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Ask HN: Is IRC really dead?

6 points by gjsriv 13y ago

In the times of FB and Twitter - do we really have space for IRC? What can be done to bring it back to life?

euoia 13y ago
No. Why do you ask?
- gjsriv 13y ago
  Because I find this very interesting: While all other engagement medium have continued - we don't have one flourishing medium like IRC with the feeling of being in a room with some known and unknown people. Do we need it- well I miss it a lot? but do we have a critical mass which would be interested in reviving it?
  - iends 13y ago
    It doesn't need reviving. It's not dead. Tons of people use irc. Try freenode, it's alive and kicking.
ranman 13y ago
>/join #hackernews ... 10 people in the room. Yeah it's slowly dying. But then again: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/antarctic-irc-how-nasas-flying-lab-stays-connected/ http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/antarc...
- mindcrime 13y ago
  Join #startups on freenode, that's where the HN crowd can usually be found.
- gjsriv 13y ago
  Thanks for the link.
  - iends 13y ago
    #startups on freenode is much more active.
mindcrime 13y ago
Dead? IRC? Heh, I don't think so. But if you don't believe me, hop on irc://irc.freenode.net/startups and ask there.
27182818284 13y ago
There is absolutely a space for a new IRC. In today's world only a select few users can about /msg chanserve or worry about nickserv working, but they want exactly what IRC provides. I've even thought about making a mobile-first, IRC-like system for my friends and I to do group chats and coordination with.
informatimago 13y ago
IRC is quite alive, I am hooked on it 24/24. On the other hand I don't use FaceBook, and tend to send more than 140 characters messages on IRC.
venkasub 13y ago
I think IRC is the BEST and unique mediums to build a good circle of 'reliable' contacts. This makes immense sense if you are talking about technology. Not only do you end up networking with some of the brightest minds, but also get your queries resolved in 'near real time'. IRC would never be dead. It is immortal. Maker has to wait..alas!
asiekierka 13y ago
It depends on what communities you go to, really. The more tech-oriented ones still use IRC quite often, especially thanks to webchats.
ayers 13y ago
IRC is still alive and kicking. I have been using it for around 10 years. I still use it everyday, along with a handful of my "real life" friends. I feel IRC has always been a slightly more "underground/nerdy" technology and will always remain under the surface of other mainstream user technologies such as FB and Twitter.
EvilLook 13y ago
The IRC channels I go to (primarily non-technical outside of freenode and 2600net) have between fifty and 100 people in them on a daily basis. IRC is not dead. Certain networks, due to DDoS attacks or policy changes against file sharing, or incompetent operators are dying.

6 points by gjsriv 13y ago

In the times of FB and Twitter - do we really have space for IRC? What can be done to bring it back to life?

euoia 13y ago

No. Why do you ask?

gjsriv 13y ago
Because I find this very interesting: While all other engagement medium have continued - we don't have one flourishing medium like IRC with the feeling of being in a room with some known and unknown people. Do we need it- well I miss it a lot? but do we have a critical mass which would be interested in reviving it?
- iends 13y ago
  It doesn't need reviving. It's not dead. Tons of people use irc. Try freenode, it's alive and kicking.

ranman 13y ago

>/join #hackernews ... 10 people in the room. Yeah it's slowly dying. But then again: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/antarctic-irc-how-nasas-flying-lab-stays-connected/ http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/01/antarc...

mindcrime 13y ago
Join #startups on freenode, that's where the HN crowd can usually be found.
gjsriv 13y ago
Thanks for the link.
- iends 13y ago
  #startups on freenode is much more active.

mindcrime 13y ago

Dead? IRC? Heh, I don't think so. But if you don't believe me, hop on irc://irc.freenode.net/startups and ask there.

27182818284 13y ago

There is absolutely a space for a new IRC. In today's world only a select few users can about /msg chanserve or worry about nickserv working, but they want exactly what IRC provides. I've even thought about making a mobile-first, IRC-like system for my friends and I to do group chats and coordination with.

informatimago 13y ago

IRC is quite alive, I am hooked on it 24/24. On the other hand I don't use FaceBook, and tend to send more than 140 characters messages on IRC.

venkasub 13y ago

I think IRC is the BEST and unique mediums to build a good circle of 'reliable' contacts. This makes immense sense if you are talking about technology. Not only do you end up networking with some of the brightest minds, but also get your queries resolved in 'near real time'. IRC would never be dead. It is immortal. Maker has to wait..alas!

asiekierka 13y ago

It depends on what communities you go to, really. The more tech-oriented ones still use IRC quite often, especially thanks to webchats.

ayers 13y ago

IRC is still alive and kicking. I have been using it for around 10 years. I still use it everyday, along with a handful of my "real life" friends. I feel IRC has always been a slightly more "underground/nerdy" technology and will always remain under the surface of other mainstream user technologies such as FB and Twitter.

EvilLook 13y ago

The IRC channels I go to (primarily non-technical outside of freenode and 2600net) have between fifty and 100 people in them on a daily basis. IRC is not dead. Certain networks, due to DDoS attacks or policy changes against file sharing, or incompetent operators are dying.