3 @setfilename ../../info/erc
9 * ERC: (erc). Powerful, modular, and extensible IRC client for Emacs.
15 This manual is for ERC version 5.3.
17 Copyright @copyright{} 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
20 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
21 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or
22 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
23 Invariant Sections, Front-Cover texts, or Back-Cover Texts. A copy of
24 the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free
25 Documentation License'' in the Emacs manual.
27 This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
28 Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
29 separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
30 license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
32 All Emacs Lisp code contained in this document may be used, distributed,
33 and modified without restriction.
39 @subtitle a full-featured IRC client
40 @subtitle for GNU Emacs and XEmacs
42 @c The following two commands
43 @c start the copyright page.
45 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
49 @c So the toc is printed at the start
53 @node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
54 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
61 * Introduction:: What is ERC?
62 * Obtaining ERC:: How to get ERC releases and development
64 * Installation:: Compiling and installing ERC.
65 * Getting Started:: Quick Start guide to using ERC.
66 * Keystroke Summary:: Keystrokes used in ERC buffers.
67 * Modules:: Available modules for ERC.
68 * Advanced Usage:: Cool ways of using ERC.
69 * Getting Help and Reporting Bugs::
70 * History:: The history of ERC.
71 * Copying:: The GNU General Public License gives you
72 permission to redistribute ERC on
73 certain terms; it also explains that
75 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation.
76 * Concept Index:: Search for terms.
79 --- The Detailed Node Listing ---
83 * Releases:: Released versions of ERC.
84 * Development:: Latest unreleased development changes.
88 * Sample Session:: Example of connecting to the #emacs channel
89 * Special Features:: Differences from standalone IRC clients
93 * Connecting:: Ways of connecting to an IRC server.
94 * Sample Configuration:: An example configuration file.
95 * Options:: Options that are available for ERC.
100 @node Introduction, Obtaining ERC, Top, Top
101 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
102 @chapter Introduction
104 ERC is a powerful, modular, and extensible IRC client for Emacs.
106 It comes with the following capabilities enabled by default.
111 @item Join channels automatically
112 @item Buttonize URLs, nicknames, and other text
113 @item Wrap long lines
114 @item Highlight or remove IRC control characters
115 @item Highlight pals, fools, and other keywords
116 @item Detect netsplits
117 @item Complete nicknames and commands in a programmable fashion
118 @item Make displayed lines read-only
120 @item Track channel activity in the mode-line
124 @node Obtaining ERC, Installation, Introduction, Top
125 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
126 @chapter Obtaining ERC
129 * Releases:: Released versions of ERC.
130 * Development:: Latest unreleased development changes.
133 Note that some ERC files are not included with Emacs due to copyright or
134 dependency issues. If desired, they may be found at the following
135 locations, or from your local GNU mirror.
138 @item @uref{http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/erc/erc-5.3-extras.tar.gz}
139 @item @uref{http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/erc/erc-5.3-extras.zip}
142 The rest of this chapter may be skipped if you are using the version of
143 ERC that comes with Emacs.
145 @node Releases, Development, Obtaining ERC, Obtaining ERC
146 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
149 Choose to install a release if you want to minimize risk.
151 Errors are corrected in development first. User-visible changes will be
152 announced on the @email{erc-discuss@@gnu.org} mailing list.
153 @pxref{Getting Help and Reporting Bugs}.
155 @cindex releases, Debian package
156 @cindex Debian package for ERC
157 Debian users can get ERC via apt-get. The @file{erc} package is
158 available in the official Debian repository.
160 @cindex releases, from source
161 Alternatively, you can download the latest release from
162 @uref{http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/erc}, or your local GNU mirror.
164 @node Development, , Releases, Obtaining ERC
165 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
169 Choose the development version if you want to live on the bleeding edge
170 of ERC development or try out new features before release.
