XChat

Program Info

Fedora/GNOME menu	Internet > IRCClient
Mandrake/KDE menu	Internet > Chat > XChat
Terminal command	xchat
Program URL	http://www.xchat.org

Every group of programs has the solid, reliable veteran. For IRC chat, that solid program is XChat. If you are new to IRC, XChat is probably your best choice because it makes everything easy for the newbie. As soon as you start XChat, you see a few simple fields to fill in your username (it defaults to your Linux username) and a list of servers to join. Choose a server, and the main XChat window pops up.

UNDER THE HOOD

EVERYONE GETS IN IRC

Gaim and Kopete both allow you to join IRC chats as well.

In the main window (see Figure 10.9), you see the chat side on the left, a place for commands on the bottom, and a user list on the right. The menu is full of options to help you if you don't know the corresponding IRC commands for those actions, or if you just don't feel like typing them in. The Server menu has Join Channel and Leave Channel among its options. Under the Settings menu, you can even learn some new IRC user commands by browsing through the list in Settings > Lists > User Commands.

Figure 10.9. XChat's main window.

After you connect to a server, use /list to find a channel, or search for one online, and then use /join #channelname to join. You will probably not have any technical problems while using XChatjust some possible people problems. Be polite, play nice with the other kids, and make sure you're home in time for supper.