Editing Using the SRP Chat

This article explains how to use SRP's Chat, and gives detailed step-by-step instructions on how to connect to the chat. The chat system uses Freenode's IRC network, details can be found below. 

The Chat link on the straightrazorplace.com menu will send you to the webchat client on freenode. You need to pick a screenname that is not being used on freenode (the SRP screenname appended with "SRP", e.g. Joe-SRP seems to be a popular option). &nbsp;You can also [[Using the SRP Chat#Registering_with_NickServ|register]] (protect with a password) a screen name with freenode and it will remain reserved for you as long as you authenticate with it in the chat once a month. 

If you're a bit more adventurous and/or you would like to have a better, more flexible connection to our chat, you can connect to it via different IRC client. For more general information on IRC - go [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat here]. The specifics for the SRP chat are: 

<code>IRC Server: irc.freenode.net<br> Channel: #srp</code> 

<!-- *General Chat, scheduled chat every Sunday at 20:00 EST 
*Restoration Chat, scheduled Chat every Tuesday at 20:00 EST -->

''While there are usually quite a few people around at other times, too, they may be idle or away from their keyboards. Please be patient or come back a bit later.'' 

== Using freenode's IRC server  ==

SRP uses the freenode IRC network. '''freenode''', formerly known as '''Open Projects Network''', is a popular [[wikipedia:Internet Relay Chat|IRC]] [[wikipedia:computer network|network]] used to discuss peer-directed projects.<ref>Mutton, Paul. ''IRC Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Tools''. Cambridge: [[Wikipedia:O'Reilly Media]] 2004. ISBN 0-596-00687-X</ref> Their servers are all accessible from the [[wikipedia:Domain name system|domain name]] [irc://chat.freenode.net chat.freenode.net], which sends the users to the server in rotation that is best able to accept new connections.<ref>[http://freenode.net/irc_servers.shtml About freenode: IRC Servers]</ref> freenode is the largest [[wikipedia:free software|FOSS]] IRC network in existence, encompassing more than 50,000 users and 10,000 channels.<ref>[http://irc.netsplit.de/networks/details.php.en?net=freenode&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;submenu=weeks Network statistics over the last two weeks]</ref> 

To use the chat to its full extent, you may want to read freenode's documentation, especially the [http://freenode.net/faq.shtml freenode FAQ]. 

Please be advised that freenode is not affiliated with SRP. Therefore, your SRP login credentials will not work in the Chat. If you want to register your nickname with freenode, please use the [http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#userregistration commands laid out in the FAQ]. 

== Connecting to #srp using Pidgin  ==

After thorough testing, we recommend using the Pidgin IRC client for connecting to #srp. Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a multi-platform [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_messaging instant messaging] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client_%28computing%29 client]. The software has support for many commonly used instant messaging [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_%28computing%29 protocols], allowing the user to log into various different services from one application.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_(software)</ref> 

=== Installation  ===

==== Installing Pidgin  ====

First, get the latest version of Pidgin from [http://www.pidgin.im www.pidgin.im] and install it. 

==== Installing the Pidgin Purple Plugin Pack (optional!)  ====

We recommend installing the plugin pack, as it contains many useful add-ons to Pidgin. However, this step is '''not''' necessary in order to run Pidgin! 

#Next, go to [http://plugins.guifications.org/trac/downloads http://plugins.guifications.org/trac/downloads] and grab the latest Purple Plugin Pack for your platform (For Linux, the major distributions have packages in their repositories called pidgin-plugin_pack (for Pidgin only) or purple-plugin-pack (for all user interfaces that use purple) but you may have to compile the plugin yourself using the downloads on the site) This is a pile of plugins for Pidgin, and whilst you can use IRC without it, we recommend it. 
#From the Plugin Pack, get the irchelper plugin and install it. 
##For Windows, this means copying the irchelper.dll file into your plugins directory, probably <tt>c:\Program Files\Pidgin\plugins</tt>. 
##For Linux - package managers will have auto installed them or you'll have to compile it.

=== Setting up Pidgin  ===

#Start Pidgin. You will get a screen like Image 1. Add an account as shown in Image 2. 
#If you installed the plugin pack previously, go to Tools -&gt; Plugins and activate the IRC Helper plugin as shown in Image 3. Otherwise, skip this step. Choose 'IRC' as the protocol, and 'irc.freenode.net' as the server. Choose a nick name. (If you have registered with freenode before, use your nick name and jump to 'Automatically identifying yourself'). 
#Click 'Save', and Pidgin will connect you to the server as shown in Image 6.

Odds are on the first person to talk to you will be NickServ, FreeNode's all-seeing eye of nicks, who will complain about your nick. This is because, on freenode at least, you should always identify yourself. This helps prevent fraud and nick-stealing, and is so easy you might as well. 

=== Registering with NickServ  ===

In the conversation window (or 'tab') that NickServ opened, type <tt>register &lt;nickname&gt; &lt;password&gt; &lt;email address&gt;</tt>, replacing the variables with your own nickname, password, and email address. If you do not have such a window, type: <tt>/msg nickserv register &lt;nickname&gt; &lt;password&gt; &lt;email address&gt;</tt>. freenode will then send you a confirmation email with a nick you need to click to finish the registration process. 