172 @cindex git version control system, using
173 The git version control system allows you to keep up-to-date with the
174 latest changes to the development version of ERC. It also allows you
175 to contribute changes (via commits, if you are have developer access to
176 the repository, or via patches, otherwise). If you would like to
177 contribute to ERC development, it is highly recommended that you use
180 If you are new to git, you might find this tutorial helpful:
181 @uref{http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/tutorial.html}.
183 Downloading ERC with git and staying up-to-date involves the following
190 @item Debian and Ubuntu: @kbd{apt-get install git-core}.
191 @item Windows: @uref{http://git.or.cz/gitwiki/WindowsInstall}.
192 @item Other operating systems: download, compile, and install the source
193 from @uref{http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/}, or find a git
194 package for your operating system.
197 @item Download the ERC development branch.
199 If you have developer access to ERC, do:
202 git clone ssh://loginname@@git.sv.gnu.org/srv/git/erc.git
208 git clone git://git.sv.gnu.org/erc.git
211 If you are behind a restrictive firewall, and do not have developer
212 access, then do the following instead:
215 git clone http://git.sv.gnu.org/r/erc.git
218 @item List upstream changes that are missing from your local copy.
219 Do this whenever you want to see whether new changes have been committed
220 to ERC. If you wish, you may skip this step and proceed directly to
224 # Change to the source directory you are interested in.
227 # Fetch new changes from the repository, but don't apply them yet
230 # Display log messages for the new changes
234 ``origin'' is git's name for the location where you originally got ERC
235 from. You can change this location at any time by editing the
236 @file{.git/config} file in the directory where the ERC source was
239 @cindex updating ERC with git
240 @item Update to the latest version by pulling in any missing changes.
247 git will show how many files changed, and will provide a visual display
248 for how many lines were changed in each file.
252 There are other ways to interact with the ERC repository.
255 @item Browse git repo: @uref{http://git.sv.gnu.org/gitweb/?p=erc.git}
256 @item Latest development snapshot: @uref{http://mwolson.org/static/dist/erc-latest.tar.gz}
257 @item Latest development snapshot (zip file): @uref{http://mwolson.org/static/dist/erc-latest.zip}
260 The latest development snapshot can lag behind the git repo by as much
261 as 20 minutes, but never more than that.
263 For further information on committing changes to ERC and performing
264 development, please consult
265 @uref{http://emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/ErcDevelopment}.
268 @node Installation, Getting Started, Obtaining ERC, Top
269 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
270 @chapter Installation
272 ERC may be compiled and installed on your machine.
274 This section may be skipped if you are using the version of ERC that
277 @subsubheading Compilation
279 This is an optional step, since Emacs Lisp source code does not
280 necessarily have to be byte-compiled. It will yield a speed increase,
283 A working copy of Emacs or XEmacs is needed in order to compile ERC. By
284 default, the program that is installed with the name @command{emacs}
287 If you want to use the @command{xemacs} binary to perform the
288 compilation, you would need to edit @file{Makefile} in the top-level
289 directory as follows. You can put either a full path to an Emacs or
290 XEmacs binary or just the command name, as long as it is in the
295 SITEFLAG = -no-site-file
298 Running @code{make} should compile the ERC source files in the
299 @file{lisp} directory.
301 @subsubheading Installation
303 ERC may be installed into your file hierarchy by doing the following.
305 Edit the @file{Makefile} file so that @env{ELISPDIR} points to where you
306 want the source and compiled ERC files to be installed and
307 @env{INFODIR} indicates where to put the ERC manual. Of course, you
308 will want to edit @env{EMACS} and @env{SITEFLAG} as shown in the
309 Compilation section if you are using XEmacs.
311 If you are installing ERC on a Debian system, you might want to change
312 the value of @env{INSTALLINFO} as specified in @file{Makefile}.
314 Run @code{make} as a normal user.
316 Run @code{make install} as the root user if you have chosen installation
317 locations that require this.
