[Bangalore-pm] Getting on IRC, and why it is important!

Rohit Basu rohitbasu77 at gmail.com
Fri Jun 14 09:48:09 PDT 2013


Dear All Perl Mongers,

To make the Bangalore PM alive and active again,i think we need to know
each other and start a discussion some where.
Yes need some of your time to start. Some of us think to plan a
introductory charting tomorrow afternoon by 1:00 PM (+5:30 GMT)
The channel is already active and created by Yaakov. We will use that only
to have our formal discussion.
The channel is http://perlcommunity.org/irc/bangalore.pm/

Please make your input.




On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 10:04 PM, Jagadeesh N. Malakannavar <
mnjagadeesh at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I do not see anyone on #bangalore.pm? is there any special settings
> needed for irssi?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 4:40 PM, Ya'akov Sloman <yaakov at perlfoundation.org
> > wrote:
>
>> *In this email:*
>>
>>
>>    - Getting Started with IRC
>>    - IRC Clients
>>    - Basic IRC Command Reference
>>    - IRC Networks and Connection Details
>>
>>
>> *Hello, Indian Perl Mongers.*
>>
>> I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to join the #bangalore.pm IRC
>> channel on the MagNet IRC network.  IRC is the most common way to create a
>> cohesive community in the Perl (and F/OSS) world.  It is lightweight,
>> immediate, and highly interactive. (The URI to access the channel is
>> irc://irc.perl.org/#bangalore.pm  If you have a handler configured for
>> the irc:// schema, clicking that link, or pasting it into your browser
>> might work automagically)
>>
>> Many of the people you have heard of in the perl community are regularly
>> available on IRC, and many of the projects you use and are interested in
>> have channels there.
>>
>> For a group like Bangalore.pm, IRC is an important way to keep the
>> enthusiasm going and coordinate activities.  It is also a very practical
>> source for help and a way to help others.
>>
>> There is a *bit* of a learning curve, but not much, really.  A little
>> effort and a little patience will get you great results.  Let me run down
>> the basics for you, and get you started
>>
>> *IRC Clients*
>> The IRC protocol allows groups and individuals to pass messages in
>> realtime.  It even allows direct client-to-client connections and file
>> transfer.  To use all this you need an IRC client.  There are several to
>> choose from, but I will only cover five options in this email to give an
>> idea of the range.  I can recommend any of these options at effective, and
>> with the exception of the quick-start web page I will talk about first, any
>> can be used as your "permanent" solution.
>>
>> IRC on the Web
>> There are several options for using IRC with your web browser, the one I
>> will discuss here is Mibbit (http://mibbit.com/).  This is because
>> Mibbit is quite good, and this email is already going to be long enough!
>>
>> *A Quick Start*
>> To help you get started quickly, I have set up a Mibbit applet dedicated
>> to connecting you properly.  You can find it at
>> http://perlcommunity.org/irc/bangalore.pm  This is certainly the easiest
>> way to connect if you are new to IRC.  When you visit the page, you will
>> see an iframe with the applet in it.  It will generate a random nickname
>> for you.  *Please replace this with a nickname that identifies you.*
>>
>> Your nickname must be unique to the network.  You can use whatever you'd
>> like to identify yourself.  Your name, some combination of first and last,
>> some sort of autonym (self-given name).  This "nick" will be your identity
>> to the IRC world.  You can change it, but think about what you'd like to be
>> known as and try to stick to it.  It gets confusing to others if you change
>> your nick often.  If you forget, or want to change nicks while connected,
>> all IRC clients support the "nick" command in the input box.  Just type:
>>
>> /nick <your chosen nickname>
>>
>> and hit enter.  The client will notify the server to change your nick.
>>  If it is already in use, you will be notified.  On the MagNet network,
>> where we have our channel, you cannot "register" a nickname, so you might
>> accidentally use a nick someone else uses.
>>
>> If you get a private message saying "hey you are using my nick", please
>> be polite and choose a new one.  If you show up one day and find someone
>> else is using yours, please politely ask if it is their regular nick, and
>> if not, if they would mind changing.
>>
>> On a network like freenode (irc.freenode.com) the server allows
>> registration of nicknames and this isn't a problem. On MagNet, it is a
>> matter of polite convention.  The technical solution is to create a *persistent
>> connection* which is important for other reasons, and which I will
>> mention below.
>>
>> *Using Mibbit Long-term*
>> Some people like Mibbit as a permanent solution.  Visit
>> http://mibbit.com/ and sign up for an account.  This will allow
>> persistent configuration and make using it easier.  The full Mibbit client
