The Book of IRC -- Table of Contents

NO STARCH PRESS
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1 IRC
1.1 Origin and history
1.2 Technical concept
1.3 What IRC has to offer

2 Setting up for IRC
2.1 Requirements
2.2 Computing and the internet for beginners
2.3 Selecting an ISP
2.4 Starting out on the internet and using basic services
2.5 IRC clients and servers
2.6 Clients for unusual platforms

3 MS-Windows clients
3.1 Getting a client
3.2 Installing the client
3.3 Basic setup hints (mIRC)
3.4 " (pirch)
3.5 " (xircon)
3.6 " (virc)

4 UNIX clients
4.1 Getting a client
4.2 Compiling and configuring (ircII)
4.3 " (sirc)
4.4 " (BitchX)

5 Macintosh clients
5.1 ircle
5.2 Homer
5.3 Macirc
5.4 ChatNet

6 Connecting to a server
6.1 Selecting a network and server
6.2 Error messages
6.3 Welcome to the Internet Relay...
6.4 User modes
6.5 Changing servers
6.6 Disconnecting from a server
6.7 Multiple server connections

7 Channels
7.1 Obtaining a channel list and possible problems
7.2 Selecting a channel from the list
7.3 Joining a channel and problems joining
7.4 Who is in the channel
7.5 Channel operators
7.6 Moderated channels and +voice
7.7 Channel events
7.8 Leaving a channel
7.9 Joining multiple channels
7.10 Channel 0
7.11 Netsplits and lag

8 Communication
8.1 Types of messages you may receive
8.2 Etiquette
8.3 Ignoring messages
8.4 Sending to a channel
8.5 Sending private messages
8.6 Strange characters in messages
8.7 Coloured text and highlights
8.8 Smilies or emoticons
8.9 Actions
8.10 Common abbreviations
8.11 Auto-greets
8.12 Keeping track of events by logging
8.13 Common communication problems
8.14 Contacting people off-line. Memo services.

9 Finding people on IRC
9.1 WHOIS
9.2 WHO
9.3 NOTIFY and ISON
9.4 NAMES
9.5 Finding the operators of a channel
9.6 Finding IRC operators
9.7 Using Services
9.8 Finger
9.9 Finding someone's location
9.10 Maintaining notify lists

10 Creating and managing a channel
10.1 Creating a new channel
10.2 Channel operator status
10.3 Channel modes
10.4 Creating a private channel
10.5 Kicks and bans
10.6 Server-generated mode changes
10.7 Channel security
10.8 Channels with no operators
10.9 Desync
10.10 Using channel services

11 Enhancing a client with scripts
11.1 What scripts are
11.2 Why use a script?
11.3 Selecting a script
11.4 Obtaining a script
11.5 Write your own!
11.6 ircII scripts
11.7 mIRC scripts
11.8 Scripting for ircII
11.9 Scripting for mIRC

12 IRC operators
12.1 What they do
12.2 Who they are
12.3 How to become an IRC operator
12.4 IRC operator commands

13 CTCP
13.1 CTCP commands
13.2 Sending CTCP requests
13.3 Replying to CTCP requests
13.4 PRIVMSG and NOTICE
13.5 Customizing CTCP replies
13.6 CTCP floods
13.7 Miscellaneous CTCP

14 DCC
14.1 DCC Chat
14.2 File tranfers via DCC
14.3 DCC Talk
14.4 Multiple DCC connections
14.5 DCC from behind firewalls

15 Server/network commands
15.1 LUSERS
15.2 LINKS
15.3 ADMIN
15.4 STATS
15.5 INFO
15.6 DATE/TIME
15.7 TRACE
15.8 VERSION
15.9 ISON
15.10 Other server commands

16 Odd IRC stuff
16.1 File servers and XDCC
16.2 Writing a client
16.3 IRC via telnet
16.4 IRC for the sight-impaired
16.5 Jupes
16.6 On-line help services
16.7 The IRC Protocol

17 IRC abuse and security issues
17.1 Flooding
17.2 Hacking
17.3 Channel takeovers
17.4 Harassment
17.5 Spoofing
17.6 Password stealers
17.7 Denial of Service attacks
17.8 Spam and mass-messaging
17.9 Account security

18 Installing and running an IRC server
18.1 System requirements
18.2 IRC server software
18.3 Unix/Linux ircd
18.4 Windows ircd
18.5 Other platforms
18.6 Installing
18.7 The ircd.conf
18.8 Networking

19 IRC robots
19.1 Description of a bot
19.2 Uses of bots
19.3 Types of bots
19.4 UNIX bots
19.5 MS-Windows bots
19.6 Macintosh bots

20 Legal and ethical aspects of IRC
20.1 IRC on the Internet
20.2 Sociology of the Relay
20.3 Privacy and anonymity
20.4 Censorship
20.5 IRC addiction
20.6 Pornography on IRC
20.7 IRC and software piracy
20.8 Kids on IRC
20.9 The future of IRC

Appendix A - Network and server lists
Appendix B - Quick reference jargonbuster
Appendix C - Countries seen on IRC
Appendix D - Useful addresses

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