Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Internet Relay Chat (or IRC) is one of the oldest chat platforms. However, it is not a service, nor an application, but a communication protocol. Using the IRC protocol, anyone can spin up a chat server with any number of individual chat rooms, and any compatible program can connect to any of these servers.

Its simple no-frills interface has led to IRC being affectionately nicknamed Multiplayer Notepad. To win in IRC, you go and talk, become popular, amass friends, and get ops. Now for most things in life you can just go read Wikipedia, but IRC is confusing as fuck. So let's break it down for the new operatives to learn.

Below are just a handful of popular IRC clients. Each of them does things in its own way. It will be up to you to play around to see what works best for you and your particular machine.

For a full list of clients that are compatible with modern IRC servers, visit IRCv3.net for a detailed comparison chart.

If you're just getting started and are feeling apprehensive about installing software right away, perhaps consider a browser-based client to get a feel for the IRC ecosystem first.

• KiwiIRC
• IRCCloud (“always-on” paid service)

If you find yourself using IRC regularly, you will want to graduate from a browser-based app to something a bit more robust. Full-fledged desktop apps are the next step up.

• AdiIRC - Windows
• Colloquy - Mac
• Halloy - Linux, Windows & Mac
• HexChat - Linux & Windows
• IceChat - Windows
• Konversation - Linux
• KVIrc - Linux, Windows, Mac & BSD
• mIRC - Windows
• Quassel - Linux, Windows & Mac

For powerusers who aren't afraid of command line, are terminal-based apps. This is where things get serious, but also where you get the most functionality for advanced IRC magick.

• BitchX - Linux, Mac & Windows (popular with ASCII artists!)
• glirc
• irssi - Linux, BSD & Mac (by far the most popular terminal-based client)
• senpai
• WeeChat (not to be confused with WeChat)

Mobile apps are their own animal entirely. Here are a few options.

• Colloquy - iOS
• CoreIRC - Android
• Goguma - Android & iOS
• IRCCloud - Android & iOS (“always-on” paid service)
• Palaver - iOS

• Type '/server (server)' or use the connect to connect to a new IRC server (use '/server -m (server)' to connect in a new IRC window without disconnecting from the current server. There are several large networks like EFnet (irc.efnet.net) and Rizon(irc.rizon.net, aka animu central). Of other note are private servers irc.pirated.ws, irc.7chan.org, and irc.chatnets.net. Some places, like Rizon or Chatnets, or really any place except stone-age EFnet, has a NickServ. Register with NickServ (type '/msg nickserv register passwordhere realemailhere') and then '/msg nickserv identify password' to be identified. Some places, like #4chan on Rizon, require you to be registered with NickServ to join.
• Type '/j #channel' or '/join #channel' (it's the same) to join a channel. To part, just close it with the red X, or type /part #channel somemessage if you want to be fancy.
• To change nick, type '/nick newnickhere'. There is a limit on how long the nick can be; some networks only allow a maximum of 9 characters, while others let you go up to 18.
• To send a private message, use '/msg nick message here blah blah dongs'. In most clients, private messages appear in a little new window.

• Channel founders, +q, have a ~ by their name, and are the creators of the IRC channel. They can change all channel settings and modes.
• Super-ops, aka +a or admins, have a & by their name, have the same powers as ops, can access some ChanServ commands, and cannot be kicked by normal ops.
• Ops, aka +o, have an @ by their name. They can ban, kick, add and remove ops, change the topic, and make your life hell.
• Half ops, aka hops or +h, they have a % by their name. They can ban and kick, add and remove voice, change the topic and set a few modes.
• Voiced, or +v, have a +. They are just regular users who we trust for the most part and have been there a while. Also, if the channel is set +m (moderated, basically mute) they and the +o, +h and +v people can talk, while regular users can't.
• A few channels set +v on join, usually if it's +m so that ops can remove voice from people who spam or whatever.

A user without a ~, &, @, %, or + is just a regular person. They may feel as clueless as you. Just use IRC, and you will learn. Weeaboos, check out irc.rizon.net, gamers, irc.gamesurge.net, and really just join random channels to see what's going on. On efnet, basically any word has a channel for it, so explore and lurk.

Note about Lurking: SAY SOMETHING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. Many channels get sick of people just joining and watching, at least let them know who you are so someone doesn't kick you or something. So, you can lurk, but be sure to talk occasionally. The IRC world is extremely intolerant of newfags.

To send a message to everyone on a channel with a certain level or higher, type this:

/notice (~|&|@|%|+)#channel message

where the symbol represents the minimum level to send the message to (see “People on IRC”).

Use this to share sensitive information without spais finding out.

There are IRC services on most servers, save for stone-age EFnet. Read:

Use NickServ to keep others from using your nick and to keep ops/voice/etc. on channels.

• /msg nickserv register password email - Register your nickname.
• /msg nickserv identify password - Identify yourself.
• /msg nickserv ghost nick password - Get someone who's using your nick to quit. It can also be used in case you disconnect, but your old nick hasn't pinged out yet.
• /msg nickserv help - List all commands.

With a registered and identified nick in an unregistered channel where you are an op:

/msg ChanServ register #channelname password brief description.

You can have services automatically op/voice/etc. people, depending on which system you use. Note that when giving a user access, that user must be registered with NickServ.

/msg ChanServ xop #channelname add nick

Where “xop” is either:

• “vop” for auto-voice
• “hop” for auto-halfops
• “aop” for auto-ops
• “sop” for auto-superops

You can also change “add” to “del” to delete someone from your list.

/msg ChanServ access #channelname add nick level

Adds a user to the access list with that level. If a user is already on the list, their level will simply be changed to the specified level.

/msg ChanServ access #channelname del nick

Deletes a user from the access list.

By default, the following access levels are defined:

• Founder - Gives +qo upon entering, allows full access to ChanServ commands. Only one user may have this status.
• 10 - Gives +ao upon entering, allows access to akick.
• 5 - Gives +o upon entering.
• 3 - Gives +v upon entering.
• 0 - Nothing.
• <0 - User cannot be opped.

Too much of a pussy to kick/ban someone yourself? ChanServ can do it for you!

/msg ChanServ (kick|ban) #channelname nick reason

Note that if the channel has signkick enabled (default), your nick will be displayed in the kick message.

With a registered nick, you can replace your plain old hostname with a vHost, which is basically just a fake hostname.

To request a vHost, type:

/msg HostServ request vhost@goes.here

You will then have to wait for your vHost to be approved. Some networks do it automatically after about a few hours, while other nets have it to where it must be manually approved.