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).
#techscoutsma - use this to get help! See who's online.
Other channels of interest: Channels
Our freenode channel#techscoutsma - use this to get help! See who's online.
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!