From d3b4f838b981853dba7759ff9b9bd2d8b8e04c42 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christer Enfors Date: Sun, 5 Dec 2021 02:44:35 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] 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 49ad795c32a..6631d8420f7 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. -- 2.39.2