The Linuxchix community has an IRC server - find it at irc.linuxchix.org
Please read the beginner's guide if you are new to IRC; if you have xchat, read connecting to LinuxChix IRC with xchat.
Please read the IRC etiquette guide if you are new to Linuxchix IRC.
There are several channels on the LinuxChix IRC server. The most populous is #linuxchix. That channel is designed as a real-time avenue for Linuxchix to talk about all things relevant to Linuxchix. Of course, this spans the wide range of all of our interests. The channel is for technical support for using Linux, friendly conversations and discussions of Linux, technology, and all sorts of other topics.
The other channels, which have much less activity, are generally for more specific topics. For instance, #grrls-only means just that, women only. #tech is generally saved for detailed technical conversations, and #programming also for programming conversations. Some chapters have an IRC channel as well, and other channels are created when needed. Check the public list of channels (/list).
The public channels on the IRC server have channel "ops" - to find who they are, use: /msg chanserv access [channelname] list
If you establish a new channel that is intended to be permanent, please register it before you drop ops: "/msg chanserv help register" will guide you through the process.
This document explains chatting, IRC and what software is best.
You will find Linuxchix on the server irc.linuxchix.org. The main channel is called #linuxchix (don't forget the # -- that's part of the name).
With some software (konqueror, chatzilla, mirc) you might be able to use this shortcut:
irc://irc.linuxchix.org/linuxchix
If this is your first time in IRC, you might want to join the beginner channel first (/join #beginner).
Real time, text-based communication; once you connect to irc.linuxchix.org and a channel, you are talking with other Linuxchix, from around the world.
IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, which is text-based and immediate. You join a channel, then read and type messages to a group of people within that channel. IRC is installed on servers all over the world. Linuxchix has a server, irc.linuxchix.org.
Most IRC programs (clients) have a built-in list of servers you can connect to. Linuxchix will probably not be listed, so you'll need to add it. Linuxchix as the name, irc.linuxchix.org as the server. No passwords are required. Join the beginner channel (/join #beginner) if this is your first time using IRC.
If you use multi-protocol software such as Pidgin (formerly known as Gaim), you'll be able to use IRC and IMs in a single interface.
Depending on your operating system, you have lots of choices. For a complete listing, see IRC Client List: http://www.ircreviews.org/clients/
Best known is xchat, and here's a primer on how to use xchat to connect to our IRC network.
But there are many other good programs. Here are a few of them, divided into graphical (X, or X-windows) and terminal (term, or text-only) clients:
IRCle seems to dominate the pre-OS-X market, but there is more choice in the newer Mac programs.
The most widely used is mIRC, but if you also use IM, you might like Trillian or GAIM/Pidgin, which do both.
If you are still using Windows, but intend to learn to use open source programs and perhaps even Linux or other Unix-based operating system, you might consider using X-chat or Pidgin in Windows. Your IRC client will still seem familiar to you after the move.
Once you are a channel operator (+o), what commands might you need?
Commands in IRC begin with a slash / as the first character on a line, we will be representing these in fixed width, such as:
/command
Where something is in angle brackets, it signifies a parameter that a command takes, such as:
/command <parameter>
Where something is in square brackets, it signifies that whatever is between them is optional, such as:
/command <parameter1> [<parameter2>]
Further to this, several options which are mutually exclusive will be separated by a pipe symbol, such as:
/command <this>|<or this>
All ops need to /msg nickserv identify <password> at least once per month to maintain your nick registration. You can set up your client to do this automatically upon joining the server.
To op yourself:
/msg chanserv op <#channel> [<nick>]
When leaving or idling:
/deop [<nick>]
If /deop doesn't work:
/mode <#channel> -o <nick>
List of ops in a channel:
/msg chanserv access <#channel> list
Complete list of Chanserv commands:
/msg chanserv help
Note: You will not need to op yourself in the main channel unless you have auto-op turned off, or unless you deopped yourself. Ask another op to change your settings if you want auto-op turned off.
