What is plaintext in my point of view:
Its simply text without any makeup or add-on, it is just an organic content. For example,

• A handwritten grocery list what our mother used to give to our father
• A To-Do List
• An essay/composition writing in our school days

Why plaintext is important?
– The quality of the content only going to get score here: there is no marketing by giving some beautification or formats.
– Less storage
– Ideal for long term data storage because Cross-Platform Compatibility
– Universal Accessibility. Many s/w using plain text for configuration files (.ini, .conf, .json)
– Data interchange (.csv – interchange data into databases or spreadsheet application)
– Command line environments, even in cryptography.
– Batch Processing: Many batch processes use plain text files to define lists of actions or tasks that need to be executed in a batch mode, such as renaming files, converting data formats, or running programs.

So plain text is simple, powerful and something special we have no doubt about it.

What is IRC?
IRC – Internet Relay Chat is a plain text based real time communication System over the internet for one-on-one chat, group chat, online community – making it ideal for discussion.

It’s a popular network for free and open-source software (FOSS) projects and developers in olden days. Ex. many large projects (like Debian, Arch Linux, GNOME, and Python) discussion used. Nowadays also IRC is using by many communities.

Usage :
Mainly a discussion chat forum for open-source software developers, technology, and hobbyist communities.

Why IRC?
Already we have so many chat platforms which are very advanced and I could use multimedia also there. So this is very basic, right?

Yes it is very basic, but the infrastructure of this IRC is not like other chat platforms. In my point of view the important differences are privacy and decentralized.

Advantages over other Chat Platforms:

• No Ads Or Popups: We are not distracted from other ads or popups because my information are not passed to any company to track my needs and give marketing.
• Privacy: Many IRC networks does not need your email or mobile number or even registration. Simply you can type your name or nick name, select your server and start chat instantly. Chat Logs also getting stored if required.
• Open Source and Free: Server, Client – the entire networking model is free and open source. Anybody can install the IRC servers/clients and connect with the network.
• Decentralized : As servers are decentralized, it could able to work even one server has some issues and it is down. Users can connect to different servers within the same network which is improving reliability and performance.
• Low Latency: Its a free real time communication system with low latency which is very important for technical communities and time sensitive conversations.
• Customization and Extensibility: Custom scripts can be written to enhance functionality and IRC supports automation through bots which can record chats, sending notification or moderating channels, etc.
• Channel Control: Channel Operators (Group Admin) have fine control over the users like who can join, who can be kicked off.
• Light Weight Tool: As its light weight no high end hardware required. IRC can be accessed from even older computers or even low powered devices like Rasberry Pi.
• History and Logging: Some IRC Servers allow logging of chats through bots or in local storage.

Inventor
IRC is developed by Jarkko Oikarinen (Finland) in 1988.

Some IRC networks/Servers:
Libera.Chat(#ubuntu, #debian, #python, #opensource)
EFNet-Eris Free Network (#linux, #python, #hackers)
IRCnet(#linux, #chat, #help)
Undernet(#help, #anime, #music)
QuakeNet (#quake, #gamers, #techsupport)
DALnet- for both casual users and larger communities (#tech, #gaming, #music)

Some Clients-GUI
HexChat (Linux, macOS, Windows)
Pidgin (Linux, Windows)
KVIrc (Linux, Windows, macOS)

Some IRC Clients for CLI (Command Line Interface) :
WeeChat
Irssi

IRC Clients for Mobile :
Goguma
Colloquy (iOS)
LimeChat (iOS)
Quassel IRC (via Quassel Core) (Android)
AndroIRC (Android)

Directly on the Website – Libera WebClient – https://web.libera.chat/gamja/You can click Join, then type the channel name (Group) (Ex. #kaniyam)

How to get Connected with IRC:
After installed the IRC client, open.
Add a new network (e.g., “Libera.Chat”).
Set the server to irc.libera.chat (or any of the alternate servers above).
Optionally, you can specify a port (default is 6667 for non-SSL, 6697 for SSL).
Join a channel like #ubuntu, #python, or #freenode-migrants once you’re connected.

