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How to configure IRC

How to install X-Chat

To check if you have X-Chat installed in your system, type following command: 

$ rpm -q xchat

If it's not installed, install it with following command. 

$ su -c 'yum install xchat'

Now, you should be able to open X-Chat client from Applications > Internet > IRC

How to join Fedora Project IRC Meeting

For example, if you want to join Fedora Ambassadors Meetings :

  1. Open X-Chat: Applications > Internet > IRC
  2. Type your choice of Nick name, User name and Real name
  3. Highlight FreeNode (formerly OpenProjects.net) and click Edit.
    File:Communicate IRCHowTo xchat-server-list.png
  4. Highlight irc.freenode.net
  5. Type in fedora
  6. Register your nick. Refer http://www.wikihow.com/Register-a-User-Name-on-Freenode
  7. Type in your password in Server password and click Close.
    File:Communicate IRCHowTo xchat-fedora-mktg.png

Click on Connect button to connect to freenode IRC network.

Meeting Protocol

This only applies to certain IRC meetings. Others are usually more casual.

  • Please watch what others are doing and do not interrupt
  • If you have a question, type "?"
  • If you need to speak, type "!"
  • If you're done speaking, type "eof"
  • If you agree, type "+1"
  • See more in fedora-unity-project-meeting-guidelines

What are the Basic IRC commands

  • /help - Shows all commands.
  • /nick NewNickName - Changes the NickName (limited to 9 characters).
  • /name - Shows all NickNames on that channel.
  • /whois NickName - Shows basic whois info for a NickName. To see more info, use /msg NickServ info NickName
  • /away AwayMessage - Leaves a message when you are away from channel.
  • /quit QuitMessage - Leaves a message when you quit IRC channel.

For more information, see [1]

How to create a login script for a private channel in X-Chat

Create login script: 

$ cd ~/.xchat2
$ vi login-script.txt

msg chanserv invite #private-channel
join #private-channel

Use following information in X-Chat:

  • IRC Server: irc.freenode.net
  • Channels to join: #private-channel
  • Connect command: load -e ~/.xchat2/login-script.txt
  • Server password: {your password}


What is the difference between NickServ Password and Server Password in X-Chat

Technically speaking, they aren't the same. X-Chat has knowledge of the NickServ system, and will automatically send a message to NickServ when prompted to save you the hassle. Server passwords are a more embedded part of IRC and are passed during the early connection phase, before you are fully operational on the network and before you join channels. NickServ, part of freenode services, was added to their IRC system to enable user management that is not part of the original IRC protocol. Other networks may also use NickServ, but it usually works a little differently. It has proven very flexible and valuable. Server passwords were initially used as part of an authentication system at connect time for IRC servers, but are now used by freenode to create a shortcut for NickServ services. Other IRC networks often work things a little differently, but similar practices have become widespread because they do work quite well.

freenode services, as are permitted by Hyperion IRCD and powered by a custom backend, allow a number of features to be added and used that are not part of the IRC protocol. NickServ is used to interface with user account features. ChanServ is used to interface with channel management features. Other services are handled transparently using more typical IRC components. These kinds of techniques are how IRC has evolved over the original RFC 1459 standard to survive in a useful fashion for the last 13 years.

-- PatrickBarnes

How to create Fedora IRC cloaks for the freenode network

  • Add your IRC nick in FreenodeCloaks
  • Once your Fedora IRC cloak has been created, people will not see your real hostname.
  • Instead they will see something like yournick@fedora/yournick

Where can I find a list of Fedora Project IRC channels

IRC Channels

IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, is a real-time, text-based form of communication. You can have conversations with multiple people in an open channel or chat with someone privately one-on-one.

To talk to other Fedora Project participants, log onto the freenode IRC network .

NOTE
You may be required to register your user nickname (nick) and identify with that nick. Otherwise, you may not be able to join or be heard on the IRC channel. There is a page describing how to register your nick at freenode.net.
NOTE
Some of the Fedora channels ban users that are logged into their system as root. Make sure that you are logged into your system as a normal user and that any ident server you may have running is accurately reporting your username.

To learn how to use IRC, refer to the IRC Tutorial at irchelp.org and IRC HowTo .


