irc

     NAME
          irc - User Interface to Internet Relay Chat Protocol

     SYNOPSIS
          irc [-p portnum] [-c channel] [ nickname [ server ]]

     DESCRIPTION
          Irc is a user interface to the Internet Relay Chat, a CB-
          like interactive discussion environment.  It is structured
          into channels, which are public discussion forums, and also
          allows for private intercommunication.  Each participant has
          a nickname, which is the one specified in the command line
          or else his login name.

          Once invoked, irc connects as a client to the specified
          server, server or to the default one (see below).  The
          screen splits into a dialogue window (the major part of the
          screen) and a command line, from which messages can be sent
          and commands given to control irc.

     COMMAND SYNTAX
          The syntax of irc commands is of the form /COMMAND.  The
          most notable ones are listed below.  For an uptodate list,
          use the HELP command of irc.  Case is ignored.

          /ADMIN [server]
               Prints administrative information about an IRC server.

          /AWAY [message]
               Mark yourself as being away (with an automatic reply
               message if specified)

          /BYE, /EXIT, /QUIT
               Terminate the session

          /CHANNEL [channel]
               Join another channel

          /CLEAR
               Clear the screen

          /HELP [command]
               Display a brief description of the command (or list all
               commands, if none specified).

          /SUMMON user
               Allows to summon a user specified as a full Internet
               address, i.e., login@host.domain, to an IRC dialogue
               session (in much the same way as the talk(1) command).
               It is usable ONLY if the irc daemon runs on the target
               machine (host.domain).

          /TOPIC topic
               Sets the topic for the current channel

          /WHO [channel|*]
               Lists all users of IRC if no argument, of the specified
               channel or of the current channel (*).

     ARGUMENTS
          -p portnum
               TCP/IP "port number.  Default is 6667 and this option
               should seldom if ever" be used.

          -c channel
               Channel number to join upon beginning of the session.
               Default is no channel.

          nickname
               Nickname used in the session (can be changed with the
               /NICK command).  Default is user login name.

          server
               Server to connect to.  Default is specified in the irc
               system configuration file, and can be superseded with
               the environment variable IRCSERVER.

     EXAMPLE
               tolmoon% irc -p6667 Wizard tolsun

          connects you to irc server in host tolsun (port 6667) with
          nickname Wizard

     COPYRIGHT
          Copyright (c) 1988 University of Oulu, Computing Center,
          Finland.
          Copyright (c) 1988,1989,1990 Jarkko Oikarinen
          All rights reserved.
          For full COPYRIGHT see LICENSE file with IRC package.

     SEE ALSO
          ircd(8)

     BUGS
          What bugs ?

     AUTHOR
          Jarkko Oikarinen <jto@tolsun.oulu.fi>
          Manual page updated by Michel Fingerhut <Michel.Fingerhut@ircam.fr>