Guide to IRCGuide to IRCIRC (Internet Relay Chat) is an Internet protocol that allows people to have real-time conversations and conferences at a minimal cost in bandwidth. It is based around IRC servers (some of which relay messages to make virtual IRC networks), that host 'channels' for discussion. When a user connects to an IRC server, she must choose a nickname which is used to identify her during that session. Any number of users can join a channel, and whatever they type on that channel will be seen by everyone else who has joined it and tagged with their nickname. It's also possible to send messages and files to a single user.
Channels are created when the first user joins them, and destroyed when the last leaves. The user that creates a channel becomes an operator of that channel, giving her rights over it that other users do not have; a channel operator can make any other user an operator too. Channels can be controlled and restricted in a number of ways to provide some security and privacy for regular users of that channel.
One thing that might surprise if you're not prepared for it is that some IRC 'users' are actually just programs that respond to simple commands and triggers in a channel. For example, they can be used to keep control of a channel while the regular operators are not around, they can keep logs of a channel, they can store FAQs, and they can provide bulletin boards and mailboxes for regular users.
For more information or to download IRC client software for Windows or Mac, go to the EFnet help pages. If you have your Amiga on-line, check out AmIRC, ChatBox, and Grapevine.
The JMS has its own IRC channels on ARC-Net, the IRC network Started by Vapor Development. Vapor has been nice enough to allow us to use it's small network of servers, and they have been very helpful and shown us every courtesy. Having said this, the JMS would like to point out that our participation does not indicate a commercial endorsement of Vapor Development, or any of it's software products. We support all Amiga software developers that have shown the tenacity, commitment, and courage of conviction to remain with The Amiga Community throughout this period of great uncertainty.
These are the servers connected to ARC-Net. All of them use the standard IRC port (6667):
| Host name | Location |
|---|---|
| de.clchat.vapor.com | Berlin, Germany |
| it.clchat.vapor.com | La Spezia, Italy |
| ch.clchat.vapor.com | Thurgau, Switzerland |
| us1.clchat.vapor.com (aka wade1.ab.umd.edu) | Maryland, USA |
| us2.clchat.vapor.com | Nebraska, USA |
| us3.clchat.vapor.com | Illinois, USA |
| us4.clchat.vapor.com | Pennsylvania, USA |
The #2W channel on ArcNet is the 'party line' where participants in the initiative can meet to coordinate projects on which they are working, along with members of their project team. It can also be a place where informal chat can take place, but it would be helpful to all that if some people come onto the channel who have some serious business to attend to, that other participants give those people priority.
The #arise channel, by analogy with the ARise mailing list, tends to be used for somewhat more directed discussions and sometimes semi-official meetings (though these meetings cannot make Society decisions).
It is very easy for you to open another channel, for more private and focussed chats. Normally you just need to type "/join #channel-name", choosing a name that is not used, and a new channel will be opened for you on the server for you. Unlike #2W, however, this would not be a perminent channel. You may also send a message to just one other person by typing "/msg nickname Your message" in the text input line. This avoids cluttering up the channel with off-topic private discussions, which is very important when participants are using the channel to get projects coordinated, or a large meeting is taking place. Please make good use of these commands.
These channels have a few simple rules, rules that any person who has any experience with IRC can easily agree with and understand. We will not tolerate any flooding (writing excessive amounts of text) or clones (multiple nicknames) in the channel. Users' log-bots and file-server-bots will be allowed in the channel, but only with the permission of the operators. Anyone found to be using the channel as a meeting place for swapping 'warez' will be kicked along with their 'bot. Anyone found molesting or trying to hack access on BORG, Vapor's channel bot, will be banned. Use of war-bots, or similar destructive, anti-social behaviour on IRC will result in an immediate ban, the length of which will be determined by the operator that banned the person. If you wish to carry on a private argument, please take it to private chat, or another channel, or to POTS. If you don't, you can expect to be warned and then kicked by an operator.
All pages on this web site are copyright 1998 Jay Miner Society.