>> is better than the applet above.  The weakest link is the lack of a
>> persistent connection to IRC, but that can be handled by a proxy.  (If you
>> are interested in proxies, contact me directly and I will help.)
>>
>> Mibbit is quite complete as an IRC client and is popular.  However, the
>> advantages of a dedicated client over a web-based one make me suggest that
>> Mibbit is not the ideal option for most people.
>>
>> GUI Clients
>> Dedicated Clients offering graphical front ends can help make starting
>> with IRC easier.  In the Perl community, command line clients are quite
>> prevalent but there is no reason to make it more difficult if you find GUIs
>> more comfortable
>>
>> *mIRC for Windows*
>> If you are running Windows, mIRC (http://www.mirc.com/) is the obvious
>> choice for a GUI client. (If you are *not* running Windows, or prefer a
>> F/OSS solution, skip this section.) mIRC is *very* mature, having been
>> around for more than a decade.  It is very full-featured and widely
>> popular.  For this reason, there are many resources about getting started
>> using mIRC on the web.  I am not sure of the current pricing model for
>> mIRC, but you can download it free to try it in any case.  The important
>> facts to help you get started are:
>>
>> Network: MagNet
>> Server: irc.perl.org
>> Channel: bangalore.pm
>>
>> Windows users should have little trouble using mIRC once you've untangled
>> the IRC-specific bits of configuration.  mIRC is highly scriptable, though
>> in a proprietary language.  I personally used mIRC for more than a decade
>> before switching the the Irssi command line client (*see below*) so I
>> have no problem recommending it.
>>
>> *To maintain a persistent connection, you will need a proxy or a machine
>> that is always online.*
>>
>> *XChat (Multiplatform)*
>> XChat (http://xchat.org/) is a very popular client that started off as a
>> Linux-targeted X-Window client.  At this point, it will run under Windows
>> as well as pretty much any Linux/UNIX variant.  It is highly scriptable,
>> and does use Perl as a scripting language.  It's a bit harder to get
>> started with than mIRC, but users who prefer XChat to mIRC have strong
>> opinions about it.  The same details are needed to get you started:
>>
>> Network: MagNet
>> Server: irc.perl.org
>> Channel: bangalore.pm
>>
>> You can find help with XChat very easily, on the web and on IRC itself.
>>
>> *To maintain a persistent connection, you will need a proxy or a machine
>> that is always online.*
>>
>> *Irssi (Multiplatform)*
>> Irssi is the client I use.  It is a CLI (Command Line Interface,
>> text-based) client. I use it on a VPS under screen, and with some shell
>> scripting magic, whenever I open my MacBook Air, the sessions are restored.
>>  Irssi is without a doubt the client with the steepest learning curve here.
>>  On the other hand, once you've learned it, it's fast and easy.  There are
>> other CLI clients, and if you find the text environment to your liking, you
>> can look around for other options.
>>
>> Because using Irssi with screen (or tmux) for persistence is fairly
>> technical, I will just run down the basics for people who already have some
>> familiarity with using the *nix shell environment.  Screen is a program
>> that allows you to have a program run, then "detach" from it and have it
>> continue running.  Later, you can "reattach" and continue your session as
>> if you never left.  All of the content will be there.  The basic invocation
>> is:
>>
>> screen -S <session name>
>>
>> This provides a screen session with a name (making reattachment easier).
>>  You will see a new shell prompt where you will start Irssi:
>>
>> irssi -c irc.perl.org -n <your nick>
>>
>> Irssi will connect and set your nickname.  At the Irssi prompt:
>>
>> /join #bangalore.pm
>>
>> And you are in!  At this point you can either explicitly detach your
>> session using CTRL + A then D (CTRL + A is the screen command key) or
>> simply disconnect (intentionally or unintentionally).  Later if you want to
>> reattach, just ssh to your shell and execute:
>>
>> screen -X <session name>
>>
>> Using the -X flag means that you can have multiple connections at the
>> same time, which is convenient if you have more than one machine and want
>> to connect from more than one of them.
>>
>> As I said, Irssi is the most difficult of these options to get started
>> with, but in my opinion, it is worth the trouble.  It's a different view of
>> how to get things done than the GUI clients, and you might think of it as
>> the vim (or emacs!) or IRC clients.
>>
>> *Basic Command Reference*
>> To get started with IRC you only need a few commands.  All the clients
>> support typing these commands into the input box.  Practice makes perfect.
>>
>> *Changing your Nick: /nick <nick>*
>> Different networks have different limits on length of nickname.  If your
>> nick doesn't change, check the status window of your client.  You may find
>> that it is too long or contains an illegal character ("erroneous
