forked from tildeverse/tilde.chat
175 lines
7.0 KiB
Markdown
175 lines
7.0 KiB
Markdown
---
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author: ~el
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published: true
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title: intro to irc
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description: ok so now what do you do?
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category:
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- main
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---
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while this will _not_ be a comprehensive guide on all the software available,
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it will hopefully point you in the right direction. it is adapted from the one
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on the [libera.chat website](https://libera.chat)
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## connecting for the first time
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to use irc, first you need to choose a client application. they vary a lot, but
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most will have the same basic features and do _not_ cost money, so don't worry
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about picking the wrong one.
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you can always use our webchats to avoid installing anything yet:
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[our kiwiirc](https://tilde.chat/kiwi/) or [our gamja](https://tilde.chat/gamja/)
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browser clients will automatically connect you to `#helpdesk`.
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if you're running a client on a tilde, your client might have been automatically
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configured for you when your account was made. most tildes have command line
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clients like [weechat](https://weechat.org) or [irssi](https://irssi.org) already
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installed so you can try them out and decide which one you prefer. try running
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`weechat` or `irssi` to connect to `tilde.chat`.
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if you're running a client you installed yourself on your own phone or computer,
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most will have some kind of intro or wizard to get you going. look for a network
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called `tilde` or `tilde.chat` if there is a network directory, or set the
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network address to `irc.tilde.chat` with port `6697`.
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if there is no wizard, or the process is confusing, you can try to check out the
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client's website for some documentation about how to set it up. you can also just
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connect through the kiwiirc or gamja webchats mentioned above and find someone to
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help. the webchats will connect you to `#helpdesk`, and someone there can point
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you in the right direction if you explain what client you are trying to use.
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## talking
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just like in instant messengers, there will be a field in the app where you
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will be able to type things. this is where you chat.
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this chat field is also where you can do commands to the server or the client.
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commands start with a `/`.
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## conversation windows
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conversations windows are also known as tabs or buffers. they behave similar
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to how you might expect from other chat apps.
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in most desktop clients, a list of conversations will be down the left-hand
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side in a column. in phone apps, there might be a drawer widget you need to
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pull out.
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selecting different items in this list will change what is shown in the main
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section of the client, above the field you type chat and commands into.
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the top one is probably the name of the network. when you are doing commands
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you don't want others to see, such as [registering](nicks) an account,
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this is a safe place to type them.
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tabs starting with `#` are group chats, which are called `channels`. On
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desktop clients, a user membership list will probably show down the right-hand
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side of the screen when you have these conversations selected. on phones the
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membership list might be in another drawer widget.
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tabs underneath the channels are private conversations you have with people,
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or bots, on the network. these are often referred to as a "pm" (private
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message) or "queries".
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## private conversations
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you can often start private conversations with someone by double-clicking on
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their name, also called a nickname or nick, in the membership list. if that
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doesn't work you can achieve the same thing using the `/query` command. For
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example, if you wanted to say "hi!" to the person with the nickname "john" you
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would do:
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```
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/query john hi!
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```
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some people don't like unsolicited private conversations, so only do this with
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people you know from talking in channels after asking their permission.
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## services
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services are specialized bots that help the network run smoothly. they manage
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users and channels, among other things.
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using services is how you [register a nickname](nicks), and identify (log in)
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when you return for another irc session in the future.
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they're also how you [register channels](channels) if you ever need to do that.
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## topics
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in most irc clients, a channel's topic description can be found at the top of
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the screen. if you can't see all of it, you can have it displayed to you using
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the `/topic` command.
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you can find new channels on our [channels page](https://tilde.chat/stats) and sort
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by channel name or by topic description. some clients like kiwiirc and hexchat
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have built in channel list search wizards. in command line clients, look for
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search instructions with `/help list`
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## channel roles
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when you're in channels, you might notice that some people in the membership
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list have symbols next to their nicknames. most people will not have a role in
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the channels.
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on tilde.chat, the people with symbols have either the "admin", "operator",
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'half-operator', or "voiced" modes.
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admins own the channels. operators and half-ops (which have a subset of
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operator commands) are the people that run that help run specific channel and
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are responsible for moderating the chat, so sometimes they might remove or silence
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people individually or set the channel to moderated mode.
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when the channel is in moderated mode, comments from voiced users can still be
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seen. often channels will give voice or one of the operator modes to their helper
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bots.
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## commands cheat sheet
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this is a very small sample of commands that you may find useful as you get
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started learning irc. in many clients, there might be buttons for these.
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command parts shown in `[]` are optional.
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- `/join #helpdesk`
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- enter the channel `#helpdesk`.
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- `/part [#helpdesk] [message]`
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- exit the channel `#helpdesk`.
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- if no channel is given, you will part the channel you type this into.
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- the optional message will be shown to only this channel on your departure.
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- `/nick nickname`
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- changes your nickname to the one you specify.
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- `/msg nickname message`
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- sends a private message to user "nickname" _without_ opening a new
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conversation window.
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- `/query nickname [message]`
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- open a conversation window with user "nickname", and optionally include a
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message.
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- the other user will _not_ know you did this until you send messages.
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- this is useful for ensuring your conversation goes to the correct place,
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such as when you're [registering](nicks) with `nickserv`.
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- `/me action`
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- use this for emotes. it will appear something like `* nickname action`.
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- `/quit [message]`
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- disconnects you from the network.
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- the optional message will be shown to every channel you are in.
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some commands will differ in implementation depending on your client. if the
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following do not work as expected, see your client's website for documentation
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or ask in their irc channel, which will be listed on their website.
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- `/ignore nickname`
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- may stop you seeing the user talk. useful if they are being a pest.
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- `/unignore nickname`
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- may allow you to see the user again if you change your mind.
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- `/ignores`
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- may list the current ignores you have set.
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## i need more help!
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if you get lost, you can always join `#helpdesk`.
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for a chat directly in your browser [click here](https://tilde.chat/kiwi/), click
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the `start` button, and ask questions.
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