xchat isn't free

[m4tic]

I'm on windows 7, I left my ubuntu cds back at my place( i'm on holiday at home), its a new laptop and first thing coming to mind is my ubuntu software. xchat.org, download, please pay... wtf?

[mikewhatever]

The answer is on the same page.

http://xchat.org/windows/

Q. Why can't XChat for Windows be free?
A. It's free to try for the first 30 days! Developing XChat for Windows is a difficult process, it requires quite some skill and expertise to accomplish. We ask for a small fee that helps continue development and cover expenses.

[samalex]

Didn't it used to be free? Also is mIRC still free to download? I haven't used it in nearly a decade, but that was my IRC client of choice when I did run Windows. Seems like it just threw-up some annoying message until you bought it, but it never expired.

[Grenage]

Didn't it used to be free? Also is mIRC still free to download? I haven't used it in nearly a decade, but that was my IRC client of choice when I did run Windows. Seems like it just threw-up some annoying message until you bought it, but it never expired.

I think mirc was shareware.

[acidium]

There are plenty of unofficial builds of Xchat for Windows. Try here (http://code.google.com/p/xchat-wdk/).

[kaldor]

I think it's just a big "fu" to Windows users; I doubt their given reason is true.

[mips]

Download the free version X-Chat 2 for Windows.
http://www.silverex.org/

Or one of these versions http://xchatdata.net/Using/BuildLineup

[slackthumbz]

Real men use irssi ;)

[kaldor]

Real men use irssi ;)

pffft.

[samalex]

Real men use irssi ;)

That's what I use personally, but I don't know if there's a stable version for Windows which I think the OP is using.

[blithen]

Real men use irssi ;)

Damn straight. :P

[MisterGaribaldi]

I'm on windows 7, I left my ubuntu cds back at my place( i'm on holiday at home), its a new laptop and first thing coming to mind is my ubuntu software. xchat.org, download, please pay... wtf?


Download the free version X-Chat 2 for Windows.
http://www.silverex.org/

Or one of these versions http://xchatdata.net/Using/BuildLineup

What mips said. It's what I use when I'm booted into Windows.

[Simian Man]

I think it's just a big "fu" to Windows users; I doubt their given reason is true.

Yeah, that's pretty rotten really.

[NightwishFan]

Unless you need a more classic IRC interface, Pidgin works fine for basic IRC stuff. The only thing I do not know how to do is join "favourite channels". So far I have to join them one at a time. (Which is fine since I only go to 2).

[mips]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XChat#Shareware_controversy


Shareware controversy

License change
As of August 23, 2004, official Windows build of XChat has become shareware, and must be purchased for USD $20, AUD $25 or 14.95€ after a 30-day trial period. Previous (freeware) builds for Windows have been removed from the official site.

Assessment
There has been a great deal of discussion about the legality of this move. Since the XChat project has not required copyright assignment, the maintainer (Peter Železný, or zed) of the XChat project does not actually hold copyright to the entirety of the code. While he has offered to remove and rewrite any patches, provided the author of the patches asks him to, there are many[who?] who feel that he is still in violation of the GPL, especially since the code for the shareware enforcement is not disclosed. As the code may be in violation of the GPL, a developer whose code is currently in the XChat source code may be entitled to legal action. Code which is included under a more permissive license such as LGPL (as a library), BSD, or public domain, does not entitle the developer to this legal option.

Author's rationale
It is stated that the shareware fee is required due to the excessive amount of time it takes to make it compile under Windows.[5]

Unofficial builds
Unofficial Windows builds of XChat are made available (at no cost) by contributors, most of whom maintain binaries of the latest release, yet may release more often with builds based on SVN.

[uRock]

I use chatzilla when using Windows.

[Spice Weasel]

Real men use irssi ;)

Real men carve 1s and 0s in to rock and then throw the message at people.

[MisterGaribaldi]

Real men carve 1s and 0s in to rock and then throw the message at people.

Courtesy xkcd:

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/real_programmers.png

[NightwishFan]

Thanks, that gave me a much needed chuckle. :)

[Endomancer]

Real men carve 1s and 0s in to rock and then throw the message at people.
as per my sig?

[Mr. Picklesworth]

That's what I use personally, but I don't know if there's a stable version for Windows which I think the OP is using.

Real men have at least three servers running irssi (with emacs as the login shell) that they can SSH to from Windows ;)