Types
There are three types of channel on irc.tejat.net:
- &: Ad-hoc channel
- #: Registered channel
- +: Anarchist channel
Ad-hoc channels
An ad-hoc channel is one whose name starts with "&". It behaves like a channel on most other IRC servers. It completely disappears when the last user leaves, and doesn't remember what a user's modes (see below) were if the user leaves and comes back.
Registered channels
A registered channel starts with "#". It remembers everything about itself; channel modes, topic, user modes, etc. Changes are permanent and "sticky," so if a user leaves and comes back hir user modes are restored.
Registered channels have a special user mode, +O (channel admin). It grants no special powers, but if nobody in a registered channel has +O, the channel is in danger of disappearing from the database. (If you accidentally de-admin yourself, talk to SolraBizna and he can fix the situation.)
Only registered users can register channels.
Anarchist channels
An anarchist channel starts with "+". It always allows everyone to join, and has no mode or administrators or state of any kind. Even the server administrator can't kick someone from an anarchist channel. (This might be a good neutral-ground channel to have an argument in, for instance.)
Channel Modes
Channels (except anarchist channels) have "modes," which are attributes that change the way the channel works. You usually manipulate modes via the /mode command, but it may vary from client to client.
Normal modes:
- +n (no outside messages): A user must be on this channel to send a message to this channel.
- +m (moderated): A user must be voiced (+v, see below) on this channel to send a message to this channel.
- +i (invite-only): A user must be invited (or +I, see below) to this channel to join this channel. In addition, a user must be an operator to invite another user to a +i channel. Note that /invite is not implemented yet.
- +t (topiclock): A user must be an operator (+o, see below) on this channel in order to change the topic.
- +p (private): A user who is not in this channel cannot tell who is in this channel, or whether someone is in this channel.
- +s (secret): Hide the channel from /list, in addition to all effects of mode +p. Note that /list is not implemented. Setting both +p and +s is pointless, but possible.
- +z (zecure?): A user must have an encrypted connection to join this channel.
In addition, there are some modes which take a parameter:
- +k (keyword): A user must provide the correct "keyword" (password) to join this channel. For example: "/mode &secret +k basingstoke" sets the password for &secret to "basingstoke".
- +l (limit): Limit the number of users allowed in this channel to the given number. (This is one of the few cases where two users with equivalent nicknames will be counted separately.) For example: "/mode &secret +l 5" to limit &secret to 5 users.
Some modes are wildcard lists:
- +b (ban): Any user matching a wildcard mask in the +b list is not allowed to join the channel (unless shi also matches +e, see below).
- +e (ban exception): A user who matches a +b mask but also matches a +e mask is allowed to join.
- +I (standing invitation): A user who matches a +I mask always counts as having been invited to the channel.
A wildcard matches against the "nick!user" portion of a user's "hostmask". (The host portion is ignored because of cloaking.) * means any number of any character, ? means one of any character, any other character is matched as is. For example, "Solra*!*" will match "Solra!sbizna" and "Solra!SolraBizn" and "SolraBizna!sbizna" but not "wizard!sbizna".
Since un-identified users have a ~ added before their username in their hostmask, you can ban all un-identified users from your channel by banning "*!~*", which will match all un-identified users and no identified users.
Lastly, some modes apply to a certain user only on a certain channel:
- +v (voice): This user is allowed to speak on this channel (only has an effect if the channel is +m, see above).
- +h (half-operator): This user has all powers from +v, and is allowed to grant/revoke +v and use /kick on this channel.
- +o (operator): This user has all powers from +h, and can set channel modes and grant/revoke +o.
- +O (channel admin): This user can grant/revoke +o and +O. (If you want the powers from +o, you must also be +o on the channel.) This mode only applies to #channels.
The above modes are affectionately known as "hats."
If you want to experiment, please create a &channel instead of a #channel. &test might be a good name for such a channel, but keep in mind you probably aren't the only person who'd use that name. You can register a new #channel by joining it as long as you're a registered user.