Snak is a program that will let you participate in discussions in Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels. IRC channels are like meeting rooms on the Internet, where people from all over the world can meet and chat.
Most IRC networks have thousands of channels, each focused on a location or subject, and anyone can find a place where someting interesting is being discussed. You can find channels for soccer fans, political animals, bostonians, kenyans and everyone in between. Because IRC is worldwide it can be a good way to hone your skills in Swedish or Japanese or any other language that interests you. Chances are you can find it on IRC.
In addition to chats in the meeting rooms, you can also have private, real-time talks with friends, family or business associates.
IRC consists of many different networks, most of which have servers (dedicated computers) all over the world accessible through the Internet. Individuals connect to a particular network via a nearby server with a client program like Snak.
The largest of the IRC networks often have as many as 35.000 participants and it is estimated that at any given time there are several hundred thousand people using IRC across the various networks.
About version 4.8
Version 4.8 features an improved window sharing option that stacks the docked channels in the window instead of tiling them. This new feature lets the active channel use the entire window area and the embedded channel bar shows you when the other channels receive text.
The Nick completion has been improved and now works on the last word in the line instead of just the first.
DCC transfer speed has been improved and Snak now supports long filenames on OS X. DCC resume transfer speed calculations have been improved, and there is now the option to automatically rename incoming files when duplicates are found.
This version contains many usability improvements, including the option of requiring the option key for stepping through the message history, changes to the way Snak uses saved preference files, automatic detection of lost connections, and an improved and simplified Setup Assistant.
A full list of the changes can be found in the Version History chapter of the manual and on the website at http://www.snak.com/SnakHistory.html
Nick completion
One of the new features in this version is the nick completion feature where you type a character or two of someones nickname and press the tab key. If there is no text in the input field the tab key steps through the list of people you had sent a private message to, or received a private message from.
Ident
Snak has a built-in Ident server that is always active, except on OS X. OS X has its own ident server that you should use instead, so the ident server in Snak is deactived on OS X.
Ident is a mechanism that the IRC server usually requires be accessible on your machine for you to connect.
By default the built in OS X Ident server is turned off, so you will need to turn it on to succesfully use IRC. This can't be done automatically but AppleScripts are included in this release to make it easier.
The server list
The server list is stored in the file "servers.ini" in the script folder so please do not simply replace that folder or throw it out. The server list is shared with the PC IRC client mIRC and is used with permission. If you lose the file you can download a fresh, updated copy from "http://www.mirc.co.uk/servers.ini". If you have amended the server list with your own preferred servers, then you can easily copy the file from your old Snak into the new script folder.
Scripting Snak
Snak comes with the powerful PurePak script package written in the ircII scripting language which provides many useful functions to the serious IRC'er as well as the casual user. Snak also supports AppleScript in a way that makes it possible to easily port AppleScripts from other IRC clients to Snak. The two script systems can be used side by side and complements each other very well.
Snak supports almost all of the ircII scripting language, with the exception of keybindings, so the inclusion of PurePak provides very valuable capabilities to Snak. Please see the Scripting chapter in the manual for a complete list of supported and unsupported language features.
Snak is being heavily developed and new features are added frequently due to user demand. If you have a cool and useful feature you would like to see in this IRC client, please drop me a line with feedback, bug reports or feature requests at "kents@snak.com".
My website is at "http://www.snak.com" where you can always get the latest versions.
How to Purchase Snak
Snak is shareware which means that you may freely use and evaluate it for 30 days at no charge. If you decide to keep using the program after 30 days you need to buy it and pay the $20 registration fee.
The fastest way to buy the program is to use the secure webserver that is available from my website at "http://www.snak.com". If you want to pay using mail, fax or email you can also use the Register program that comes in the package. It supports payments with Check, Cash, Credit Card and Money Order to the Kagi Shareware payment service.
You can even buy by telephone by calling the Kagi Shareware payment service at +1 (510) 658-5244 to place an order. They charge a $5 fee for telephone orders.
If you like the program, you are encouraged to buy it, as the show of support and appreciation will allow me to spend even more time working on the program.
You are also encouraged to tell others about Snak if you like the program.
You are welcome to upload this version of Snak whereever you want, but you must keep it as a package - ie. the program, the Register program, this read me file and the manual. If you want to include it on a CD, please ask me for permission first.
Features
Less window clutter than other IRC clients...!
A dedicated, resizeable input field per channel
Multi connections and multi channels
Integrated /Notify support
Connection records can specify multiple servers, which allows the program to try each server until it finds one that will connect.
Built-in Address Book to store information snippets
Customizable menus
Font and background color can be set for each individual channel
Manual and Automatic logging
International character sets are supported
Command-clicking URLs to open them is supported
Fully searchable channel list and channel text
Guardian feature lets parents limit what channels a child can use
Fully customizable multi line aliases
Two powerful scripting languages - ircII and AppleScript
Identd support
File transfer and chatting via DCC
About the name
Snak is the Danish word for Chat. Why did I choose "Snak" . . . . ? I'm Danish :-)
I normally pronounce it more or less like "Snack".
Getting Started
When you first launch Snak, the setup assistant will guide you through the initial setup. Once that simple process is done, it will display a welcome screen to remind you Snak is distributed as shareware which means that you will have to pay for it if you decide to keep using it after the 30 day free trial period.
Once you close the welcome window, the connections window comes up. From this window you can easily connect to the networks and join the IRC channels.
The Connections window will initially contain 5 default connection profiles for the most pouplar networks. In front of each connection record is an icon that shows the status of the connection. If it is red then the connection is not open yet. Once you connect, the icon will become green.
A connection profile contains nickname, startup action and the server to connect to and serves as instructions to Snak about what to do to get on a particular network. The DALNet profile contains instructions to connect you to one of the largest of the major IRC networks. Select it in the list and press connect.
Then a console window is shown and the program attempts to open a connection to the server.
Each server is a part of a particular network, so once connected to the server you are connected to the entire network. In the Connection window you can see the status icon change color, and when it is green you are successfully connected and you can join channels.
If you didn't specify a startup action in the connection record (like /join #macintosh or similar) you can use the File/Join menu to open a window where you can enter the name of the desired channel. In the window you can also create a list of favorite channels by typing in the name and pressing the Add button. After that you can just double click on the channel name. Some channels of general interest has been added as a default.
Alternatively you can use the input field in the console window or the connection window to type "/join #macintosh" (without the quotes).
Then the channel window comes up and you will notice the user list to the right of the main text field, as well as the input field below it. Both the input field and the user list are fully resizeable. The input field will adjust its size automatically if you type more than will fit on a line.
The main text area is made up of the nick column and the message area, and there is an invisible divider line between the two areas. If the nicks are getting cut off, place the cursor between the two areas and wait a second until the cursor changes shape. Then click and drag to widen the nick column.
* No Warranty
KENT SORENSEN PROVIDES Snak AS IS, WITHOUT ANY WARRENTY OR PROMISE OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT. KENT SORENSEN DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY OF ANY KIND FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM THE USE OF Snak, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT OR SPECIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, EVEN IF KENT SORENSEN IS AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. KENT SORENSEN MAKES NO WARRENTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRENTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Legal actions involving this products are to take place in the courts of Denmark, Århus Amt.
Snak IRC Client Entire work except WASTE text engine copyright 1996 - 2001 by Kent Sorensen All Rights Reserved