Browse articles tagged with #basics, ordered by publication date where new
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basics
How to find IRC channels worth joiningIRC has no global directory and no algorithm suggesting rooms — finding good channels is a skill. Project documentation, alis, netsplit.de, and how to judge whether a channel is alive.
How to join an IRC channel: a beginner's guideJoining your first IRC channel takes two minutes in a browser and requires no account. This guide covers the quick method, proper client setup, the commands you need, and the mistakes every newcomer makes.
How to register a nickname on IRC (NickServ and SASL)Registering your IRC nickname takes one minute, protects your identity, and unlocks channels that require it. This guide covers NickServ registration and setting up SASL so you never have to log in manually again.
How to use IRC in your browser: webchat options comparedNo downloads, no setup: every major IRC network can be used straight from a browser. The webchat options — network webchats, gamja, KiwiIRC, The Lounge and IRCCloud — and what each is good for.
IRC etiquette: the unwritten rules, written downIRC has thirty years of cultural norms that nobody tells you about until you break one. Here they are, written down — from "don't ask to ask" to pastebin discipline and the patience problem.
IRC in 2026: the complete guide to Internet Relay ChatEverything on ircbits, organised. What IRC is, how to get on it in five minutes, which networks matter in 2026, and how to run and build on it — a map of the whole site, start to finish.
IRC security and privacy: TLS, SASL, cloaks and not leaking your IPIRC is an old protocol with some sharp edges. The handful of settings that matter — encrypted connections, SASL login, hiding your IP with a cloak, safe DCC, and the VPN/Tor rules — so you can use it without leaking anything you didn't mean to.
What is IRC? Internet Relay Chat explainedIRC is the original internet chat protocol, older than the web itself and still very much alive. This article explains how IRC works, who uses it in 2026, and how to try it yourself in five minutes.