showing the users in the channel. Some nicks in the list may be prefixed with special characters: channel operators have @, users with voice have +, and on some networks helpers (or half-ops) have %.

The people who run the channel are called channel operators (or ops). Channel operators can modify the channel by performing mode changes, which can affect the key (password required to join) or limit (number of users allowed in the channel), among other options. Mode changes can also make the channel moderated, which means that only channel operators and users with voice can talk.

Channel operators can grant operator priviliges and voice to other users. They're also able to kick people out of the channel and ban them from coming back. Try to stay on their good side :)

You can create your own channels simply by thinking of a new channel name and joining it. If the channel does not exist, it will be created and you will become its first channel operator. The channel will be deleted when it becomes empty; on some networks you can register your channel to prevent this.

Private Messages

IRC can also be used as an "instant messenger," letting you send messages privately to individuals. You can open a query window if you'll be having a long conversation; all the text send back and forth between you and the query target will be shown there. Without a query window open, messages you send or receive will be displayed in the current window:

*MeGALiTH* Hi there! Type '/msg megalith like this?' to send me a private message. -> *megalith* like this? *MeGALiTH* Exactly!

You may also see notices, which are like private messages but are usually sent automatically by the server or used as announcements:

=irc.somenetwork.com= Looking up your hostname... =MeGALiTH:#virc= Everyone in #virc sees this. =SomeIRCop= The server will be going down for maintenance shortly.

You can privately send a notice to the channel operators with the /wall command.

You can use ViRC's notify list like a "buddy list." Anyone on your notify list who is online will appear in the list in your server window, and you will receive messages when they sign on and off.