IRC
What is IRC?
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a chat protocol that predates the World Wide Web, as it’s been around since 1988. Despite its age, it’s still one of the most reliable and lightweight ways to have group conversations. Our IRC server runs Ergo , a modern IRC server that adds features like message history, always-on presence, and push notifications while staying compatible with any IRC client.
You join channels (chat rooms) whose names start with #. Our channel
is #gngg on irc.gngg.eu.
Suitable clients
Any IRC client will work. Here are some recommendations:
| Client | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kiwi IRC | Web | Simple, no-account web client. |
| HexChat | Desktop (Linux, Windows) | Traditional desktop client. |
| Textual | Desktop (macOS) | Polished native macOS client. |
| Adium | Desktop (macOS) | Multi-protocol, includes IRC. |
| irssi | Terminal | Terminal-based, runs in tmux/screen. |
| WeeChat | Terminal | Highly customisable terminal client. |
| Gamja | Web | Minimalist web client by Ergo’s author. |
| Goguma | Mobile (Android) | Modern Android IRC client. |
How to log in
1. Connect
Point your client at irc.gngg.eu on port 6697 with TLS. This is your server address.
2. Register an account
Our server uses Ergo’s built-in account system. From your client, send a private message to NickServ:
/msg NickServ register hunter2 you@example.com
Replace hunter2 with your own password and you@example.com with your email.
Currently the e-mail does nothing.
3. Configure automatic login
Once registered, you need to log in automatically on every connection. The best way is SASL, as most clients support it. If yours doesn’t, set your server password field to:
your-username:your-password
This is less convenient than SASL, so prefer SASL if possible.
4. Join the channel
/join #gngg
You’re in.
Useful commands
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/msg NickServ help |
List all NickServ commands. |
/msg NickServ set always-on true |
Stay present on the server even when disconnected. |
/msg NickServ set autoreplay-lines 25 |
Replay last 25 messages on join. |
/history #gngg 2h |
Retrieve the last 2 hours of history. |
/msg ChanServ register #gngg |
Register a channel (if you’re an operator). |
A note on always-on
Ergo supports bouncer-like functionality built in. If you enable always-on (see above), you stay in the channel even after closing your client, and you receive missed messages when you reconnect. This is the closest IRC experience to what you’d expect from a modern chat app.