Popular channels to join on libera chat:
#ubuntu, #debian, #python, #opensource, #kaniyam

Local Logs:
Logs are typically saved in plain text and can be stored locally, allowing you to review past conversations.
How to get local logs from our System (IRC libera.chat Server)
folders – /home//.local/share/weechat/logs/ From Web-IRCBot History:
https://ircbot.comm-central.org:8080/

References:
https://kaniyam.com/what-is-irc-an-introduction/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGurYNb0BM8

Our daily meetings :
You can install IRC client, with the above link help, can join.
Timings : IST 8pm-9pm
Server : libera.chat
Channel : #kaniyam

ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN, DISCUSS and GROW

• For the past few months, I was preparing for an English Exam called CELPIP. It is an exam to check the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Though we know English, preparing for an exam is an exhausting one. We took online training from “Galaxy Training Academy“. https://galaxytraining.in The coach “Jay Kumar” gave nice intro about exam pattern. He gave many mock tests and gave good feedback on how to improve, on each test. Last month, Nithya and I cleared the exam. It is a good feel to released from exam fear. Postponed many activities because of the exam preparation. Will roll out them all soon. If you are preparing for any English Exam, I suggest taking training and mock tests with “Galaxy Training Academy”.
  
  ——
  
  
• In Canada, Daylight saving ended yesterday. This happens every year in fall season and referred as “Fallback”. The clocks are moved one hour back. This is to adjust the dark winter season. It seems like all in a sudden, we got one hour extra to sleep in morning.
  
  ——
  
  
• On Oct 31, we had Deepavali, Halloween and our Marriage day. Deepavali day went with great remembering our childhood memories. The evening was filled with fun, as we went to neighbourhood houses, with friends and kids, to play “Trick or Treat”. Saw many weird, spooky decorated houses and people. Kids collected a bag full of chocolates. Last year, it was too cold. This year, the same day had a nice weather, to roam around in the evening.
  
  ——
  
  
• On Nov 1, we celebrated Deepavali with firing crackers. Bought a few crackers, which emit light. Here, we don’t get loud-full crackers like atom bombs, 1000 piece fireworks shots etc. With limited available crackers, kids enjoyed firing them, with all their friends together.
  
  ——
  
  
• On Nov 8, we are planning for a mega Deepavali event with around 250 people here. I am contributing on the planning/photography. Nithya and kids are practicing dance with their friends. Hope it will be a fun-filled evening.
  
  
  ——
  
  
• On Nov 2, gave a talk on tolkappiyam Canada monthly meeting, about our efforts on writing python code for tamil grammar rules in Tolkappiyam book. It was a good meeting. Few of the participants accepted to collaborate. You can read our progress here – https://github.com/KaniyamFoundation/ProjectIdeas/issues/214
  
  
  ——
  
  
• Few weeks ago, gave a talk on open-tamil python library, at Kanchi Linux Users Group ( KanchiLUG) meet. Video is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtIrbvw2V-w
  
  
  ——
  
  
• Kids started going to tamil school on every Saturday morning. This week, they received books. Viyan is good at Tamil and English. Iyal started to read Tamil and English. Paari is trying to learn writing.
  
  ——
  
  
• We conduct daily meetings in a text based chat system called IRC (Internet Relay Chat). daily, 7-8 pm IST. Good to see many people are joining and discussing many things about open source software and mentoring to contribute to open source software. More details here – https://goinggnu.wordpress.com/2024/10/21/open-source-projects-mentoring-via-irc/
  
  ——
  
  
• Practicing Manual mode in photography for few weeks. Feeling like learning linux and Emacs. It gives the most flexible options and results are stunning. It is better to learn it in early days, so that we can do more magics with lighting.
  
  
  ——
  
  
  The one thing I follow in photography is – shoot a lot, share a little. I keep and share only 10%. All others are deleted. Though it is hard to select the best photos, sharing only 10% is easy for viewers and brings a Wow from them.
  
  
  ——
  
• Completed reading books in last week.
  • வாலிப வார்த்தைகள்: vaaliba vaarthaigal – book about poet Vaali – https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B08F3KGF1B
  • எழுதுதல் பற்றிய குறிப்புகள்: (Art of Writing) – https://www.amazon.in/-/ta/dp/B09XHZYGZD kombu muLaithavan:
  • கொம்பு முளைத்தவன் – https://www.amazon.in/-/ta/dp/B07YJ4PJQK
    
    ——
    
    
    
• currently reading these books.
  • Crash Course Drupal 10 Site Building – https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B0CKQ8MK8H
  • Archives, Ethics and the Law in India – https://ethics-law.archives.ncbs.res.in/
  • Understanding Large Language Models – https://www.amazon.ca/Understanding-Large-Language-Models-Technologies/dp/B0CJ2C8TXQ

• For the past few months, I was preparing for an English Exam called CELPIP. It is an exam to check the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Though we know English, preparing for an exam is an exhausting one. We took online training from “Galaxy Training Academy“. https://galaxytraining.in The coach “Jay Kumar” gave nice intro about exam pattern. He gave many mock tests and gave good feedback on how to improve, on each test. Last month, Nithya and I cleared the exam. It is a good feel to released from exam fear. Postponed many activities because of the exam preparation. Will roll out them all soon. If you are preparing for any English Exam, I suggest taking training and mock tests with “Galaxy Training Academy”.
  
