IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a text-based real-time communication protocol, which allows discussions between two or more people. It differs from instant messaging in that users do not have to agree to establish communication beforehand, in such a way that all users who are in a channel can communicate with each other, even if they have not had any previous contact. The conversations take place in so-called IRC channels, designated by names that usually begin with the character # or & (the latter is only used in local channels on the server). It is a chat system widely used by people all over the world.

IRC users use a client application to connect to a server, running an IRCd application (IRC daemon or IRC server) that manages channels and wall conversations.

History

IRC was created by Jarkko Oikarinen (aka “WiZ”) in August 1988 to replace the MUT (multi-user talk) program on a BBS called OuluBox in Finland. Oikarinen was inspired by the Bitnet Relay Chat which operated on the Bitnet network.

It was used in the 1991 Soviet Union coup attempt to report through a period of censorship in the media and by Kuwaitis during the First Gulf War, events after which the IRC gained popularity.

During the first half of the decade of the 2000 most networks they experienced a rapid increase of users, corresponding with the popularization of internet and especially Chat networks. Since then, the majority of networks have suffered a stagnation or a decline in the number of users, despite the increased use of the Internet. The fall coincides with the popularization of other types of networks, such as instant messaging or social networks.

Glossary

• Owner: in some networks or servers they usually have a ~ before nickname they are called owners of the channel and it has more power they can give the ranks in auto.
• Client: generic name given to the software with which we connect to the different networks.
• Networks: set of different servers to which users can connect to access the same content. Examples of networks are DALnet, Undernet, Quakenet, EFnet, Freenode or IRC-Hispano.
• Nicknameor Nick: pseudonym with which we will be known.
• Idle: time without talking about a user, that is, inactive.
• Away: absence, usually accompanied by a reason.
• Bot: (robot). It is a client connected to a server that responds automatically to orders or certain actions, usually there is no human behind that client.
• IRCop: (IRC Operator). Person in charge of managing and maintaining the network.
• HostSetter: it is a user with privileges to assign, remove and change virtual hosts (vhost) in networks with Anope type service.
• Operator: is a user with administrator privileges on a specific channel. It usually has an @ before the nickname.
• Half-Op: or half operator: They are users with privileges to manage a channel, but less than the operators. They only exist on some networks and have a + symbol before the nickname.
• Helper: Person who helps others with commands, usually people new to IRC
• Lag: time it takes to get a message that is sent to another user, if it is more than 30 s of lag it is advisable to try to connect another server.
• Netsplit: it happens when a server loses the communication link with the rest of the network.
• MOTD: (Message of The Day). It is the message of the day from a server, usually these messages include the rules and information of the server we are using.
• Flood: consists of sending a large amount of data to a user or channel, usually in order to annoy or disconnect other users.
• Clone: a Clone is a connection to a user’s IRC using an already open connection, with the same IP.
• K-Line: it is the prohibition of entering through a certain IRC server, usually due to saturation or reconnecting too fast, although in some networks there are different k-lines due to inappropriate actions, the solution to a k-line is to enter through another server IRC.
• Nuke: attack using “packet” shipments to cause disconnection, the best defense is to install a firewall .
• PING-PONG! : this appears in our status window, and it is the check made by the server to see if our connection is active and if we have not sent any data for some time, and if our computer does not answer, it will cut the communication. Also a PING written like this / ctcp nick ping serves to see the lag of the nick we want.
• TakeOver: it is the taking over of a channel by users who did not previously have privileges, for example taking advantage of a split.
• Ban: prevent a user from entering a #channel. If the user was in it, he will not be able to speak, nor return once he leaves or is expelled. It can only be done by someone with @ or%.

customers

After the first implementation of Jarkko Oikarinende, a large number of different implementations of IRC clients have emerged, both as standalone programs, such as mIRC , Irssi, Konversation or X-Chat of the most popular, as integrated within other programs, such as Chatzilla .

The use of different scripts is also highlighted, which are intended to take an existing IRC client as a platform for the development of different scripts which add extra functionalities and facilitate the operation of different IRC clients. In this case, Looksharp, NavIRC , IRCap , Xscript , among others, stand out.

Servers

Some of the server programs used in IRC are:

• Unreal IRCd
• Conference Room 4.5
• Freenode
• Inspire IRCd
• IRC-Hispanic IRCd
• Ircd-seven

You can download the server and all its components and modules for Linux at: http://ftp.upr.edu.cu/upredes/TEMPORAL-REVISAR/irc/ You can also connect to the server via web or mIRC client: http: // irc.upr.edu.cu Server: irc.pur.edu.cu port: 443 [Added by Dariel Finalés Marrupe] [Elijah]

Services

In addition to Servers and Clients, IRC now uses various programs that provide services to both the network in general, and users specifically. Some services such as NickServ, ChanServ, MemoServ, HostServ, OperServ and StatServ are essential in the operation of IRC networks.

Some of the most used services in IRC are:

• Anope IRC Services
• Epona IRC Services
• Atheme
• Denora Stats
• NeoStats

Utilities

IRC is popularly used to talk, make friends, and gather groups of people with the same tastes. To do this, anyone can start the specific channel. In addition to this an IRC channel is also used as a file sharing site. There are those specialized in music and books, among others. Another widely used modality is that of games, in which Cybergames stand out, with hundreds of channels on all servers.