This document goes over the Oragono IRC server, how to get it running and how to use it once it is up and running!
If you have any suggestions, issues or questions, feel free to submit an issue on our [GitHub repo](https://github.com/oragono/oragono/) or ask in our channel [`#oragono` on Freenode](ircs://irc.freenode.net:6697/#oragono).
## Project Basics
Let's go over some basics, for those new to Oragono. My name's Daniel, and I started the project (it was forked off a server called [Ergonomadic](https://github.com/edmund-huber/ergonomadic) that'd been around for a few years). In addition to Oragono, I also do a lot of IRC specification work with the [various](https://modern.ircdocs.horse) [ircdocs](https://defs.ircdocs.horse) [projects](https://ircdocs.horse/specs/) and with the [IRCv3 WG](https://ircv3.net/).
Oragono's a new IRC server, written from scratch. My main goals when starting the project was to write a server that:
- Is fully-functional (most of my attempts in the past which had been 'toy' quality).
- I could easily prototype new [IRCv3](https://ircv3.net/) proposals and features in.
- I could consider a reference implementation for the [Modern spec](https://modern.ircdocs.horse).
All in all, these have gone pretty well. The server has relatively extensive command coverage, it prototypes a whole lot of the IRCv3 proposals and accepted/draft specs, and I pretty regularly update it to match new behaviour written into the Modern spec.
Some of the features that sets Oragono apart from other servers are:
- Extensive IRCv3 support (more than any other server, currently).
- Extensive logging and oper privilege levels.
- Integrated user account and channel registration system (no services required!).
- Native Unicode support (including casemapping for that Unicode).
- Support for [multiple languages](https://crowdin.com/project/oragono).
In this section, we'll explain how to install and use the Oragono IRC server.
## Windows
To get started with Oragono on Windows:
1. Make sure you have the [latest release](https://github.com/oragono/oragono/releases/latest) downloaded.
2. Extract the zip file to a folder.
3. Copy and rename `oragono.yaml` to `ircd.yaml`.
4. Open up `ircd.yaml` using any text editor, and then save it once you're happy.
5. Open up a `cmd.exe` window, then `cd` to where you have Oragono extracted.
6. Run `oragono.exe initdb` (this creates the database).
7. Run `oragono.exe mkcerts` if you want to generate new self-signed SSL/TLS certificates (note that you can't enable STS if you use self-signed certs).
To start the server, type `oragono.exe run` and hit enter, and the server should start!
## macOS / Linux / Raspberry Pi
To get started with Oragono on macOS, Linux, or on a Raspberry Pi:
1. Make sure you have the [latest release](https://github.com/oragono/oragono/releases/latest) downloaded.
2. Extract the tar.gz file to a folder.
3. Copy and rename `oragono.yaml` to `ircd.yaml`.
4. Open up `ircd.yaml` using any text editor, and then save it once you're happy.
5. Open up a Terminal window, then `cd` to where you have Oragono extracted.
6. Run `./oragono initdb` (this creates the database).
7. Run `./oragono mkcerts` if you want to generate new self-signed SSL/TLS certificates (note that you can't enable STS if you use self-signed certs).
To start the server, type `./oragono run` and hit enter, and the server should be ready to use!
If you're using Arch Linux, you can also install the [`oragono` package](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/oragono/) from the AUR. This lets you bypass the above process and bundles a systemd service file for easily starting the server.
In this section, we'll explain and go through using various features of the Oragono IRC server.
## User Accounts
In most IRC servers you can use `NickServ` to register an account. You can do the same thing with Oragono, by default, with no other software needed!
However, there are some differences between how Oragono handles accounts and how most other servers do. Some of these differences are that:
- In Oragono, account names are completely unrelated to nicknames (for now).
- In Oragono, there's no nickname ownership (yet).
- In Oragono, you can't use `NickServ` to register an account (yet).
- In Oragono, you can't use `NickServ` to login (yet).
With nickname ownership and account names, on most IRC servers your nickname and your account name are one and the same thing. This isn't the case with Oragono. When using Oragono, your nickname and account name are totally unrelated, and there's no way to actually own a nickname (so no `NickServ GHOST` and similar). However, we do want to make this configurable in the future, so you'll be able to own nicknames if it's enabled in the server config.
