Title: IRC
Date: 2013-08-25
Category: Tools
Tags: IRC
Author: David Evans

[Internet Relay Chat](http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1459) (IRC) is a
protocol for real-time text chat.  IRC is even older than HTTP, but its
simplicity and openness make it popular with programmers (as well as
[criminals](http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~jfrankli/acmccs07/ccs07_franklin_eCrime.pdf)).  

We will use the IRC server hosted by Mozilla at
[irc.mozilla.org](irc.mozilla.org).  This hosts the official IRC channel
("chat room") for Rust, *rust*.  You will find this a useful
resource to follow discussions about Rust as well as to ask your own
questions.  Many of the developers of the Rust language are active in
the IRC channel.  You should be courteous and respectful in
participating in IRC.  Part of being respectful is to put some effort
into solving a problem yourself before posting it in the chat room.

We will use the *cs4414* chat room for course-specific discussions.  You
should probably try asking for help there for most questions before
trying the *rust* chat room.

You can also set up your own chat rooms, which may be useful when you
are working in project teams.

To use IRC, you need to install an IRC client.  See
[https://wiki.mozilla.org/IRC](https://wiki.mozilla.org/IRC#Pick_an_IRC_client)
for a list of IRC clients.