IRC Tutorial

IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It was originally written by Jarkko Oikarinen (jto@tolsun.oulu.fi) in 1988. Since starting in Finland, it has been used in over 60 countries around the world. It was designed as a replacement for the `talk' program but has become much much more than that. IRC is a multi-user chat system, where people convene on `channels' (a virtual place, usually with a topic of conversation) to talk in groups, or privately. IRC is constantly evolving, so the way things to work one week may not be the way they work the next. Read the MOTD (message of the day) every time you use IRC to keep up on any new happenings or server updates.

IRC gained international fame during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, where updates from around the world came across the wire, and most irc users who were online at the time gathered on a single channel to hear these reports. IRC had similar uses during the coup against Boris Yeltsin in September 1993, where IRC users from Moscow were giving live reports about the unstable situation there.

How is IRC set up?

The user runs a client program (usually called `irc') which connects to the IRC network via another program called a server. Servers exist to pass messages from user to user over the IRC network.

How do I use a client?

Type `irc' from your shell prompt. If you want to connect to an IRC server other than irc.iastate.edu (the default), type: 
		irc <nickname> <server.machine.name>
where <nickname> is the name you want to go by and <server.machine.name> is the name of the server to which you want to connect.

Which server do I connect to?

It's usually best to try and connect to one geographically close, even though that may not be the best. If no server is specified, the default for this machine is irc.iastate.edu (Iowa State University). You can always ask when you get on IRC. Here's a list of servers available for connection: 
USA:
		cs-pub.bu.edu			(Massachusetts)
		irc.colorado.edu		(Colorado)
                irc.uiuc.edu			(Illinois)
		irc.iastate.edu			(Iowa)
		sluaxa.slu.edu			(Missouri)

Canada:
		sol.csd.unb.ca			(New Brunswick)

Europe:
		irc.funet.fi			(Finland)
		cismhp.univ-lyon1.fr		(France)
                disuns2.epfl.ch			(Switzerland)
                irc.nada.kth.se			(Sweden)
		sokrates.informatik.uni-kl.de	(Germany)
                bim.itc.univie.ac.at

Australia:
		jello.qabc.uq.oz.au
This is, by no means, a comprehensive list, but merely a start. A more complete list is available from the file /usr/local/doc/irc/servers.940701 on this machine. Connect to the closest of these servers and join the channel #Twilight_Zone When you get there, immediately ask what you want. Don't say "I have a question" because then hardly anyone will talk.

OK, I've got a client and I'm connected to a server, now what?

It's probably best to take a look around and see what you want to do first. All IRC commands start with a `/', and most are one word. Typing /help will get you help information. /names will get you a list of names, etc.

The output of /names is typically something like this-> 

Pub: #hack      zorgo eiji Patrick fup htoaster 
Pub: #Nippon    @jircc @miyu_d 
Pub: #nicole    MountainD 
Pub: #hottub    omar liron beer Deadog moh pfloyd Dode greywolf SAMANTHA
(Note there are LOTS more channels than this, this is just sample output -- one way to stop /names from being too large is doing /names -min 20 which will only list channels with 20 or more people on it, but you can only do this with the ircII client).

`Pub' means public (or `visible') channel. `hack' is the channel name. `#' is the prefix. A `@' before someone's nickname indicates he/she is the `Channel operator' (see #7) of that channel. A Channel Operator is someone who has control over a specific channel. It can be shared or not as the first Channel Operator sees fit. The first person to join the channel automatically receives Channel Operator status, and can share it with anyone he/she chooses (or not). Another thing you might see is `Prv' which means private. You will only see this if you are on that private channel. No one can see Private channels except those who are on that particular private channel.

To join a particular channel, type `/join #<channel_name>' or `/channel #<channel_name>', where <channel_name> is the name of the channel to which you want to connect. E.g: `/join #hottub' will connect you to the `hottub' channel. Typing `/bye' will close your IRC session.

What is a channel operator? What is an IRC operator?

A channel operator is someone with a `@' by their nickname in a /names list, or a `@' by the channel name in /whois output. Channel operators are kings/queens of their channel. This means they can kick you out of their channel for no reason. If you don't like this, you can start your own channel and become a channel operator there.

An IRC operator is someone who maintains the IRC network. They cannot fix channel problems. They cannot kick someone out of a channel for you. They cannot /kill (kick someone out of IRC temporarily) someone just because you gave the offender channel operator privileges and said offender kicked *you* off.

What are good channels to try while using IRC?

#hottub and #initgame are almost always teeming with people. #hottub is meant to simulate a hot tub, and #initgame is a non-stop game of `inits' (initials). Just join and find out!

To get a list of channels with their names and topics, do /list -min 20 (on ircII) which will show you channels with 20 or more members. You can also do this for smaller numbers.

Many IRC operators are in #Twilight_Zone ... so if you join that channel and don't hear much talking, don't worry, it's not because you joined, operators don't talk much on that channel anyways!

What if someone tells me to type something cryptic?

Never type anything anyone tells you to without knowing what it is. There is a problem with typing certain commands with the ircII client that give anyone immediate control of your client (and thus can gain access to your account).

Where can I learn more?

The best, basic, IRC user's manual is the IRC Primer, available in plain text, PostScript, and LaTeX in the /usr/local/doc/irc directory on this machine or via anonymous ftp from cs.bu.edu in /irc/support ... Another good place to start might be downloading the IRC tutorials. They're also in the /usr/local/doc/irc directory on this machine, and also avaliable via anonymous ftp from cs.bu.edu in /irc/support/tutorial.*

You can also join various IRC related mailing lists:

NOTE! These are not `Help me, where can I get started?' lists. For that information, read the IRCprimer noted above.

Those looking for more technical information can get the IRC RFC (rfc1459) available at all RFC ftp sites, as well as cs.bu.edu:/irc/support/rfc1459.txt

Excerpted from the alt.irc FAQ

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Last updated 4/04/96