Difference between revisions of "IRC client"
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== Categories of IRC clients == | == Categories of IRC clients == | ||
=== Standalone === | === [[:Category:Standalone IRC clients|Standalone desktop clients]] === | ||
This is the most common occurance of IRC clients and used by most advanced IRC users. The IRC client is installed and executed as a stanalone application that runs independently, which allows them to offer a broad range of features, comfort and speed with which the other client categories usually can't catch up with. They aren't especially known for being straightforward to use, but offer the most deep IRC experience and often also ''scripting languages'' that allow for easy crafting of additional features and extensions. | This is the most common occurance of IRC clients and used by most advanced IRC users. The IRC client is installed and executed as a stanalone application that runs independently, which allows them to offer a broad range of features, comfort and speed with which the other client categories usually can't catch up with. They aren't especially known for being straightforward to use, but offer the most deep IRC experience and often also ''scripting languages'' that allow for easy crafting of additional features and extensions. | ||
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The graphical standalone clients are probably the most widely used because they offer the combined control of mouse and keyboard with a, in most cases, modern and mouse-driven user interface. Popular examples for graphical standalone clients are [[mIRC]] and [[HydraIRC]] for Windows, [[XChat]] and [[KVIrc]] for cross-platform clients and [[Konversation]] and [[Kopete]] for Linux. | The graphical standalone clients are probably the most widely used because they offer the combined control of mouse and keyboard with a, in most cases, modern and mouse-driven user interface. Popular examples for graphical standalone clients are [[mIRC]] and [[HydraIRC]] for Windows, [[XChat]] and [[KVIrc]] for cross-platform clients and [[Konversation]] and [[Kopete]] for Linux. | ||
==== [[:Category:Text-based clients|Text-based clients]] ==== | ==== [[:Category:Text-based IRC clients|Text-based clients]] ==== | ||
The text-based standalone clients are mostly not as intuitive as their graphical counterparts and often rely solely on keyboard control, but offer a more simplistic and often faster to use view on IRC. They are often used by very advanced computer users and are also popular for their easy use over an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ssh Ssh terminal]. Popular examples are [[irssi]] or [[ircII]]. | The text-based standalone clients are mostly not as intuitive as their graphical counterparts and often rely solely on keyboard control, but offer a more simplistic and often faster to use view on IRC. They are often used by very advanced computer users and are also popular for their easy use over an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ssh Ssh terminal]. Popular examples are [[irssi]] or [[ircII]]. | ||
=== [[:Category:Mobile IRC clients|Mobile clients]] === | |||
The mobile clients are clients specifically crafted for devices like mobile phones or other sort of mobile devices, handhelds etc. Due to the small screen size and limited resources aswell as the often differing processor architecture, they mostly need a specific interface and specific code crafted for the particular device. Most mobile clients also happen to be graphical ones with a graphical user interface. One example for a mobile client would be [[jmIrc]]. | The mobile clients are clients specifically crafted for devices like mobile phones or other sort of mobile devices, handhelds etc. Due to the small screen size and limited resources aswell as the often differing processor architecture, they mostly need a specific interface and specific code crafted for the particular device. Most mobile clients also happen to be graphical ones with a graphical user interface. One example for a mobile client would be [[jmIrc]]. | ||
Revision as of 16:52, 8 July 2010
An IRC client is a piece of that enables a user to connect to an IRC server and to chat without knowing and using all protocols basic IRC commands manually (as it is possible over telnet). There are many free-to-use chat clients aswell as shareware available for a great amount of different operating systems and platforms. The number of IRC clients is still growing by today.
Categories of IRC clients
Standalone desktop clients
This is the most common occurance of IRC clients and used by most advanced IRC users. The IRC client is installed and executed as a stanalone application that runs independently, which allows them to offer a broad range of features, comfort and speed with which the other client categories usually can't catch up with. They aren't especially known for being straightforward to use, but offer the most deep IRC experience and often also scripting languages that allow for easy crafting of additional features and extensions.
Graphical clients
The graphical standalone clients are probably the most widely used because they offer the combined control of mouse and keyboard with a, in most cases, modern and mouse-driven user interface. Popular examples for graphical standalone clients are mIRC and HydraIRC for Windows, XChat and KVIrc for cross-platform clients and Konversation and Kopete for Linux.
Text-based clients
The text-based standalone clients are mostly not as intuitive as their graphical counterparts and often rely solely on keyboard control, but offer a more simplistic and often faster to use view on IRC. They are often used by very advanced computer users and are also popular for their easy use over an Ssh terminal. Popular examples are irssi or ircII.
Mobile clients
The mobile clients are clients specifically crafted for devices like mobile phones or other sort of mobile devices, handhelds etc. Due to the small screen size and limited resources aswell as the often differing processor architecture, they mostly need a specific interface and specific code crafted for the particular device. Most mobile clients also happen to be graphical ones with a graphical user interface. One example for a mobile client would be jmIrc.
Instant Messaging Suites
Often, IRC clients are parts of graphical Instant Messengers that provide a couple of protocols, e.g. Trillian or Miranda.
Web based
There are numerous Web based IRC Clients available which can be embedded into websites without requiring additional software, often based on Java, JavaScript or Flash. A very popular example is the Ajax-based client Mibbit, or also the PJIRC Java applet.
Others
Some popular non-IRC software, e.g. the web browser Opera or Unreal Tournament 2004, has built-in IRC clients.[1][2] They offer IRC chat out of another software without the need of an additional program.