0. Open IRC

Wha?

The purpose of IRC is to provide a multi-user chat space for people who are doing similar work to give each other support (moral and technical) while we work, without requiring a lot of email reading and "hand-shaking" (see comic at right - you'd need to double-click to make it larger).

Channels

Our freenode channel

#techscoutsma - use this to get help! See who's online.

Other channels of interest:

#greenfield-linux - the new Greenfield Area Linux Users Group (local help who know about Tech Scouts).

#nerdsummit - New England Regional Developers (less local, more active, only questions no local folks can answer)

Clients (programs) for IRC

Browser-based:

Chatzilla is for Firefox.
CIRC is for Google Chrome.

Separate Apps:

Pidgin works on all platforms, and includes Google Talk and other messaging, not just IRC.

http://adammonsen.com/post/329 - detail

Adium works only on Mac, but like Pidgin, includes other messaging.

Set Up Your Client

Specify the IRC server as chat.freenode.net
Create a permanent, unique nickname (a "nick" - mine is "Bramface")
Create a password for that nick.

Register with Freenode:

When you have time, Read the Primer - know what you're getting into. For now, just stick with the #techscouts channel. You'll be among friends. The purpose is to give you support (moral and technical) while you work, without requiring a lot of email reading and "hand-shaking".
Connect to Freenode using your IRC client

command line: /connect chat.freenode.net
Register your email address on Freenode (just do this once):

/msg NickServ REGISTER [password] [youremail@example.com]
Use a secure, unguessable password that you keep secret.
You will receive an email with a verification command that you will need to run to complete the registration process, something like:
```
/msg NickServ VERIFY REGISTER [your nick] [somecharacters]
```
Enter that command.
Register your nickname on Freenode:

/nick [your nick]
In the future, when you want to connect, either start up your client, or via command line:

/connect chat.freenode.net 6667 [nick]:[password]

Logging In

Start up your client, or via command line:

/connect chat.freenode.net 6667 [nick]:[password]
Join Tech Scouts:

/JOIN #techscoutsma
See who else is there, say hello!

IRC Reference

2.7 Quick Reference Panel from http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/ircprimer.html

       Keyword      Action
       -------      ------
       !            recalls previous commands for re-editing
       ADMIN        displays information about a server
       AWAY         leaves a message saying you're not paying attention
       CLEAR        puts some white space on your screen
       CTCP         performs certain client specific actions

       DATE         shows server current date and time
       DCC          handles direct connections to remote clients
       DESCRIBE     sends anything about you to a person or channel
       HELP         prints help on the given command
       HISTORY      displays the command history

       IGNORE       removes output from specific people off your screen
       INFO         shows useless information about IRC
       INVITE       sends an invitation to another user
       JOIN         sets your current channel
       KICK         gets rid of someone on a channel

       LASTLOG      lists the most recent messages
       LEAVE        leaves a channel
       LINKS        shows servers on the IRC network
       LIST         lists channels, number of users, topic
       LUSERS       gives a brief listing of users, servers and operators

       ME           sends anything about you to a channel or QUERY
       MODE         changes channel mode
       MOTD         displays the server message-of-the-day
       MSG          sends a private message
       NAMES        shows the nicknames of users on each channel

       NICK         changes your nickname
       NOTICE       sends a private message
       NOTIFY       warns you of people logging in or out IRC
       QUERY        starts a private conversation
       QUIT         exits your IRC session

       SERVER       switches your primary server
       STATS        shows some irc server usage statistics
       TIME         shows server current date and time
       TOPIC        changes the topic of the channel

       TRACE        shows the server connections of the given machine
       USERS        prints users logged on the server machine
       VERSION      shows client and server version number
       WHO          gives a listing of users
       WHOIS        displays information about someone

       WHOWAS       displays information about someone who just left

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