[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
master d3b4f83 1/2: Add IRC introduction to the ERC manual
From: |
Lars Ingebrigtsen |
Subject: |
master d3b4f83 1/2: Add IRC introduction to the ERC manual |
Date: |
Sat, 4 Dec 2021 20:58:12 -0500 (EST) |
branch: master
commit d3b4f838b981853dba7759ff9b9bd2d8b8e04c42
Author: Christer Enfors <christer.enfors@gmail.com>
Commit: Lars Ingebrigtsen <larsi@gnus.org>
Add IRC introduction to the ERC manual
* doc/misc/erc.texi (Getting Started): Mention libera.char (bug#52287).
(Introduction): Explain what IRC is.
Copyright-paperwork-exempt: yes
---
doc/misc/erc.texi | 28 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
1 file changed, 27 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
diff --git a/doc/misc/erc.texi b/doc/misc/erc.texi
index 49ad795..6631d84 100644
--- a/doc/misc/erc.texi
+++ b/doc/misc/erc.texi
@@ -87,6 +87,28 @@ Advanced Usage
@node Introduction
@chapter Introduction
+IRC is short for Internet Relay Chat. When using IRC, you can
+communicate with other users on the same IRC network. There are
+several of these networks available---if you search for ``IRC
+networks'' in your favorite search engine, you are likely to find
+up-to-date lists of IRC networks catering to various interests and
+topics.
+
+In order to use IRC, you need an IRC client such as ERC. Using the
+client, you connect to an IRC server. Once you've done that, you will
+have access to all available channels on that server's network. A
+channel is basically a chat room, and what you type in a channel will
+be shown to all other users in that channel, and you can be in several
+channels at the same time---most clients will show each channel in its
+own window. IRC channel names always begin with a @samp{#} character.
+For example, the Emacs channel on Libera.Chat is @samp{#emacs}, and
+the ERC channel is @samp{#erc}. Do not confuse them with the hashtags
+used on many social media platforms.
+
+It is also possible to send private messages to other IRC
+users on the same network, regardless of whether or not they are in
+the same channel as you.
+
ERC is a powerful, modular, and extensible IRC client for Emacs.
It is distributed with Emacs since version 22.1.
@@ -114,7 +136,11 @@ It comes with the following capabilities enabled by
default.
@cindex settings
The command @kbd{M-x erc} will start ERC and prompt for the server to
-connect to.
+connect to. If you're unsure of which server or network to connect
+to, we suggest you start with ``irc.libera.chat''. There you will
+find the @samp{#emacs} channels where you can chat with other Emacs
+and users, and if you're having trouble with ERC, you can join the
+@samp{#erc} channel and ask for help there.
If you want to place ERC settings in their own file, you can place them
in @file{~/.emacs.d/.ercrc.el}, creating it if necessary.