320 @node Getting Started, Keystroke Summary, Installation, Top
321 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
322 @chapter Getting Started
325 To use ERC, add the directory containing its files to your
326 @code{load-path} variable, in your @file{.emacs} file. Then, load ERC
327 itself. An example follows.
333 Once ERC is loaded, the command @kbd{M-x erc} will start ERC and
334 prompt for the server to connect to.
336 If you want to place ERC settings in their own file, you can place them
337 in @file{~/.emacs.d/.ercrc.el}, creating it if necessary.
339 If you would rather use the Customize interface to change how ERC works,
340 do @kbd{M-x customize-group RET erc RET}. In particular, ERC comes with
341 lots of modules that may be enabled or disabled; to select which ones
342 you want, do @kbd{M-x customize-variable RET erc-modules RET}.
345 * Sample Session:: Example of connecting to the #emacs channel
346 * Special Features:: Differences from standalone IRC clients
349 @node Sample Session, Special Features, Getting Started, Getting Started
350 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
351 @section Sample Session
353 This is an example ERC session which shows how to connect to the #emacs
354 channel on Freenode. Another IRC channel on Freenode that may be of
355 interest is #erc, which is a channel where ERC users and developers hang
360 @item Connect to Freenode
362 Run @kbd{M-x erc}. Use ``irc.freenode.net'' as the IRC server, ``6667''
363 as the port, and choose a nickname.
365 @item Get used to the interface
367 Switch to the ``irc.freenode.net:6667'' buffer, if you're not already
368 there. You will see first some messages about checking for ident, and
369 then a bunch of other messages that describe the current IRC server.
371 @item Join the #emacs channel
373 In that buffer, type ``/join SPC #emacs'' and hit @kbd{RET}. Depending
374 on how you've set up ERC, either a new buffer for ``#emacs'' will be
375 displayed, or a new buffer called ``#emacs'' will be created in the
376 background. If the latter, switch to the ``#emacs'' buffer. You will
377 see the channel topic and a list of the people who are currently on the
380 @item Register your nickname with Freenode
382 If you would like to be able to talk with people privately on the
383 Freenode network, you will have to ``register'' your nickname. To do
384 so, switch to the ``irc.freenode.net:6667'' buffer and type ``/msg
385 NickServ register <password>'', replacing ``<password>'' with your
386 desired password. It should tell you that the operation was successful.
388 @item Talk to people in the channel
390 If you switch back to the ``#emacs'' buffer, you can type a message, and
391 everyone on the channel will see it.
393 @item Open a query buffer to talk to someone
395 If you want to talk with someone in private (this should usually not be
396 done for technical help, only for personal questions), type ``/query
397 <nick>'', replacing ``<nick>'' with the nickname of the person you would
398 like to talk to. Depending on how ERC is set up, you will either see a
399 new buffer with the name of the person, or such a buffer will be created
400 in the background and you will have to switch to it. Begin typing
401 messages, and you will be able to have a conversation.
403 Note that if the other person is not registered, you will not be able to
408 @node Special Features, , Sample Session, Getting Started
409 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
410 @section Special Features
412 ERC has some features that distinguish it from some IRC clients.
416 @item multiple channels and multiple servers
418 Every channel is put in a separate buffer. Several IRC servers may be
419 connected to at the same time.
421 @cindex query buffers
422 @item private message separation
424 Private conversations are treated as channels, and are put into separate
425 buffers in Emacs. We call these ``query buffers''.
429 Some occurrences of words can be highlighted, which makes it easier to
430 track different kinds of conversations.
434 ERC can notify you that certain users are online.
436 @item channel tracking
438 Channels can be hidden and conversation continue in the background. You
439 are notified when something is said in such a channel that is not
440 currently visible. This makes it easy to get Real Work done while still
441 maintaining an IRC presence.
443 @item nick completion
445 ERC can complete words upon hitting @kbd{TAB}, which eases the writing
446 of nicknames in messages.