>> nickname").  The other possibility is someone else is already using it.
>>
>> *Joining a Channel: /join #<channel name>*
>> The pound sign/hash (#) is part of the IRC convention.  Some clients will
>> assume it, and put it in for you, but you can be sure by including it.
>>  Channels are like "rooms" but don't call them that.  They are channels.
>>  Channels can be "invite only" in which case someone in the channel must
>> use /invite <your nick> to allow you to join.  You might also be banned
>> from a channel.  This can be in error, or because a ban mask (e.g.:
>> *!*@*.in) was made very broad.  Don't take it personally.  If you can find
>> someone to help you who is on the channel, that's good.  But, keep in mind,
>> IRC is not *always* the friendliest place.  People are like people
>> everywhere, different from each other.  Of course, you will *always* be
>> welcome on #bangalore.pm (unless you act like one of those other
>> people!).
>>
>> *Sending a Private Message: /msg <nick>*
>> This command allows you to send a message that only a single user can
>> see.  In some clients it will open a new window for the conversation.  Be
>> careful to make sure if you *think* you are speaking privately you
>> really are, and to the right person!
>>
>> *Creating a Private Channel: /query <nick>*
>> This command creates a new tab or window with a session for private chat.
>>  It is otherwise like /msg, just intended to be persistent.  The same
>> warnings about being certain your private talk is private and to the person
>> you think apply.
>>
>> *Finding out about a Person: /whois <nick>*
>> This will give you some information about the connection from the
>> specified nick.  It can be helpful but also may not be.  It might appear in
>> the channel window, the status window, or somewhere else depending on the
>> client.
>>
>> There are many other commands which you can learn as you need them.
>>  These will get you started.  In GUI clients, right-clicking on something
>> will get you some of these options, or there may be menus to access them.
>>  Under the hood, these options are doing what is described above.
>>
>> *IRC Networks*
>> There are *many* IRC networks.  Each has it's own strengths and
>> weaknesses.  A network is one or more servers running the IRC daemon, and
>> linked together.  Any channels created are shared among the servers.
>>  Connecting to the generic server name (e.g.: irc.perl.org) will provide
>> you with one of the several servers in a round-robin fashion.  I will only
>> mention three networks, but you will see in the clients that there are
>> dozens.  These three should be more than enough unless you have some
>> special need.
>>
>> *MagNet*
>> MagNet (irc.perl.org) is the closest thing the Perl community has to an
>> "official" IRC network.  Many projects on CPAN host IRC channels on the
>> network.  This is where I established the Bangalore.pm since it is a Perl
>> community group.  The channels of interest on this network are:
>>
>>    - #bangalore.pm
>>    - #perl-help A friendly help channel
>>    - #perl This is a "perl hackers' channel", it is *not* a help
>>    channel.  Join and read before talking!
>>    - #<cpan project> You might find your favorite module or framework
>>    here.
>>
>> *Freenode*
>> Freenode (irc.freenode.net) is a network dedicated to F/OSS projects.
>>  It is very popular, and the Perl channel on it is quite good.  It is worth
>> checking out.  All clients can now connect to multiple networks so once you
>> get used to MagNet, you can add Freenode.  The perl channel is #perl, and
>> it is "friendlier" than #perl on MagNet because it is a help channel.
>>
>> *OFTC*
>> OFTC (irc.oftc.net) was started as an alternative to Freenode.  Some
>> (non-perl) F/OSS projects and interesting vendors (e.g.: Linode VPS) are
>> hosted on it.  Try it out once you are more adept.
>>
>> So, get on IRC, today.  In fact, *now*!  It is a key part of most Perl
>> groups, and really helps to keep the communication and enthusiasm flowing.
>>  I am also here to help however I can.  I am very excited about Perl in
>> India today.  I see a lot of smart, enthusiastic people with a great
>> attitude.  Let's make India a center of Perl excellence and an example to
>> other regions about how to do Perl community right!
>>
>> Namaste,
>> Ya'akov
>>
>> --
>> Ya'akov Sloman
>> Community Advocate
>> The Perl Foundation
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Bangalore-pm mailing list
>> Bangalore-pm at pm.org
>> http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/bangalore-pm
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Thanks,
> Jagadeesh N.Malakannavar
>
> _______________________________________________
> Bangalore-pm mailing list
> Bangalore-pm at pm.org
> http://mail.pm.org/mailman/listinfo/bangalore-pm
>



-- 
Regards
Rohit Basu
+919642907192
+919433248393
Coming together is a beginning.Keeping together is progress.Working
together is success
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