This document covers installing and using HexChat, a popular and easy to use IRC client.
Alternative clients include:
- http://webchat.freenode.net/ (no additional software required)
- Chatzilla firefox extension
- A list of popular linux clients (outdated)
How to install HexChat
$ sudo yum install hexchat
How to connect
Upon starting HexChat you will be greeted with a list of networks. Before connecting you may want to set Nick Name to something unique.
Once that is done with freenode active hit the Connect button.
A prompt suggesting a channel to join pops up, select nothing and ignore this for now.
How to join #fedora
To join a channel you simply use the command /join #channel but
#fedora specifically requires registration on this network.
See https://freenode.net/faq.shtml#registering for information on how to do this.
Once you have registered and identified you can join the channel as well as others such as #fedora-meetings.
How to automate logging in and joining
To avoid identifying and joining every time you can configure the network in the network list (ctrl+s) > freenode > edit.
In order to identify for freenode you need:
- Login type to be SASL (this is default)
- User Name to match your nickserv account
- Password
See https://freenode.net/sasl/sasl-hexchat.shtml for images.
Then switch to the Autojoin channels tab on that prompt and hit Add to add various channels to join.
What are the Basic HexChat/IRC commands
/help- Shows all commands./help Command- Shows command usage./nick NewNickName- Changes the NickName./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. Use/backwhen you return./quit QuitMessage- Leaves a message when you quit IRC channel.
For more information, see [1]
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