With most IRC servers, you use `/NS REGISTER`, or otherwise contact `NickServ` to register an account. On Oragono, you can't register an account through `NickServ` (yet). These are the two ways you can register an account:
This is the way to go if you want to use a regular password. `<username>` and `<password>` are your username and password, respectively (make sure the leave that one `:` before your actual password!).
If you want to use a TLS client certificate to authenticate (`SASL CERTFP`), then you can use this method to do so. If you're not sure what this is, don't worry – just use the above password method to register an account.
Once you've registered, you'll need to setup SASL to login (we're going to write `NickServ IDENTIFY` support, but it's not there yet). One of the more complete SASL instruction pages is Freenode's page [here](https://freenode.net/kb/answer/sasl). Open up that page, find your IRC client and then setup SASL with your chosen username and password!
Once you've registered an account, you can also register channels. If you own a channel, you'l be opped whenever you join it, and the topic/modes will be remembered and re-applied whenever anyone rejoins the channel.
To register a channel, make sure you're joined to it and logged into your account. If both those are true, you can send this command to register your account:
/CS REGISTER #channelname
For example, `/CS REGISTER #test` will register the channel `#test` to my account. Right now, the options for a registered channel are pretty sparse, but we'll add more as we go along.
On IRC, you can set modes on users and on channels. Modes are basically extra information that changes how users and channels work.
In this section, we give an overview of the modes Oragono supports.
## User Modes
These are the modes which can be set on you when you're connected.
### +a - Away
If this mode is set, you're marked as 'away'. To set and unset this mode, you use the `/AWAY` command.
### +i - Invisible
If this mode is set, you're marked as 'invisible'. This means that your channels won't be shown when users `/WHOIS` you (except for IRC operators, they can see all the channels you're in).
To set this mode on yourself:
/mode dan +i
### +o - Operator
If this mode is set, you're marked as an 'IRC Operator'. This means that you're an admin of some sort on the server and have some special powers regular users don't have. To set this mode, you authenticate (oper-up) using the `/OPER` command.
### +R - Registered-Only
If this mode is set, you'll only receive messages from other users if they're logged into an account. If a user who isn't logged-in messages you, you won't see their message.
To set this mode on yourself:
/mode dan +R
To unset this mode and let anyone speak to you:
/mode dan -R
### +s - Server Notice Masks
This is a special 'list mode'. If you're an IRC operator, this mode lets you see special server notices that get sent out. See the Server Notice Masks section for more information on this mode.
### +Z - TLS
This mode is automatically set if you're connecting using SSL/TLS. There's no way to set this yourself, and it's automatically set or not set when you connect to the server.
## Channel Modes
These are the modes that can be set on channels when you're an oper!
### +b - Ban
With this channel mode, you can change and see who's banned from the channel. Specifically, you can ban 'masks', or a set of nickname, username and hostname.
Here's an example of banning a user named **bob** from channel #test:
/MODE #test +b bob!*@*
Let's say that **bob** is connecting from the address `192.168.0.234`. You could also do this to ban him:
/MODE #test +b *!*@192.168.0.234
Banning **bob** in this way means that nobody from that address can connect.
To remove a ban, you do the same thing with `-b` instead of `+b`.
To view the bans that exist on the channel, you can do this instead:
/MODE #test b
### +e - Ban-Exempt
With this channel mode, you can change who's allowed to bypass bans. For example, let's say you set these modes on the channel:
/MODE #test +b *!*@192.168.0.234
/MODE #test +e bob!*@*
This means that **bob** will always be able to join, even if he's connecting from `192.168.0.234`.
For everything else, this mode acts like the `+b - Ban` mode.
### +i - Invite-Only
If this channel mode is set on a channel, users will only be able to join if someone has `/INVITE`'d them first.
To set a channel to invite-only:
/MODE #test +i
To unset the mode and let anyone join:
/MODE #test -i
### +I - Invite-Exempt
With this channel mode, you can change who's allowed to join the channel when the `+i - Invite-Only` mode is enabled.
