IRC is a common acronym on the internet, meaning Internet Relay Chat. In general terms, an IRC is a place where many users can synchronously (in sync) converse (chat). This guide will help educate you on some of the basic IRC commands to help you get started chatting! This tutorial will follow chronological order, as if you just started using an IRC channel (and have no knowledge about IRC).

Basics - Setting up your username
So you just found your new home, an IRC channel. In every IRC server, you will have to register your own username. This is for your own privacy and connivence. It prevents people from being able to login to that IRC server and use your username.

• Change/set your nickname: /nick YOUR-NICK-NAME
  (Example: /nick java

Once your nickname is set to what you want, this is how you register it:

• In chat, type: /msg nickserv register YOURPASSWORD YOUR@EMAIL.COM
  (Example: /msg nickserv register abc123 java@tutorialninjas.net)

On most servers, there is an authorization required. To do this, login to your email and you should find an email from the IRC server. It will contain your authorization code.

• Go back into IRC and in chat, type: /msg nickserv auth AUTHCODEHERE
  (Example: /msg nickserv auth 822198204

Once authorized, the username is now yours!

Basics - Logging onto your username
The next time you connect to IRC and try to use the username you just registered, it will ask you to identify within one minute. If you do not identify (login) then it will automatically change your nickname to Guest. Heres the solution!

• Change your nickname to your registered.
  Command: /nick java
• Identify yourself. (Aka login)
  Command: /msg nickserv identify YOURPASSWORD

The simple two steps above will save you from many login headaches to come.

Basics - Joining a channel
On every good IRC server, there is at minimum 100 channels. How are you supposed to join those channels when IRC is mostly text-based?

Solution: Try the /join command!
(Example: /join #tutorialninjas)

Tip! Dont forget the “#” before every IRC channel name!

Everyday Commands
It will be almost impossible to survive an IRC environment not knowing these commands listed below. Some are fun when bored, others are handy to know how to use.

• Set yourself as away.
  Command: /away Your message here.
• Return from away.
  Command: /away
• Action message.
  Command: /me Action
  Example: /me grabs an apple and takes a large bite.
• Send a private message.
  Command: /msg NICKNAME Your message here.
  Example: /msg myfriend55 hey, how are you doing tonight?
• Leave an IRC server.
  Command: /quit Optional reason
  Example: /quit Going to sleep…

Tip!

• On all IRC commands, do not forget to start with a /. The / tells the program that its a command!

So now that you know a handful of basic IRC commands and their functionality, get IRC’ing!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 at 12:00 am and is filed under Technology.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.