Getting Started with IRC

What is IRC?

IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, is a form of real-time text messaging between multiple users at the same time. Users connect to a server using an IRC client and join channels (chat rooms). Users type messages which are broadcast to all users within a channel. IRC also allows one to one communication between connected users. This is the primary form of communication for members of the Mozilla community; developers, testers, users, and the like.

General Rules and Etiquette

Once you have your client set up (see Software below) and are connected to IRC, there are some basic rules you should follow to ensure the most enjoyable and productive IRC experience.

1. Try to keep messages as concise as possible. If you have something long to post, a code snippet for example, use pastebin.mozilla.org and paste the generated URL in IRC instead.

2. When addressing someone directly, try to use name: message format. For example, "ashughes: good morning!"

3. Every channel has its own topic. Try to keep your messages within that subject matter. For example, do not talk about Thunderbird issues in #Firefox.

4. Mozilla's IRC channels are most active between 9am and 7pm PST Monday to Friday, excluding US Holidays.

5. When asking a question, be patient. It can sometimes take a few minutes for people to respond.

6. Posting a message like "Help!" is not particularly helpful. Asking a good question will result in a better experience for both you and the person trying to help. There is a good reference for what makes a good question here.

7. Relax and have fun!

Software

ChatZilla – The Firefox Add-on

There are several different applications which allow you to connect to IRC networks. The easiest to use is an add-on for Firefox called Chatzilla. The following instructions describe how to install and configure Chatzilla for use on the Mozilla IRC network.

1. Go to addons.mozilla.org to download and install Chatzilla

2. Click the green Add to Firefox button

3. Click the Install button on the Addon Installation dialog

4. Once ChatZilla is installed, click Restart Firefox

5. Once Firefox restarts, close the Add-ons dialog

6. Now click Tools menu > ChatZilla to start the client

7. In the textbox at the bottom of the window type /server irc.mozilla.org and press enter

8. You will be given a random username when you first connect. Usually the client will just use your computer username. If this name is already in use, it will use something like IRCMonkey21710. You can change your nickname by typing /nick nickname, where nickname is your desired nickname. You can also change your nickname using the dropdown box to the left of the textbox.

See the Commands section below for more IRC commands.

9. To join a channel type /join #channel, where #channel is the name of the channel you want to join.

See the Channels section below for some channels available on the Mozilla IRC network.

Desktop Clients

As mentioned earlier, ChatZilla is not the only IRC client available, though it is the simplest. The advantage is that the desktop clients allow much more detailed configuration. For example, you can connect using SSL or a non-secure connection, and you can configure the client to automatically connect to a server and join a particular set of channels when you start the client. The following are some other options available to you:

● Binary or executable program available

○ Only available by downloading and compiling source code

●* Binary or executable may be available. If not, you'll have to download source code and compile.

w Web-based client (i.e. it runs in the browser)

For a complete list of IRC clients go here.

If using a desktop client, you will need to use the following information to configure the server connection:

Server: irc.mozilla.org

Port: 6667 (default) or 6697 (SSL)

Web Clients

There is also a few web-based clients which allow connecting to IRC by clicking on irc:// links. One of the simplest web-based clients is Mibbit, another is IRCCloud. These operate very much in the same way as the previously mentioned desktop clients and ChatZilla. Mibbit does NOT require flash or any other plugins.

Channels

Here is a list of channels you should be aware of as a member of the Mozilla community: (Remember to use irc.mozilla.org and port 6697 or 6667 for your server settings)

For more information about the Mozilla IRC network and more channels, go here.

Commands

The following is a list of commands you should be familiar with. Simply type them into the message box at the bottom of the screen and press enter.

For more information about IRC commands go here.

Bots

Some users in IRC are not human. These users are known as bots and automatically perform certain tasks; some automatic, some triggered by other users. The most common of these bots are called NickServ, ChanServ, and Firebot.

NickServ

This bot allows you to register your nickname which prevents other users from using it. NickServ also automatically elevates all registered users to operators when they sign on.The following are some helpful commands which can be used by NickServ:

For more information about NickServ go here.

ChanServ

This bot allows you to register new channels and control aspects of channels. The following are some helpful commands which can be used by ChanServ:

For more information about ChanServ go here.

Firebot

Firebot is a bot which assists with Mozilla related activities on IRC. For instance, Firebot automatically posts messages to #developers about the status of automated tests. The following are some helpful commands which can be used by Firebot:

For more information about Firebot go here.

Further Reading

IRC Channel Operator's Guide (New Version) IRC Channel Operator's Guide (Old Version) [From 1995, but still quite useful]