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IRC users around, what are the servers you're joining? Looking to give it another try after all these years.

susam 5y ago
I have been using IRC since 2006 and I still use it. Initially, I used to hang out on a variety of networks including Freenode, DALNet, EFNet, OFTC, etc. but as years went by I found myself joining only Freenode. The most active discussions around open source projects, mathematics, programming languages, etc. occurred on Freenode. After the original Freenode staff stepped down[1] and moved to Libera[2] in May 2021, I moved to Libera too. There are still tight-knit communities on Libera IRC. For example #commonlisp, #emacs, ##math, #python, etc. have great communities with friendly attitude. I have been an operator of the #algorithms channel[3] for over 14 years now. I run a mathematics and computation book club[4] at #offbeat. Contrary to the popular opinion on this forum that IRC is dead, I think IRC is still thriving. It is definitely not as popular as web-based forums like Twitter, Stack Overflow, etc., not even close, but it is there, it is active, and I think it is here to stay for at least another decade or two and possibly even longer. [1] https://gist.github.com/joepie91/df80d8d36cd9d1bde46ba018af497409 https://gist.github.com/joepie91/df80d8d36cd9d1bde46ba018af4... [2] https://web.libera.chat/ https://web.libera.chat/ [3] https://susam.net/maze/algorithms-channel-migrates-to-libera-chat.html https://susam.net/maze/algorithms-channel-migrates-to-libera... [4] https://offbeat.cc/ https://offbeat.cc/
- skinnymuch 5y ago
  Isn’t the comparison for IRC, Slack and Discord? It’s not dead. Neither is ICQ. However we can probably agree ICQ is pretty close to dead and IRC is holding its own with a small number of people and no growth to look forward to. Discord right now is capturing almost all potential users. Unfortunate Discord has gotten so big and continuing to grow (they just raised hundreds of millions at a $15B valuation in Sept) without better options to be able to back/export things or have a web archive of channels. I’m assuming a web archive of channels is possible with the API, but I haven’t checked enough. If it is available. It is surprising I have never seen a Discord or Slack web archive of communities you’d think would want this sort of thing like troubleshooting communities like programming ones.
myself248 5y ago
I'm connected to OFTC, Libera, and Hackint right now, plus a semi-private one run by some friends.
howenterprisey 5y ago
In addition to the sibling comments, Rizon, for some specialized usages. Yes, some stuff there I won't endorse, but it's also home to my favorite and most tight-knit group of online friends.
easrng 5y ago
Libera and also sometimes pissnet because it's funny.

I have been using IRC since 2006 and I still use it. Initially, I used to hang out on a variety of networks including Freenode, DALNet, EFNet, OFTC, etc. but as years went by I found myself joining only Freenode. The most active discussions around open source projects, mathematics, programming languages, etc. occurred on Freenode. After the original Freenode staff stepped down[1] and moved to Libera[2] in May 2021, I moved to Libera too. There are still tight-knit communities on Libera IRC. For example #commonlisp, #emacs, ##math, #python, etc. have great communities with friendly attitude. I have been an operator of the #algorithms channel[3] for over 14 years now. I run a mathematics and computation book club[4] at #offbeat. Contrary to the popular opinion on this forum that IRC is dead, I think IRC is still thriving. It is definitely not as popular as web-based forums like Twitter, Stack Overflow, etc., not even close, but it is there, it is active, and I think it is here to stay for at least another decade or two and possibly even longer. [1] https://gist.github.com/joepie91/df80d8d36cd9d1bde46ba018af497409 https://gist.github.com/joepie91/df80d8d36cd9d1bde46ba018af4... [2] https://web.libera.chat/ https://web.libera.chat/ [3] https://susam.net/maze/algorithms-channel-migrates-to-libera-chat.html https://susam.net/maze/algorithms-channel-migrates-to-libera... [4] https://offbeat.cc/ https://offbeat.cc/

skinnymuch 5y ago
Isn’t the comparison for IRC, Slack and Discord? It’s not dead. Neither is ICQ. However we can probably agree ICQ is pretty close to dead and IRC is holding its own with a small number of people and no growth to look forward to. Discord right now is capturing almost all potential users. Unfortunate Discord has gotten so big and continuing to grow (they just raised hundreds of millions at a $15B valuation in Sept) without better options to be able to back/export things or have a web archive of channels. I’m assuming a web archive of channels is possible with the API, but I haven’t checked enough. If it is available. It is surprising I have never seen a Discord or Slack web archive of communities you’d think would want this sort of thing like troubleshooting communities like programming ones.

myself248 5y ago

I'm connected to OFTC, Libera, and Hackint right now, plus a semi-private one run by some friends.

howenterprisey 5y ago

In addition to the sibling comments, Rizon, for some specialized usages. Yes, some stuff there I won't endorse, but it's also home to my favorite and most tight-knit group of online friends.

easrng 5y ago

Libera and also sometimes pissnet because it's funny.