IRC - Explain

If it lists the channels, when you select it they often open the connection to the exact one you need (server + channel).

Then you would have to work out who was there and what was around. I used to use it occasionally, but other things replaced it now which are simpler.
 
why does everyone use freenode? I still use quakenet and thought it was still the most popular, guess i was wrong!
 
Haven't used IRC in a few years now - think I stopped using it around 2009 or so - before that I'd had a permanent presence thanks to a dedicated server and BNC since 1996 :D used to hang out on quakenet, enterthegame, dynamix (tribes) and a few other networks.

Theres a whole lot more to IRC tho than at first meets the eye, tons of stuff "hook" onto the basic protocol from fairly high level stuff like XDCC bots all the way down to low level "hidden" http networks that masquerade inside IRC packets.
 
its sad but I love IRC, I'm in it every day talking to mates or the other guys I work with. I literally could not do without it.

Rroff, you used to be in our channel actually up until some time ago, i demand you come back tbh, #{SAS}
 
I miss the days of IRC - back when I was into gaming, having an IRC channel where your whole clan idled and chatted with people dropping in gave a real sense of community.
 
its sad but I love IRC, I'm in it every day talking to mates or the other guys I work with. I literally could not do without it.

Rroff, you used to be in our channel actually up until some time ago, i demand you come back tbh, #{SAS}

I stopped using it once the main gaming clans/communities (quake,w:et,cod, etc.) I was involved with died off.
 
I miss the days of IRC - back when I was into gaming, having an IRC channel where your whole clan idled and chatted with people dropping in gave a real sense of community.

Yeah used to be good, the main community channels would regularly have 100s of people and most clan channels 20+. I remember one of the Unreal Tournament launches where the developers said they'd release the demo or public beta or something early if they got 4000 people in the channel - and they made it. Once it got to 2-3 people idling in most channels I called it a day.
 
Currently using xchat, is there an easier way to get it to connect to stuff rarther than selecting server, channel, each time?

+ the only online search engine for IRCs ive found, that lists tons of channels, doesnt actually list a server :(
Anyone know any good IRC lists/search engines?

The search is inside xchat. When you launch it, it should pop up with a dialogue asking for your username and have a list of chans underneath. If not go to XChat > Network List.

Generally, if you're using IRC you'll already know why without needing a search engine (eg website x says go to freenode/#productZ for support).

If you're just curious, just connect to a big channel (freenode, efnet, p2p-network etc) and then the channel list IS your search. You'll generally find that under Server > List of channels.

That will load all the chans on the server, giving a description of them as well as a number of members in the room at the time. You can search this (eg 'fedora' or 'ubuntu') and then join to your heart's content.

why does everyone use freenode? I still use quakenet and thought it was still the most popular, guess i was wrong!

FreeNode is popular for tech channels, especially opensource ones (Linux distro rooms, FOSS dev chans etc). P2P-Network's where the fun's at. :p
 
I miss the days of IRC - back when I was into gaming, having an IRC channel where your whole clan idled and chatted with people dropping in gave a real sense of community.

Sure does bring back memories. The entire Enemy Territory scene was pretty much based on IRC for clans to organise ladders, matches, scrims and the like. Met (literally) some awesome people through it over the years.

No reason for me to use it anymore though, all the qnet channels I used to frequent are likely dead now. Shame...
 
There are millions of people on irc and it has been around since before the http protocol. I have been on irc since 1997 and irc is still as active as it always was. I have not noticed it a decline in popularity. I have seen the searchirc.com user count go from 1 million users+ to 600k so yes maybe it is declining.

It is not recommended to connect to irc networks from you home IP directly. Generally people that are on IRC are quite technical and have been on there for a long time. There are several methods of concealing your IP and some servers offer facilities to hide your IP address. But a lot of people don't care and use mIRC and other apps.

IRC protocol will continue regardless of how the http protocol is effected. Generally the way people use IRC is not like the old yahoo chat. You might find some channels where individuals are trying to pick up the opposite like a #teenchat channel on some irc network. But it is unlikely that there are many girls on there. There is a long running joke on irc, in that there are no girls on irc. Some people will setup a server or a shell that they rent and then use *nix based chat to connect to the servers like IRSSI and bitchx. This way they can leave it running 24 hours a day and all chat in the channels are logged continuously in the window. Then when they want to connect they ssh in to the box and using screen bring up the irc process. This way they can what is called IDLE on the multiple networks and many channels at the same time. In this way it almost resembles IM although it proceeds that, as messages can be sent and received directly between users.

http://searchirc.com is a website you can search through servers and such.
 
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God I miss IRC, thats where my internet life started. Used to love telling people that to get the colours menu yuo pressed ALT-F4. I miss noobs :(
Btw who here still checks Bash.org regularly?
 
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