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Getting Started
Brief Overview on IRC
Servers
Nicknames
Channels
Modes
Private Chat
Robots
Netsplits
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a multi-user online chat system. It allows users to talk to other users all around the world via the Internet. This is done by connecting a client program (such as this one) to a server.
There are currently over 10 independent IRC networks, which makes the choice of a server a bit hard. Each server belongs to only one network. The default is irc.funet.fi (IRCnet).
Users on IRC are identified by "nicknames" which have to be unique over one network. Communication on IRC is done either between two users via "private messages" - also known as /msgs or openly in the "channels", the equivalent of "rooms" in other chat systems. Currently most servers carry over 3000 different channels.
Each of the different IRC networks consists of several upto one hundret or more servers located all over the globe. Usually each university and many of the larger ISPs have their own servers. You can, however, choose any server of your liking, but be prepared to be rejected if this one carries a lot of clients already.
IRC servers listen on port 6667 for client connections. Due to the huge demand, most servers also allow connections on ports 6668-6670 and many on 7000 as well. Choosing one of the alternative ports enhances your chance of getting a connection on crowded servers.
On IRC, users are identified by nicknames of their own choice. Nicknames may be at most 9 characters long. The nickname is set via preferences or the NICK command. If you choose a nickname already in use, you have to set a different nick.
Nicknames may include "0" - "9", "_", "-", "(", "{", "[", but not "*", "!" or "#".
As nicks have to be unique over a network, nicks like "sarah" are a bad choice as they will be very likely already taken. Let your imagination wander!
Channels are the heart of the whole IRC network, they are the places where all the chat takes place.
Channels have names starting with # and usually up to 12 characters long. You can see a list of the channels currently in use via the /LIST command. As soon as you join a channel with the /JOIN command, everything you type is sent to that channel and seen by all other users on that channel. You will see what the others type, respectively.
Anyone may create a new channel, simply by using the /JOIN command with a channel name that is not already in use.
Users of a channel fall in two categories: normal users and operators. The latter can kick users from a channel or may ban them, thereby disallowing them to enter a channel. Any user may be promoted to operator by any of the existing ops. The nick creating a channel is also the first operator there.
Channels have a motto, or topic which can be changed by the operators.
1) Nick-modes: users can set some modes on their own nicks - namely they may set themself invisible ("/mode nick +i") which avoids being disturbed by strangers.
2) Channel-modes: modes are a tool to administrate channels, they impose limitations on what ordinary users are allowed to do. Only operators may change modes.
To change modes, type: /mode nick or channel +/- mode
The following modes are defined across all IRC networks:
+t
Only channel operators can change topic
+n
You must be in the channel to send a message to it
+i
Invite-only
+m
Moderated. Only users with voice may speak
+p
Private
+s
Secret. Not listed with /list
+l
<number> Limits the number of people who may join this channel
+k
<key> Sets a channel password
+o
<Nick> Makes <Nick> channel operator
+v
<Nick> Voice. Allows <Nick> to speak on a moderated channel
+b
<Nick> Banned. You are prevented from joining the channel
Contrary to the public chat in channels, IRC offers the possibility to send messages to only one recipient. Those are called private messages.
To send a private message, type /msg nick yourmesssage text.
Incoming private messages will add a button to the button-panel on the left. By clicking it you will open a "query" window. This is explained in the next panel.
To better distinguish channel chat from private messages, smIRCle allows you to open a window for each user you are exchanging private messages with. Those are also known as "queries".
If you open a query window with user nick you do no longer need to type /msg nick text - everything you type into that window will be sent as a private message.
The button control panel on the left side has buttons for all the channels and all the queries you are engaged in. To start a query type: /query nick.
There is even a third way of chatting in private which is explained in the next panel.
While private messages and queries are transmitted over IRC network (and are therefore subject to delays en route), a third kind of private chat is carried on directly between the two IRC clients - hence its name: Direct Client Connections.
To start a DCC chat type /dcc chat nick
An addition to the original concept of IRC, robots have grown popular over the last years. Robots are programs which automaticall perform certain tasks on channels. They may hand out the operator-mode (see Modes) or kick or even ban users unwelcome to the channel.
It takes some knowledge to administrate a robot.
Robots are not welcome on all IRC networks.
If a connection between IRC servers gets overloaded, a so called netsplit may occur. This means that the network splits into two, wich are no longer in contact with each other.
Result of a netsplit is the sudden signoff of several users, so if the user which you were happily chatting with unexpectedly vanishes it may be that the network just broke into two.
There is nothing you could do about netsplits, the networks usually re-unite after several minutes and the users re-appear.
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