You will then be able to identify yourself with 'identify &lt;nickname&gt; &lt;password&gt;'. In order to avoid doing that manually every time, use the following instructions to automate it. 

Go to Accounts -&gt; Manage and modify the IRC account. Under the 'Advanced' tab, enter 'NickServ' for 'Auth Name' and your password for 'Nick Password'. Now, whenever you connect to IRC, Pidgin will automatically identify you. ''You must have installed the irchelper plugin in order for this to work!'' 

=== Joining the Chatroom  ===

In order to speak to anyone, you must join the #srp channel. 

To do this: 

#Goto Buddies -&gt; Add Chat. 
#Make sure the IRC account is selected, and enter '#srp' for 'Channel'. 
#If you wish to automatically connect to the room when you sign in to IRC, click the 'Autojoin' checkbox. 
#Finish by clicking 'Add'.

Now you can double-click #srp to join us. While you are at it, you may want to add #srp-resto, where our restoration chat takes place on Tuesday nights. <gallery caption="Using Pidgin to connect to #srp" widths="350px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
Image:IRC using Pidgin-01.png| The startup screen when you first open Pidgin. Choose "Add".
Image:IRC using Pidgin-02.png| Fill in your username (aka nick name) and server ('irc.freenode.net').
Image:IRC using Pidgin-03.png| Installing the irchelper plugin will let you authenticate automatically later.
Image:IRC using Pidgin-04.png| Click 'Modify' to modify your new account.
Image:IRC using Pidgin-04a.png|With the irchelper plugin installed, you can fill in 'Auth Name' (Nickserv) and 'Nick Password' (the one you got in the email from freenode upon registering).
Image:IRC using Pidgin-06.png| Finally - you are in. Mind the other users on the right. Type in the form field at the bottom.
Image:IRC using Pidgin-05.png| Right clicking on the SRP account in your buddy list will let you edit its preferences.
Image:IRC using Pidgin-07.png| Once you are in the chat, editing the preferences for this account will give you more options. We recommend ticking the 'autojoin' box.
</gallery> 

== Connecting to #srp using other clients  ==

=== Colloquy (Mac OS)  ===

This is a basic tutorial showing you how to use Colloquy on a Mac to access the SRP IRC chat. 

#Download the latest Colloquy [http://colloquy.info/downloads/colloquy-latest.zip here] and install it on your Mac. 
#Run Colloquy for the first time. 
#Follow the instructions below.

<gallery caption="Using Colloquy" widths="350px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
Image:Using the SRP chat - aaronx-colloquy-01.jpg | Hit control-n to start a new connection. This will open up the following window. Type in your desired nickname (mine is AaronX obviously), the chat server to type in is irc.freenode.net and click the Remember this connection box.
Image:Using the SRP chat - aaronx-colloquy-02.jpg | Click the arrow next to Details to expand the window. Set your username and real name (I keep mine just my first name of Aaron).
Image:Using the SRP chat - aaronx-colloquy-03.jpg | Click the + button under Join Rooms and type in srp.
Image:Using the SRP chat - aaronx-colloquy-04.jpg | Hit the Connect button and there you are but we are going to change a few more settings to make it more user friendly.
Image:Using the SRP chat - aaronx-colloquy-05.jpg | Hit Command-1 to bring up the connections window and right click on the irc.freenode.net entry we made in the directions above and select Get Info. This will bring up another window and click on the Automatic tab and click on the Connect on launch button. Feel free to close the window once you've done this.
</gallery> Now when you run Colloquy it will automatically log you into the SRP chat room. 

=== irssi  ===

[http://irssi.org/ irssi] is the IRC client of choice for many Un*x users. It is small, highly extensible, and works [http://quadpoint.org/articles/irssi well with screen]. You might find [http://www.matthew.ath.cx/programs/irssiconfig IRSSI Config] useful: "This script will generate an irssi config file for you which will autoconncet to all your servers and channels on startup." 

==== Installing irssi and connecting to #srp on freenode  ====

irssi comes pre-compiled for most Linux and Unix distributions. You may want to install the irssi-[http://irssi.org/scripts scripts] package, too. 

In order to connect to the freenode network, just follow the two easy steps below. Detailed instructions are below the screen shots. 

<gallery caption="Using irssi" widths="350px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
Image:Using the SRP chat - beberlin-irssi-01.png | Connect to the freenode network by saying: <tt>irssi -c irc.freenode.net</tt>. You will get a window like this.
Image:Using the SRP chat - beberlin-irssi-02.png | Say: <tt>/join #srp</tt> (to enter SRP's channel). You are in.
</gallery> 

==== Configuring irssi for #srp on freenode  ====

Before you begin, read the [http://irssi.org/documentation/startup irssi Startup Guide]. It will answer most of your questions about irssi (but not, mind you, IRC in general). 

