What do you need to know about IRC?
IRC or Internet Relay Chat is a protocol that enables real-time text communications between people. To start, a client connects to a server (or more commonly a network of servers) where clients have either one on one conversations or group conversations in channels.
Which is the best IRC client for beginners?
HexChat is an advanced IRC client that is good for beginners as well as those users who like to get under the hood. It is easy to get up and running, but has all the advanced features that a power user would need. See More
How can I get NickServ to recognize my fingerprint?
To allow NickServ to recognise you based on your certificate, you need to add the fingerprint to your account (you will need to log in by other means in order to do so). You can then authorise your current certificate fingerprint:
How are channels laid out in IRC client?
Channels can be laid out as both tabs and in a tree structure. All components such as user lists, topics bar or even menu bar can be hidden to provide a clean way to interact. Conversely the interface can be configured to show quick access buttons for changing channel flags, sending files or performing operator actions.
Can you connect to more than one IRC server at a time?
While older IRC clients could connect to only one server at a time, modern IRC clients allow you to connect to any number of servers. Even the most paranoid user can feel safe using IRC, as this chapter also shows you how to secure your IRC connection or tunnel it through other machines.
Where do messages from the IRC server end up?
Messages from the IRC server typically end up here. freenode is an IRC network where many people gather to discuss peer-directed projects, and it is often a good place to ask questions about Java, Perl, PHP, and other programming languages. You can use the freenode IRC network by entering /server irc.freenode.net into the Status window.