  ——
  
  
• In Canada, Daylight saving ended yesterday. This happens every year in fall season and referred as “Fallback”. The clocks are moved one hour back. This is to adjust the dark winter season. It seems like all in a sudden, we got one hour extra to sleep in morning.
  
  ——
  
  
• On Oct 31, we had Deepavali, Halloween and our Marriage day. Deepavali day went with great remembering our childhood memories. The evening was filled with fun, as we went to neighbourhood houses, with friends and kids, to play “Trick or Treat”. Saw many weird, spooky decorated houses and people. Kids collected a bag full of chocolates. Last year, it was too cold. This year, the same day had a nice weather, to roam around in the evening.
  
  ——
  
  
• On Nov 1, we celebrated Deepavali with firing crackers. Bought a few crackers, which emit light. Here, we don’t get loud-full crackers like atom bombs, 1000 piece fireworks shots etc. With limited available crackers, kids enjoyed firing them, with all their friends together.
  
  ——
  
  
• On Nov 8, we are planning for a mega Deepavali event with around 250 people here. I am contributing on the planning/photography. Nithya and kids are practicing dance with their friends. Hope it will be a fun-filled evening.
  
  
  ——
  
  
• On Nov 2, gave a talk on tolkappiyam Canada monthly meeting, about our efforts on writing python code for tamil grammar rules in Tolkappiyam book. It was a good meeting. Few of the participants accepted to collaborate. You can read our progress here – https://github.com/KaniyamFoundation/ProjectIdeas/issues/214
  
  
  ——
  
  
• Few weeks ago, gave a talk on open-tamil python library, at Kanchi Linux Users Group ( KanchiLUG) meet. Video is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtIrbvw2V-w
  
  
  ——
  
  
• Kids started going to tamil school on every Saturday morning. This week, they received books. Viyan is good at Tamil and English. Iyal started to read Tamil and English. Paari is trying to learn writing.
  
  ——
  
  
• We conduct daily meetings in a text based chat system called IRC (Internet Relay Chat). daily, 7-8 pm IST. Good to see many people are joining and discussing many things about open source software and mentoring to contribute to open source software. More details here – https://goinggnu.wordpress.com/2024/10/21/open-source-projects-mentoring-via-irc/
  
  ——
  
  
• Practicing Manual mode in photography for few weeks. Feeling like learning linux and Emacs. It gives the most flexible options and results are stunning. It is better to learn it in early days, so that we can do more magics with lighting.
  
  
  ——
  
  
  The one thing I follow in photography is – shoot a lot, share a little. I keep and share only 10%. All others are deleted. Though it is hard to select the best photos, sharing only 10% is easy for viewers and brings a Wow from them.
  
  
  ——
  
• Completed reading books in last week.
  • வாலிப வார்த்தைகள்: vaaliba vaarthaigal – book about poet Vaali – https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B08F3KGF1B
  • எழுதுதல் பற்றிய குறிப்புகள்: (Art of Writing) – https://www.amazon.in/-/ta/dp/B09XHZYGZD kombu muLaithavan:
  • கொம்பு முளைத்தவன் – https://www.amazon.in/-/ta/dp/B07YJ4PJQK
    
    ——
    
    
    
• currently reading these books.
  • Crash Course Drupal 10 Site Building – https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B0CKQ8MK8H
  • Archives, Ethics and the Law in India – https://ethics-law.archives.ncbs.res.in/
  • Understanding Large Language Models – https://www.amazon.ca/Understanding-Large-Language-Models-Technologies/dp/B0CJ2C8TXQ

In the programming world, if you say as ‘ I prefer watching videos, than reading docs’ it means you are a programmer already or you won’t become a programmer.

Do you feel that you are struggling to be a good programmer, even after watching 100s of hours of videos?

Let me share one secret. It is the fear of reading and writing PlainText. The more you go away from reading and writing, programming will go away from you.

Programming is all about dealing with the code, error messages, log files, documentation. All in PlainText. We have emails, tickets, docs, reports too there on the stack of IT life.