To join #srp in an easy way, follow these steps: 

#When connected, use the following command to set your nick: <span style="color:blue"><code>/set nick yournick</code></span>. 
#Make freenode a part of your irssi networks: <span style="color:blue"><code>/server add -auto -network Freenode irc.freenode.net 6667</code></span>. The -auto command is optional and will automatically connect you to that server when irssi starts. 
#Associate your nick with the freenode network: <span style="color:blue"><code>/network add -nick yournick Freenode</code></span>. 
#Add the #srp channel to your list of channels to connect to automatically on startup: <span style="color:blue"><code>/channel add -auto #srp Freenode</code></span>. 
#Keeping your nick hidden to enhance privacy on freenode: <span style="color:blue"><code>/msg nickserv set hidemail on</code></span>. 
#Identify with freenode's nickserve automatically: <span style="color:blue"><code>/network add -autosendcmd “/msg nickserv identify password&nbsp;;wait 2000″ Freenode</code></span>.

=== ksirc  ===

KSirc is the default KDE IRC client. It supports scripting with Perl and has a lot of compatibility with mIrc for general use. The [http://docs.kde.org/development/ru/kdenetwork/ksirc/using-ksirc.html ksirc handbook] will get you started quickly. The commands needed to join <tt>#srp</tt> are below. 

<gallery caption="Using ksirc" widths="350px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
Image:Using the SRP chat - beberlin-ksirc1.png |  Add a new server.
Image:Using the SRP chat - beberlin-ksirc2.png |  Add freenode as your server and hit "connect".
Image:Using the SRP chat - beberlin-ksirc3.png |  Join the SRP channel by saying:  <tt>/join #srp</tt>.
Image:Using the SRP chat - beberlin-ksirc4.png |  Get rewarded with lots of GUI IRC stuff.
</gallery> 

=== XChat  ===

This is a basic tutorial showing you how to use XChat on a PC to access the SRP IRC chat. 

#Download the latest XChat [http://www.xchat.org/ here] and install it on your PC. 
#Run XChat for the first time. 
#The XChat: Network List window pops up. 
#See picture 1 below: On this page, put in the Nick name you want to use (your SRP nickname), as well as filling in the Second and Third Choices. You may put in your given name in the Real name area. You can also select the "Skip network list on startup" option. 
#In the "Networks" area, scroll down to FreeNode and click on it. Then click the "Edit..." button. 
#The XChat: Edit FreeNode window pops up. See picture 2 below: On this page, select the "Auto connect to this network at startup" option, and beside "Favorite channels:" put in #srp. 
#Click the "Close" button - closing the Edit FreeNode window. 
#Click the "Connect" button - closing the Network List window and this should connect you to the chat!

<gallery caption="Using XChat on Windows" widths="350px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
Image:Using the SRP chat - byront-xchat-01.jpg | On this page, put in the Nick name you want to use (your SRP nickname), as well as filling in the Second and Third Choices. You may put in your given name in the Real name area. You can also select the "Skip network list on startup" option.
Image:Using the SRP chat - byront-xchat-02.jpg |  On this page, select the "Auto connect to this network at startup" option, and beside "Favorite channels:" put in #srp.
</gallery> Now when you run XChat it will automatically log you into the SRP chat room. 

=== Chatzilla (Firefox)  ===

#If you all ready use FireFox then all you have to do is go to [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/16 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/16] and install the add on chatzilla. 
#Once it is installed go to tools and Chatzilla will be one of the selections under "Tools." 
#Click on "freenode". 
#Change your nickname: type "''/nick nickname''". 
#It will ask you to register your nickname to do that, type "''/msg nickserv register &lt;your-password&gt; &lt;your-email&gt;''" just like this "''/msg nickserv register mypassword [mailto:me@gmail.com me@gmail.com]''" 
#You will have to reply to the email that gets send to you. Once registered, every time you log in, you will have to type "''/msg nickserv identify mypassword''" (or you can configure the auto-perform to do this for you.) 
#Type "''/join #srp''" - and then on the #srp tab that pops up, right-click and choose "Open This Channel At Startup".

<gallery caption="Using Firefox with Chatzilla" widths="350px" heights="300px" perrow="2">
Image:Using the SRP chat - rayd-chatzilla.jpg
</gallery> 

== Acknowledgements  ==

Most content is taken from the post "SRP Chat!"<ref>http://straightrazorplace.com/general/23560-srp-chat.html</ref>. Kudos to: 

*[http://straightrazorplace.com/members/byrontodd.html ByronTodd] for creating the initial article and 'XChat on PCs (Windows and Linux)' 
*[http://straightrazorplace.com/members/aaronx.html AaronX] for 'Colloquy on Macs' 
*[http://straightrazorplace.com/members/beberlin.html BeBerlin] for 'irssi and ksirc (Linux / Unix clients)' as well as 'Pidgin' 
*[http://straightrazorplace.com/members/rayd.html RayD] for 'Chatzilla'

== References  ==

<references /> 

[[Category:SRP]]