/topic <#channel> [<Topic>]
#channel is optional IN the channel:
/mode +s - secret
/mode +p - private
/mode +t - topic control (ops only),
/mode +n - no outside messages
/mode +l <20> - limited to 20, for example
/mode +m - moderated; only ops and voiced can speak
/mode +v <nick> - voice - allow to speak in moderated channel
/mode -v <nick> - unvoice
/mode #channel +o <nick> - channel ops
/mode +i - invite-only; to invite: /invite <nick> <#channel>
/mode <#channel> +k <passwordkey> - passworded
/mode <#channel> +b - checks who is banned
/mode <#channel +b *!*abcd@dialup*.provider.com - [nick!user@host]
From /whois <nick> - do ban first, THEN kick
/kick <nick> [reason]
Note: this requires /oper permissions, and a password. If you think you should have /oper but you don't know your password, use mkpasswd -H md5 to generate one then send it to the IRC server administrator.
1. /mode #channelname +m +i (sets it moderated, invite-only)
2. /whois asshole-nick (scroll up in buffer to see who did what)
3. /mode #channelname +b *!*nick@*.provider.com (ban asshole)
4. /kick asshole-nick
5. /oper yournick password (become server op)
6. /kline 100000 *!*@1.2.3.4 :Reason (server ban for 100000 minutes)
Channel security: http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/changuide.html#security
1. Identify to NickServ
2. /msg chanserv REGISTER #channelname
3. /msg chanserv SET #channelname founder linuxchix
4. /msg chanserv MLOCK - in the channel to set the proper modes (private, secret, invite-only, etc.)
1. Identify to NickServ
2. /msg chanserv REGISTER #channelname
3. /msg chanserv SET #channelname MLOCK +i
4. (optional, if you want the channel to be hidden) /msg chanserv set #channelname mlock +s
5.1 Make Nickname an op: /msg chanserv ACCESS #channelname ADD nickname 30
5.2 Allow Nickname to invite themselves: /msg chanserv access #channelname add nickname 5
* In either case, people can then join the channel by doing "/msg chanserv invite #channelname"
Welcome to Linuxchix IRC. Our server welcomes women all around the world who like Linux, and anyone who wants to support women in computing. Our rules are simple, and number only two:
1. Be polite
2. Be helpful
Knowledge of a few commands might make your IRC experience more enjoyable, so we are presenting some common ones. Before we start, here are a few conventions. You're probably already familiar with them, so if you are you can skip over these.
Commands in IRC begin with a slash / as the first character on a line, we will be representing these in fixed width, such as:
/command
Where something is in angle brackets, it signifies a parameter that a command takes, such as:
/command <parameter>
Where something is in square brackets, it signifies that whatever is between them is optional, such as:
/command <parameter1> [<parameter2>]
Further to this, several options which are mutually exclusive will be separated by a pipe symbol, such as:
/command <this>|<or this>
An IRC program is usually referred to as a client, which is what we'll use in this document. One thing that you may find unfamiliar is that groups of people come together in what IRC calls channels, instead of "rooms" that you may be familiar with from instant messaging systems. A channel is roughly analogous to a radio channel, in that everything you type into it is broadcast to everyone else in the same channel. You will find each channel has a unique name that is usually chosen to represent the general topic of interest to people in that channel.
There are many choices of IRC client nowadays, many of which have graphical interfaces, but IRC itself is controlled using text commands you type. Let's go through a few of them now; you will find lots of them have equivalents in the
user interface of your client. What actually happens there is your client creates the commands for you to do stuff.
Instructs your IRC client and the server to change your nick; choose one you would like everyone to see you as.
This will join your IRC client to the selected channel. Type /join #beginner to join our beginners channel where you will find some nice friendly people to help you get to grips with things.
There are several official channels which you might be interested in:
Many chapters also use channels on the server, and there are several other related interest channels.