For example, let's say you set these modes on the channel:
/MODE #test +i
/MODE #test +I bob!*@*
This means that **bob** will be able to join even without being `/INVITE`'d.
For everything else, this mode acts like the `+b - Ban` mode.
### +k - Key
This channel mode lets you set a 'key' that other people will need to join your channel. To set a key:
/MODE #test +k p4ssw0rd
Then, to join users will need to do `/JOIN #test p4ssw0rd`. If they try to join without the key, they will be rejected.
To unset the key:
/MODE #test -k
### +l - Limit
This mode lets you restrict how many users can join the channel.
Let's say that `#test` currently has 5 users in it, and you run this command:
/MODE #test +l 6
Only one more user will be able to join the channel. If anyone tries to join the channel when there's already six people on it, they will get rejected.
Just like the `+k - Key` mode, to unset the limit:
/MODE #test -l
### +m - Moderated
This mode lets you restrict who can speak in the channel. If the `+m` mode is enabled, normal users won't be able to say anything. Users who are Voice, Halfop, Channel-Op, Admin and Founder will be able to talk.
To set this mode:
/MODE #test +m
To unset this mode (and let everyone speak again):
/MODE #test -m
### +n - No Outside Messages
This mode is enabled by default, and means that only users who are joined to the channel can send messages to it.
If this mode is unset, users who aren't on your channel can send messages to it. This can be useful with, for example, GitHub or notification bots if you want them to send messages to your channel but don't want them to clutter your channel with by joining and leaving it.
### +R - Registered Only
If this mode is set, only users that have logged into an account will be able to join and speak on the channel. If this is set and a regular, un-logged-in user tries to join, they will be rejected.
To set this mode:
/MODE #test +r
To unset this mode:
/MODE #test -r
### +s - Secret
If this mode is set, it means that your channel should be marked as 'secret'. Your channel won't show up in `/LIST` or `/WHOIS`.
To set this mode:
/MODE #test +s
To unset this mode:
/MODE #test -s
### +t - Op-Only Topic
This mode is enabled by default, and means that only channel operators can change the channel topic (using the `/TOPIC` command).
If this mode is unset, anyone will be able to change the channel topic.
## Channel Prefixes
Users on a channel can have different permission levels, which are represented by having different characters in front of their nickname. This section explains the prefixes and what each one means.
### +q (~) - Founder
This prefix means that the given user is the founder of the channel. For example, if `~dan` is on a channel it means that **dan** founded the channel. The 'founder' prefix only appears on channels that are registered.
Founders are able to do anything, and have complete administrative control of the channel.
### +a (&) - Admin
This prefix means that the given user is an admin on the channel. For example, if `&tom` is on a channel, then **tom** is an admin on it. The 'admin' prefix only appears on channels that are registered.
Admins can do anything channel operators can do, and they also cannot get kicked by other chanops or admins.
### +o (@) - Channel Operator
This prefix means that the given user is an operator on the channel (chanop, for short). For example, if `@ruby` is on a channel, then **ruby** is an op.
Chanops are the regular type of channel moderators. They can set the topic, change modes, ban/kick users, etc.
### +h (%) - Halfop
This prefix means that the given user is a halfop on the channel (half-operator). For example, if `%twi` is on a channel, then **twi** is a halfop.
Halfops can do some of what channel operators can do, and can't do other things. They can help moderate a channel.
### +v (+) - Voice
This prefix means that the given user is 'voiced' on the channel. For example, if `+faust` is on a channel, then **faust** is voiced on that channel.
Voiced users can speak when the channel has `+m - Moderated` mode enabled. They get no other special privs or any moderation abilities.
Always, thanks to Jeremy Latt for creating Ergonomadic. Thanks for Edmund Huber for maintaining Ergonomadic and providing useful help while transitioning.
Thanks to Euan Kemp (euank) for the contributions and help with this, along with other projects, and to James Mills, Vegax and Sean Enck for various other help and contributions on the server.
And a massive thanks to Shivaram Lingamneni (slingamn) for being an awesome co-maintainer of Oragono! You really convinced me to step up with this and take it forward in a big way, and I'm grateful for that.
