Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19286
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 09:21 AM
So I've been thinking about IRC a bit. I'm using it more and more doing open source development, so I'll frequently just sit in the SG101 channel while I'm working on something. I think IRC is really under utilized and I'm trying to think what can be done about it.
Two things come to my mind. First of all I think people's expectations about it might not be the same as mine. I think most people come into the IRC channel to have a chat. And if there is a lull in the conversation, they feel awkward and leave. That's not how IRC is used in the open source development world. There, you log into many channels at once, and you stay logged in for hours if not days at a time. If people want to get a hold of you they can page you. And you periodically glance at what is going on in between tasks. There isn't an expectation of conversation, necessarily. You just use it like we are all sitting in an office together, working on our own stuff, surfing the web, checking email, and occasionally you'll chat with your friend about something.
Second, I fully realize there is a technology barrier here. In order to get into IRC, you have to get yourself an IRC client program and configure it. I think that hinders most people. Even though Chatzilla is fairly easy to setup and available as a Firefox addon, it is still this weird thing non-nerds don't get.
A new service just launched called grove.io, which takes care of hosting IRC and provides a web client to IRC. So you would log into grove.io, click a link, then you would instantly be in an IRC chat room. Would something like that get more people involved? There would be no fiddly 3rd party programs or add-ons, you just could use your web browser for chatting. The service is free now because it is new, but it will probably start charging eventually (but they would be charging me, not you). I could setup a SG101 account there if there is interest and we could try it out.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
Last edited: Nov 09, 2011 09:23:10
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1276
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 09:26 AM
I'm such an internet doofus I don't even know what IRC stands for...
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19286
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 09:30 AM
Sorry Bill. It stands for "Internet Relay Chat" and it's just a way to have a big IM conversation with multiple people at once. We've had some good times in the past with 8 or 10 members in the room, all listening to a podcast, or a band perform on radio, etc.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 09:34 AM
It needs to be more prominent on the page. Call it SG101 Chat Room or _Shallow End Chat Room_instead of IRC Status.
If I see multiple people on, I tend to log on and chat, but I haven't seen that in a long long time.
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1276
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 09:40 AM
I searched Chrome extensions and they have 3 available: JungleSpot, Mibbit, and WebRC. If one of these would work I'd take a shot at installing it.
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19286
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 09:46 AM
Good point Jake. That is also why I created the "need help getting started?" link.
But I will change it to Chat Room or something.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19286
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 09:54 AM
remora1 wrote:
I searched Chrome extensions and they have 3 available:
JungleSpot, Mibbit, and WebRC. If one of these would
work I'd take a shot at installing it.
Bill I wrote up some instructions on how to use Chatzilla, a Firefox addon.
If you find a Chrome extension that works, please feel free to let everyone know and maybe write up some short instructions. You can just tag onto that thread.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2255
North Carolina
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 10:46 AM
The way you've described your use of IRC in the Open Source setting, Brian, makes me think about the context of conversation. Are there forums where those discussions about Open Source development also happen? Does the content of those open-source discussions favor less (little or no) archiving? ...are those more targeted Q&A exchanges about point projects and code protocols, features and debugging?
My hunch is those are much more temporary and ad-hoc conversations than what happens in this community where there is an inherent collective interest of archiving factoid's and event history, where using forum threads is a bit more aligned. Not to say there isn't also good humor and chatter on many other fronts.
I think IRC here is more like a temporary or shadow version of the Shallow End or real-time alternative to the PM service. Very cool for collective small talk during live streaming events like the video broadcast that KFJC had of the Bankers Club Surf event.
...and now oddly as I write this, I'm thinking to myself... hmmm... maybe thinking of it as a temporary message service is undermining it's potential. If going to the Instro Summit for the past few years, making the convention last year, catching other related shows, and threads like this and this has highlighted anything to me, it would be that I enjoy hanging out with the people here as much as I enjoy the subject. Maybe it would be cool to keep the virtual water cooler up/running/open more often...
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
Last edited: Nov 09, 2011 10:47:11
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1276
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 11:44 AM
Well the Chrome extensions didn't exactly have glowing reviews so I went searching elsewhere and found mIRC. I thought I'd give it a try because of what I read HERE. It seemed like a pretty straightforward setup but now I'm not sure if it's working or not. I'll give it another try later.
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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WhorehayRFB
Joined: Jun 12, 2008
Posts: 3331
Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 11:46 AM
Every time I go into IRC, Big Tiki Dude asks me what I'm wearing.
— Radio Free Bakersfield--60 Minutes of TWANG, CRUNCH, OOMPH.
http://radiofreebakersfield.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Free-Bakersfield/172410279636
http://www.sandiegojoe.com/rfb.htm
Last edited: Nov 09, 2011 11:47:11
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 11:58 AM
*Every time I go into IRC, Big Tiki Dude asks me if I need to get my oil checked.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25561
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:02 PM
Bwahahahahaha 
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25561
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:04 PM
Bill, aka Remora1 are in there now
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2365
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:06 PM
JakeDobner wrote:
*Every time I go into IRC, Big Tiki Dude asks me if I
need to get my oil checked.
Hahahahaha!!! BTD you rascal!
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2365
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:10 PM
I just tried to connect, but my work's firewall blocks those ports. Booo.
I guess I'll have to actually work 
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remora1
Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1276
San Pedro, CA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:26 PM
Well, like Jeff said I got it working (sorta). The only issue I'm having is with the sound alerts. For some reason I only get the ding when screen is buried under my browser, otherwise nothing. I'll go in and fiddle with the settings later and see if I can fix it. Otherwise it was pretty easy to follow the instructions and set up. Hey, if I can do it anyone can!
— Bill S._______
HELLDIVER on Facebook
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19286
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:34 PM
Congrats Bill, I'll catch you in there later. Unfortunately I have to work too. 
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
Last edited: Nov 09, 2011 12:35:06
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25561
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:40 PM
wait, maybe its only supposed to ding, when the chat box is covered.
not sure.
Brian?
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25561
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 12:40 PM
josheboy wrote:
JakeDobner wrote:
*Every time I go into IRC, Big Tiki Dude asks me if
I
need to get my oil checked.
Hahahahaha!!! BTD you rascal!
Huh?????
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
Last edited: Nov 09, 2011 12:41:35
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clepak
Joined: Jun 11, 2006
Posts: 551
Liege (Belgium)
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 01:57 PM
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December Birthdays 