If you love terminal and PlainText tools, you are already into reading and writing. The more you read and write, the more you can get clarity in thinking, which is the essential part of programming.

To embrace the simplicity and powers of PlainText, few friends started to discuss in IRC. yes, the same 40+ years old Internet Relay Chat, an chat system which built the internet itself via chat.

Thanks to Indian Linux Users Group, Chennai, KanchiLUG, Kaniyam Foundation friends for joining the chat.

Read my post on why I like IRC here https://goinggnu.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/why-i-like-irc-internet-relay-chat-even-in-2020/

Here is small video in Tamil by my friend Muthuramalingam of Payilagam – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGurYNb0BM8

From today, 7-8 IST evenings, we can discuss at #kaniyam channel at irc.libera.chat

I suggest a terminal based chat client “weechat”

But, for a quick connection, use this link to join and discuss. https://web.libera.chat/gamja/#kaniyam

Start Date – 21 Oct 2024 ( Monday to Friday )
Time – 7-8 pm IST
server – irc.libera.chat
channel – #kaniyam

read the chat logs here – https://ircbot.comm-central.org:8080/kaniyam

join and say something about you.

• feel like a hacker by chatting with people in your linux terminal
• get mentored on hactoberfest
• ask any questions on linux/python/programming/devops
• share your daily progress on learning and programming
• practice reading and writing PlainText
• learn slowly and strongly

See you at IRC.

If you are interested in mentoring students for open source projects, please join and start the discussions.

The other interesting channels that people chat are #ilugc #dgplug #emacs #kde #ubuntu  you can join there and participate on the discussions anytime.

What is IRC?

IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. Its simply text messaging service (real time online communication service) and even with hundreds of people at once in fractions of a second messages are getting shared.

• Actually it is a protocol for real-time text messaging created. It is mainly used for group discussion between the like minded people in chat rooms called “channels” (Ex. #Kaniyam) although it supports private messages between two users.

• Mainly this is used in lots of open source community knowledge share – Ex. If you want to chat with a developer from linux, firefox etc.

• The Chat Process works on a client-server networking model.

Wait! Wait!! Is it a Protocol or Chat App?

Its a Protocol which is implemented in client server for the text chat. WeeChat is one of the terminal application for IRC client and Pidgin is one of the Desktop client app.

Founder & Year :

IRC was developed in 1988 by Jakko Oikarinen in Finland

Merits/Advantages :

Simplicity : IRC is a simple, text-based environment for communication, without the multimedia features of other platforms. 

Community building : IRC is ideal for interest-based or topic-based chat rooms, and is designed to foster a sense of community

Decentralized : IRC isn’t controlled by a single company, so anyone can set up their own server and network. 

Privacy : Users can control their privacy with access levels, invitation-only channels, and one-on-one messaging. 

Accessibility : IRC is accessible across various platforms, including desktop, laptop, and mobile devices.

Speed : IRC is a good option for fast text-based chat apps with a geographically distributed user-base, as it has low latency and can transmit large amounts of data quickly. (Simply its all texts – so speed is high).

Flexibility : IRC can be used for a variety of purposes, from critical operations to gaming discussions. 

File sharing : IRC clients can be used to create file servers and share files with other users. 

Everything is Fine, But already we have so many Apps for Chats, Why IRC?

So many People have so many answers, but according to me,

Reading is a Best Habit compares to watching video (unless it is necessary). It will increase our imagination capacity. Imagination is the key factor for our more technologies and inventions.

Environmental friendly – We are making so much of carbon footprints everyday. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.

We are wasting so much of energy (electricity and other resources) while sharing tons of files or images or videos everyday.

I am not asking you to stop watching TV or using internet etc…

Why don’t you contribute to our Mother Earth at least by doing this simple help.

I want to Know More about IRC :

• https://kaniyam.com/what-is-irc-an-introduction/ (in Tamil Blog)
• https://goinggnu.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/why-i-like-irc-internet-relay-chat-even-in-2020/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGurYNb0BM8 (in Tamil Video)
• https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2810
• https://chi.cs.uchicago.edu/chirc/irc.html (IRC Protocols)

Thanks Note: My sincere Thanks to our Professor Mr. MuthuRamaLingam and Mr. Shrini

In the programming world, if you say as ‘ I prefer watching videos, than reading docs’ it means you are a programmer already or you won’t become a programmer.

Do you feel that you are struggling to be a good programmer, even after watching 100s of hours of videos?

Let me share one secret. It is the fear of reading and writing PlainText. The more you go away from reading and writing, programming will go away from you.

