What sort of Linux users use IRC?

[yeehi]

Why do people use IRC instead of spending their time on the forums?
Do you meet different sorts of people on IRC? What are they like?

[sisco311]

Not a support question. Moved to The Community Cafe.

[philinux]

Why do people use IRC instead of spending their time on the forums?
Do you meet different sorts of people on IRC? What are they like?

For instant help or just to socialise.

[Nytram]

Like Philinux said - if you're looking for help then it's quicker than asking on a forum; you can ask questions and get an instant response. The kind of people you meet are the same on forums as on IRC chat, at least in my experience; why don't you try it and find out.

[MisterGaribaldi]

Real Linux users use IRC.

[yeehi]

What is the best application to use for IRC? Is there a default one installed in 12.04?

What is the url for the IRC? something like freenode...

[Nytram]

If you're using Gnome the most commonly used IRC software is XChat, it can be installed from the Software Centre. The official Ubuntu chat channels are on Freenode, but many networks have Ubuntu/Linux chat rooms.

[catlover2]

As Nytram said, I sometimes go to an IRC channel if I want a fast answer to something, and Google isn't helping.

[VE6EFR]

My wife and I run a website for the city that will allow people to listen in to live audio from the Edmonton Fire Rescue Services and Edmonton EMS. We have an IRC room that will let people ask questions or just talk about what they are hearing (major structure fire, etc).

We find that this is a great way for listeners to interact with each other and not have to install anything. Plus it helps to entertain them between events so they stay around longer.

[CharlesA]

For instant help or just to socialise.

This.

I use Xchat, myself.

[philinux]

+1 to xchat.

[nothingspecial]

Or you can just click the big pink link in my sig

[Nytram]

IRC seems to be dying the death, at least on Undernet, anyone else noticed this?

[yeehi]

Hello nothingspecial!

I saw you say hello to me in the IRC! Thank you - I tried to reply but I had logged into IRC using Chrome, and I couldn't see any way of typing text in to reply to you - there was no text box I could find in chrome.

I will try xchat next time!

[nothingspecial]

Hello nothingspecial!

I saw you say hello to me in the IRC! Thank you - I tried to reply but I had logged into IRC using Chrome, and I couldn't see any way of typing text in to reply to you - there was no text box I could find in chrome.

I will try xchat next time!

Should be a box at the bottom.

But drop in any time :D

[Irihapeti]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't see any way to just observe IRC first, so as to decide if I want to join. You can lurk on the forums before joining, but not IRC, it seems.

I prefer to browse first before joining something, so as to see what I'm getting into. Am I the only one?

[philinux]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't see any way to just observe IRC first, so as to decide if I want to join. You can lurk on the forums before joining, but not IRC, it seems.

I prefer to browse first before joining something, so as to see what I'm getting into. Am I the only one?

You can join an IRC channel and just observe the chat. Or you could read the logs.

[KiwiNZ]

I recently tried IRC for the first time to access #ubuntu forums, this was my first time for using IRC and my
Thoughts are hmmmmmmmm, this does not do much.

[oldos2er]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't see any way to just observe IRC first, so as to decide if I want to join. You can lurk on the forums before joining, but not IRC, it seems.

I prefer to browse first before joining something, so as to see what I'm getting into. Am I the only one?

You can join a channel and just kick back and observe, there's no obligation to "say" anything. I recommend #ubuntuforums because it's very informal and laid-back.

[Irihapeti]

You can join a channel and just kick back and observe, there's no obligation to "say" anything. I recommend #ubuntuforums because it's very informal and laid-back.

The problem (for me) is that one still has to join, and in my experience, once joined there's no removing one's details.

Maybe I'm just feeling a bit paranoid today, but I do get tired of the constant internet "sign up to do something" thing. It would be like having to sign a membership form in order to even browse the shelves at the local supermarket.

[CharlesA]

The problem (for me) is that one still has to join, and in my experience, once joined there's no removing one's details.

Maybe I'm just feeling a bit paranoid today, but I do get tired of the constant internet "sign up to do something" thing. It would be like having to sign a membership form in order to even browse the shelves at the local supermarket.
Try the webchat link in nothingspecial's sig. You only need to provide a nick and that isn't stored between sessions unless you decide to register it.