The /list command will give you a list of channels on the server. If you supply no parameters it will give you a list of all channels on the server, though it should be noted that many clients will tell you this is unwise because of the number of channels; this will prove no problems on LinuxChix because we are a small IRC network with only our own channels. If you supply a pattern it will try to filter them to only display ones matching what you're looking for - this varies between clients so it is best to consult the help to check.
You use the /msg command to send a private message to someone (or something) else. This lets you talk to them, and only them, without anyone else being able to see what either of you are saying. Sometimes a client will provide additional commands such as /query which will perform a similar function with different presentation - eg: a query may open a new window and place you in it. Your IRC client should contain help that allows you to find out more information, but please don't be afraid to ask if you get stuck.
The LinuxChix IRC network contains various services that enable us to manage things on IRC more easily, such as NickServ, Chanserv or MemoServ. The most common one you will probably use is called NickServ. So /msg nickserv help , for instance, will print out NickServ's help file. We recommend that most people register their nick; /msg nickserv help register will tell you how, but remember to identify regularly to NickServ when you have registered, to make sure that your registration doesn't expire.
A service you may find useful is MemoServ, which lets you leave messages for friends who aren't connected to IRC whilst you're around. You can /msg memoserv help to get some instructions for this. You may also see OperServ and ChanServ around, they take care of things on the server for us - /msg chanserv help for some details if you'd like.
/me is a fun command, it lets you emote actions, which prints your nick and message text like this:
* nick wonders if there is a beginner IRC tutorial somewhere?
You can to set yourself away as you leave your keyboard, but stay in the channel while you are gone. This sets a flag on you so that people can see you're not around. If they send you a private message they will get a message back saying you're gone, for example. To unset yourself as away, use the /away command again but with no message. Some clients will also let you use the /unaway or
/back command.
The whois command tells you some information about nick. If you do a /whois of a person who has left an away message, it will be displayed to you, it will also tell you where they're connected from, which channels they are in, and other useful information such as whether they are a server operator. You can try it out on yourself.
This is similar to whois, but will tell you if someone was connected to IRC. Useful to see if you've just missed someone!
So who's around? /names with no options lists all the nicks of all the people in the current channel. Nicks preceded by an @ are channel operators - they're there to look after you, so if you have any problems talk to them first. You can specify a different channel, if you like, so to look at a channel called #channel: /names #channel
One thing that might confuse you slightly is that if you aren't in a channel, and look at who is in that channel, you may not get a complete list. That's normal, and we'll talk about that in a bit.
This is very similar to the /names command, but gives you more information, including a G or H flag to say whether they're Gone or Here (away or not). If you use a * it will do it for the current channel, or you can specify the channel name. In this view you also see a @ against someone's nick to represent channel operators, but you may also see a * which indicates that that person is a server operator.
Each channel has a "topic" associated with it that the people using it can set to display whatever they want. Despite the name it doesn't have to be used to define a rigid topic that everyone in the channel is talking about, it can be used to display messages or notices for people to see for example. Some clients will always display the channel topic, some will display it but truncate it, others may not display it all. No matter which behaviour yours has, you can always use this command to see the current topic, or even set it if you're allowed to. Use this command with only one parameter to view it, or supply a second parameter if you would like to change it. Bear in mind that some channels may find it impolite if you change the topic without asking if that is ok.
This is a really big command, with dozens of advanced options. The bit you will probably be interested in is that if you do /mode <yournick> +i it will set you as being 'invisible' on the server. You won't show up in lists of users anywhere, unless the person looking already knows your nick either by them specifying it or being in a channel with you. This is a useful command, since whilst we try to look after LinuxChix IRC very closely, we do occasionally have creeps that turn up. You'll still be visible to the server staff though, so don't be naughty!
So, once you've joined a channel, you can leave it too! This lets you leave a channel without logging off the server; if you type a message, it will be on your quit line displayed to other people.
We'll be sad to see you go, but this command logs you off the server. Just like /part the message is optional, but will be displayed to other people.