Programming is all about dealing with the code, error messages, log files, documentation. All in PlainText. We have emails, tickets, docs, reports too there on the stack of IT life.

If you love terminal and PlainText tools, you are already into reading and writing. The more you read and write, the more you can get clarity in thinking, which is the essential part of programming.

To embrace the simplicity and powers of PlainText, few friends started to discuss in IRC. yes, the same 40+ years old Internet Relay Chat, an chat system which built the internet itself via chat.

Thanks to Indian Linux Users Group, Chennai, KanchiLUG, Kaniyam Foundation friends for joining the chat.

Read my post on why I like IRC here https://goinggnu.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/why-i-like-irc-internet-relay-chat-even-in-2020/

Here is small video in Tamil by my friend Muthuramalingam of Payilagam – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGurYNb0BM8

From today, 7-8 IST evenings, we can discuss at #kaniyam channel at irc.libera.chat

I suggest a terminal based chat client “weechat”

But, for a quick connection, use this link to join and discuss. https://web.libera.chat/gamja/#kaniyam

Start Date – 21 Oct 2024 ( Monday to Friday )
Time – 7-8 pm IST
server – irc.libera.chat
channel – #kaniyam

read the chat logs here – https://ircbot.comm-central.org:8080/kaniyam

join and say something about you.

• feel like a hacker by chatting with people in your linux terminal
• get mentored on hactoberfest
• ask any questions on linux/python/programming/devops
• share your daily progress on learning and programming
• practice reading and writing PlainText
• learn slowly and strongly

See you at IRC.

If you are interested in mentoring students for open source projects, please join and start the discussions.

The other interesting channels that people chat are #ilugc #dgplug #emacs #kde #ubuntu  you can join there and participate on the discussions anytime.

IRC – Internet Relay Chat – is a text based chat program. The 2k kids may compare this to slack, telegram chat, whatapp chat or any other instant messaging.

IRC was created by Jarkko Oikarinen in August 1988. Wow. Too old, Right?

Why it is not famous nowadays? People are telling that there are many cons compared to modern instant messaging.

These cons are real Pros of IRC. They are not bugs. They are the intended features.

Are you hearing the word IRC for the first time? Here is a quick beginners guide

https://www.whoishostingthis.com/resources/irc-primer/

IRC is only Text Based Chat.

Yes. You can not add any image or video. Few servers accept file uploads. Still Text is the only preferred way of communication in IRC. Why?

• Plain Text is the God of content, always.
• It is searchable.
• Anyone can read faster
• Watching a one hour video will talk one hour time. Reading its transcription will take quarter of its time.
• On server side maintenance, it will be great headache to keep on adding the storage to keep all the images, files, videos. Ask the admins, who manages RocketChat, Mattermost, Mastodon Instances. They will tell the pains of keep on increasing the hard disk spaces. The IRC server admins will live a peacefull life and can keep the history for decades.
• If you can not explain anything on text, even videos wont help for many.

IRC is not keeping the history of chats

IRC simulates the realtime chatroom like a meeting room. If you are late to a meeting room, you miss the spoken things. You can read minutes and know what was spoken.

Similarly, IRC is only realtime chat. You can not read the previous chats like you do in telegram like instant messengers. Even in modern we dont read all the history of chats. Imagine, in a morning, a chat room having 200 unread message. What do you do? Just skip all the messages and mark them read. Thats life. IRC knew this 30 ago.

What If I want history?

As all the interaction is happening as plain text, anyone can share the chat history online as blogpost, pastebin or github gist. Ask any fellow mates to export them and read in leisure.

That’s too much work for me to ask for a chat history

Well. There are bots and bots and bots for IRC. Check for any logging bot and add to your channel. Host the bot yourself or use this bot.   https://ircbot.comm-central.org:8080/  Add this bot to your channel and read all the chatlog on their website.

Who are using IRC still?

Most of the Free/Open Source software are having IRC Channels to provide free support. You can interact with the original developers of the software there. Anyone can create a channel, invite friends, hangout and have fun there.

Rules, Rules, Rules

It seems there are few rules to chat in IRC Channels. It depends on each channel. To maintain  goodness, there are rules everywhere. Even in Roads, to avoid accidents, we have to follow rules. There are mailing list rules. Similarly, there are common IRC Rules. Read here for common IRC meeting Rules https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_use_IRC#Meeting_Protocol

There are many commands to learn

Yes. As everything is via only text, we have to give few commands to use the IRC. There are no “Join/Mute/Leave/Kick” buttons. They are just commands. Check your instant messenger GUI. You will be clicking so many buttons to interact. They are the original commands here.