  • #fedora-admin - Chat related to Fedora Infrastructure, not end-user discussions
  • #fedora-art - Chat specifically related to Fedora Artwork, not end-user discussions
  • #fedora-devel - Chat specifically related to Fedora development, not end-user discussions
  • #fedora-kde - Chat related to KDE in Fedora
  • #fedora-docs - Chat specifically related to Fedora Documentation, not end-user discussions
  • #fedora-mentors - Chat to help new and potential Fedora contributors get started, not end-user discussions
  • #fedora-mktg - Chat specifically related to Fedora Marketing, not end-user discussions
  • #fedora-qa - Fedora Quality Assurance discussions (Please report bugs through Bugzilla , not here)
  • #fedora-websites - Chat specifically related to Fedora Websites, not end-user discussions
  • #fedora-board-meeting - Moderated room for public Fedora Project Board meetings
  • #fedora-board-public - Unmoderated room for public Fedora Project Board meetings. Ask your questions here to see them discussed during a meeting.


Also, at irc.gnome.org:

Several projects are large enough to have their own channels. Individual project channels, IRC server, and channel information are also found on the project pages. See the ["Projects"] list.

Participants Code of Conduct

Participants Code of Conduct

Helpers Code of Conduct

Helpers Code of Conduct

Operators Code of Conduct

Operators Code of Conduct

Fedora Support Channel Meeting Information

Support Channel Meeting Information

General IRC Etiquette

Away Messages

There is absolutely nothing worse than any type of away message that generates noise. Especially on a busy channel, where such a thing can result in instant banning. Generally, it's in your best interests to turn off all broadcasting "aways" that your IRC client may have. When using a new IRC client, before connecting to a server or going away, you should check to make sure that your away message settings are all set to silent. Especially since a few popular IRC clients come with away message broadcasting enabled by default. Now that I've told you all of this, I'm sure that I shouldn't even have to mention that switching your name based on your various periods of inactivity can also be rather annoying, especially when overused.

Nick Changes

Constantly changing your nick to let us know what you are doing is just as annoying as using an away message. It is not necessary that we know that you are going to the bathroom by changing your nick to John-Doe-Pissin or that you have wondered outside to check the mail by changing your nick to John-Doe-Postalbox. No matter what you do, nick changes you perform show directly into the channel and get very annoying to see constantly. If you are going to be away from the computer, simply use an away message that does not announce when you do /away Gone Pissin to the channels you are in. Pick a nick and stick with it for as long as you shall live. Or if you want to constantly change nicks, do it BEFORE you get into the channel or AFTER you leave the channel. Buffer space is quite precious and doesn't need to be filled with: John-Doe is away Cuz I need to piss or John-Doe is now known as John-Doe-Pissin.

L33t Speak

On IRC, it's very important for users to be able to understand what you're saying, so, obviously, sp43k1ng with symbols and numbers in the place of letters is not a very good thing to do if you really want to be taken seriously. Using painfully bad grammar and ridiculous amounts of nothing but smiles generally go along with l33t speak and both practices are frowned on.

No Flaming

"Flaming" is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotion. It's the kind of message that makes people respond, "Oh come on, tell us how you really feel." Tact is not its objective. Topics that lead to flame wars are discussions about other Distributions or Window Managers, this is not the channel for that type of discussion, it leads to arguments and unfairly monopolizes bandwidth from users that need legitimate help.

Punctuation

It is also very important to understand that using excessive punctuation isn't necessary as well. If you ask a question and use 10 ?'s after it doesn't automatically mean everyone is going to jump up and start answering your question just because you feel it to be so very urgent. The best way to handle things is to type your sentences/questions just as if you would in real life on paper or something similar. Excessive punctuation only draws attention to you as being in a hurry and sometimes it's even considered rude. One exclamation point(!) or one question mark(?) is plenty of punctuation to get your point across.

Asking Questions Properly

If you go to a channel and need help with something remember to be polite to those that you're asking for help; of course, that is if you want a response. Remember that the people there are not there for the single purpose of helping you, they also have other things to do and thus if you're being rude and nasty, chances are that they will do those other things instead of helping you with your problem. And you could be kicked and/or banned from the channel if rudeness persists. And it's always good to say thank you after being helped by someone (regardless of whether they were successful in fixing your problem). It doesn't take a lot of effort and it really is a good thing to do, if only because it makes people more willing to help you in the future if they remember you as being nice. Finally, when posing a question, your best bet is to paste all pertinent information on http://fpaste.org/, http://rafb.net/, or http://pastebin.com/. Then, give a brief synopsis of your problem in the appropriate channel with a link to your pasted errors and other information. Pay attention to the information your receive, if someone is abusive or unhelpful, simply ignore them and do not respond at all. Fighting or arguing with others (even if you believe you're right) will only make you look bad and unnecessarily complicate your issue. This is the internet, let it go. Common Sense

Altogether, there is no better way to figure out what is tolerated in a channel and what is *not* tolerated in a channel by asking someone, reading the topic, or reading any rules webpage for that channel.

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