Easiest way to get started using IRC

October 23, 2004 6:01 AM

What is the absolute easiest way to get started using IRC?
posted by JoanArkham to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

Absolute easiest? Visit a web page that has one of those little Java IRC clients on it.

Best easiest? Download an IRC client -- I like X-Chat, but there are thousands to choose from -- and connect.
posted by majick at 7:08 AM on October 23, 2004

An IRC FAQ
posted by majick at 7:16 AM on October 23, 2004

X-Chat Aqua is about the only tolerable client for the Mac.

Xircon is the way to go on Windows, if you ask me.

Some people (you know who you are) like Chatzilla, which is built in to Mozilla, but it'd be kind of silly to download a browser and mail client just to get at the IRC piece.
posted by majick at 7:20 AM on October 23, 2004

The most popular IRC client for Windows is probably mIRC -- some would say it's the easiest to setup and use, also.
posted by Jairus at 7:25 AM on October 23, 2004

i am (for os x) a big fan of colloquy its very feature heavy, but it isnt that hard to lean to use. and its very stable.
posted by ShawnString at 7:39 AM on October 23, 2004

Also, feel free to visit the fine folks at #mefi. They'll help explain everything about IRC to you and then some.
posted by Stynxno at 9:48 AM on October 23, 2004

Of course, to talk to the folks at #mefi, you'll need to have already set up an IRC client.
newuser: Hey you guys, how do I log onto #mefi
q: ?
posted by seanyboy at 10:58 AM on October 23, 2004

okay okay, AFTER you get a client, then log into #mefi.

oi.
posted by Stynxno at 2:01 PM on October 23, 2004

Once you have your client:
/server irc.metafilter.com

Then:
/join #mefi
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 2:07 PM on October 23, 2004

Response by poster: Thanks all! Hopefully I'll have some time to play with it tomorrow, then I'll see you all there...
posted by JoanArkham at 6:15 PM on October 24, 2004