I have to remember people by there NickName. Why cant we connect with their phone number?

Welcome to the world of Privacy. By giving all your contact’s phone numbers to your instant messenger like WhatsApp, you are selling all our privacy. Do you get frequent SPAM phone calls from all banks,credit cards? We did not get these on IRC times. IRC keeps all your privacy. You dont have to reveal your name, sex, country.

What if I want to chat with someone instantly? He is not there in the IRC Channel? In instant messenger, I leave him a message, on next day, he will see and reply.

IRC respects your offline life. You dont need to be online 24/7. IRC is like going to office and being in a meeting room. Are you in meeting room or a tea shop gang or friends gathering 24/7 ? How are you connecting with them when they are not around? Yes. You make calls or send a message. You choose another medium to connect with them and wait. Do the same here. If you have some query. Posted in IRC. No one replies or the persons who can reply are not there in the Channel. Then ask the same on respective mailing list or stackoverflow like forums. Check the IRC logs next day, you might got answers. You can quickly search over text to get your conversations.

If someone is not there online, it seems he is enjoying life in realtime. Let them enjoy it. Ask for their available time and interact only on that time.

Meet.Jit.si, BigBlueButton,Zoom, Skype, Facebook Live, YouTube Live are useful to meet people, discuss and for any training. Can we do the same on IRC?

Yes. We can do all the things in IRC too. There are tons and tons of training happening over IRC. DPGLug is conducting Training on Free Software from 2009 on every summer. You can read all the logs here https://dgplug.org/irclogs/

We had monthly IRC meetings on Tamil Computing around 2015. You can read all the logs here  https://tamilirc.wordpress.com/

Anyone can read/skim these logs quickly. If I share a youtube channel or podcasts full of 100s of hours of content, how long will you watch? It depends on the need. The same applies for IRC also. But it easy and quick to read text.

Can I use IRC on the go with Mobile?

Yes. There are many mobile clients. IRCCloud’s web client and mobile client are modern and neat. I use their free plan. There are tons of clients available for all OS. Explore and find your lovable pair, yourself.

What if I want to read all the history?

You can setup IRC bouncer software like ZNC, or connect with a matrix channel or pay for IRCCloud.com like services. https://thelounge.chat/ seems a better self hostable IRC web client. Install it in a server or raspberry pi. If you want to be away from propitiatory software, for which you are the product, you have to host yourself or pay to some service providers. Or simply enable a free logging bot and read from their website.

I can talk faster than typing.

But people can read faster than hearing or seeing any video. If you want to reach more people, type the content in IRC or a blog post.

What about Matrix/Riot?

Matrix/Riot.im seems a upgraded IRC with all the bells and whistles of other instant messengers. They can be connected with IRC using bots. To and Fro both way communications are seamless. But it allows multimedia content, exporting all the content for public view is still tough, high maintenance tasks for server admins.

Want to discuss with 1000s of people same time? Use IRC

All the modern video chat services, YouTube, Facebook Live sessions take high bandwidth. Not everyone on the world have the bandwidth to connect with a video chat. Most of the video calls are spending time with “Am I audible? Do you see my screen? I can not see the screen. Stop the Noice” etc like discussions.

We dont have a 100s of people participating free video call service yet. You have to pay a lot for Zoom like services, just to hear the above voices and see blur faces of participants.

Instead, call for a meeting over IRC. Follow few meeting guidelines and all the meeting is done with low noise. Even anyone can connect with 2G or below bandwidth network.

Ok.Ok.Ok Stop this marketing for IRC

Few final thoughts.

1. IRC server is self hostable. irc.libera.chat, irc.oftc.net are few major free servers available to create a channel
2. Respect other people’s time. Video calls take all the participants time. Text chats are quick and respecting time.
3. Text chat is very minimalist. Enjoy the peacefulness of a IRC meeting.
4. Not all trainings need a video chat. If something is really important to demonstrate as a video, record a screencast, upload online and ask all to watch.
5. Text is great way to learn things. Remember, we still use text books, tutorials, documentation, wikipedia to learn many things. Videos can help only as supporting materials.

I will be available at #ilugc and #kaniyam at irc.libera.chat on weekdays on daytimes.

I will plan for few text based training on any free software and announce here soon.

Thanks to ShakthiKannan, Mohan of Indian Linux Users Group, Chennai and Kushal of DGPLug for inspiring me on using IRC.

Add your comments or experience with IRC here.