[sffvba[e0rt]

I recently tried IRC for the first time to access #ubuntu forums, this was my first time for using IRC and my
Thoughts are hmmmmmmmm, this does not do much.

#ubuntu is crazy... I would suggest any new users to join #ubuntuforums (come say hi) and for support at a more leisurely pace you can try #ubuntu-beginners...

But there are as many channels as people can think of groups of interest to forum :)


404

PS - and if you install X-Chat and you are using Ubuntu and Unity install xchat-indicator as well :)

[Vorian]

"what sort of Linux users use IRC?"

Awesome ones

[Primefalcon]

I like the more chatty social nature of real time chat myself....

and xchat is way to heavy for me really, I prefer either pidgen or irssi

[sisco311]

Real Linux users use IRC.

The imaginary (read it as sisco311) and the fictional ones (Mr. Garibaldi) are using ... wait for it... wait 4 IT...

[wilee-nilee]

A good place to learn.

[MisterGaribaldi]

The imaginary (read it as sisco311) and the fictional ones (Mr. Garibaldi) are using ... wait for it... wait 4 IT...

...still waiting for it...

[Dry Lips]

With a couple of exceptions I haven't been using IRC since the early 00's.

However, I noticed that when you use XChat on Mint, the default server server where the Mint channels are located, masks your IP address like this:
user@SpotChat.rAnDom3432.yourISP.com

I think that is very cool since I generally don't like broadcasting my IP-address. Is it only a few specific servers that mask your IP like that? Is there any way of being more anonymous when using IRC?

[josephmills]

Who wares short shorts we ware .....
:) whoops :)
that is right this is about irc
Who uses IRC . we use IRC

list of channels for ya

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/IRC/ChannelList

Hope this helps and hope to see you on there.
i use xchat most the time

[Dry Lips]

I just wanted to answer my own question above:

On some servers you can use /mode your-nickname +x in order to hide your IP.
Other servers, (like freenode) offer cloaks!

[MisterGaribaldi]

Freenode.net is awesome-sauce.

X-Chat Aqua I don't think works any longer in current versions of Mac OS X. And, even if it does, it sucks horribly and hasn't been updated in ages. (This is in stark contrast to XChat for Linux, or even XChat2 for Windows).

So, frankly, I use Adium now for my IRC needs.

[nothingspecial]

ahem.....

weechat :D

[memilanuk]

Been using freenode for a while... almost entirely a positive experience. Had a disagreement with a fellow on #centos once upon a time, but otherwise, no problems.

Most of the time I just 'lurk', watching different channels. I finally set up (registered) a more permanent 'nick' on freenode so that I could auto-join some of the forums that keep out un-registered 'transients' ;)

[CarpKing]

The problem (for me) is that one still has to join, and in my experience, once joined there's no removing one's details.

Maybe I'm just feeling a bit paranoid today, but I do get tired of the constant internet "sign up to do something" thing. It would be like having to sign a membership form in order to even browse the shelves at the local supermarket.

With IRC, there's not really any sort of signing up involved. You just join the server, choose a screen name, and join the channel. No personal data is required. Unless you register your name, which may or may not require an email address, someone else can use the same name any time you aren't. It isn't really an account; it's just a name to use. If you don't want to do even that, most servers will set you to "guest4394390" or something, and you can still join channels and lurk.

[vasa1]

This is embarrassing. I just logged in and got two "hi's" but I don't know how to reply. This login was via a browser. I'm going to try with XChat because that's what you guys have recommended.

[Elfy]

We saw that vasa1 :)

[CharlesA]

This is embarrassing. I just logged in and got two "hi's" but I don't know how to reply. This login was via a browser. I'm going to try with XChat because that's what you guys have recommended.
There should be a text box at the bottom of the screen for you to type in. ;)

xchat should work fine, it's what I use.

[yeehi]

How do you get a cloak on freenode, DryLips?

[Elfy]

How do you get a cloak on freenode, DryLips?
Go to #freenode

http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#nicksetup
http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#cloaks

[Lightstar]

I quit IRC back in the 90s.