451 Past actions are kept in history rings for future use. To navigate a
452 history ring, hit @kbd{M-p} to go backwards and @kbd{M-n} to go
455 @item multiple languages
457 Different channels and servers may have different language encodings.
459 In addition, it is possible to translate the messages that ERC uses into
460 multiple languages. Please contact the developers of ERC at
461 @email{erc-discuss@@gnu.org} if you are interested in helping with the
466 Users can load scripts (e.g. auto greeting scripts) when ERC starts up.
468 It is also possible to make custom IRC commands, if you know a little
469 Emacs Lisp. Just make an Emacs Lisp function and call it
470 @code{erc-cmd-NEWCOMMAND}, where @code{NEWCOMMAND} is the name of the
471 new command in capital letters.
475 If the connection goes away at some point, ERC will try to reconnect
476 automatically. If it fails to reconnect, and you want to try to
477 manually reestablish the connection at some later point, switch to an
478 ERC buffer and run the @code{/RECONNECT} command.
483 @node Keystroke Summary, Modules, Getting Started, Top
484 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
485 @chapter Keys Used in ERC
488 This is a summary of keystrokes available in every ERC buffer.
492 @item C-a or <home> (`erc-bol')
493 Go to beginning of line or end of prompt.
495 @item RET (`erc-send-current-line')
496 Send the current line
498 @item TAB (`erc-complete-word')
499 If at prompt, complete the current word.
500 Otherwise, move to the next link or button.
502 @item M-TAB (`ispell-complete-word')
503 Complete the given word, using ispell.
505 @item C-c C-a (`erc-bol')
506 Go to beginning of line or end of prompt.
508 @item C-c C-b (`erc-iswitchb')
509 Use `iswitchb-read-buffer' to prompt for a ERC buffer to switch to.
511 @item C-c C-c (`erc-toggle-interpret-controls')
512 Toggle interpretation of control sequences in messages.
514 @item C-c C-d (`erc-input-action')
515 Interactively input a user action and send it to IRC.
517 @item C-c C-e (`erc-toggle-ctcp-autoresponse')
518 Toggle automatic CTCP replies (like VERSION and PING).
520 @item C-c C-f (`erc-toggle-flood-control')
521 Toggle use of flood control on sent messages.
523 @item C-c TAB (`erc-invite-only-mode')
524 Turn on the invite only mode (+i) for the current channel.
526 @item C-c C-j (`erc-join-channel')
527 Join channel. If point is at the beginning of a channel name, use that
530 @item C-c C-k (`erc-go-to-log-matches-buffer')
531 Interactively open an erc-log-matches buffer
533 @item C-c C-l (`erc-save-buffer-in-logs')
534 Append buffer contents to the log file, if logging is enabled.
536 @item C-c C-n (`erc-channel-names')
537 Run "/names #channel" in the current channel.
539 @item C-c C-o (`erc-get-channel-mode-from-keypress')
540 Read a key sequence and call the corresponding channel mode function.
541 After doing @kbd{C-c C-o}, type in a channel mode letter.
543 @kbd{C-g} means quit.
544 @kbd{RET} lets you type more than one mode at a time.
545 If @kbd{l} is pressed, @code{erc-set-channel-limit} gets called.
546 If @kbd{k} is pressed, @code{erc-set-channel-key} gets called.
547 Anything else will be sent to `erc-toggle-channel-mode'.
549 @item C-c C-p (`erc-part-from-channel')
550 Part from the current channel and prompt for a reason.
552 @item C-c C-q (`erc-quit-server')
553 Disconnect from current server after prompting for reason.
555 @item C-c C-r (`erc-remove-text-properties-region')
556 Clears the region (start,end) in object from all colors, etc.
558 @item C-c C-t (`erc-set-topic')
559 Prompt for a topic for the current channel.
561 @item C-c C-u (`erc-kill-input')
562 Kill current input line using `erc-bol' followed by `kill-line'.
567 @node Modules, Advanced Usage, Keystroke Summary, Top
568 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
572 One way to add functionality to ERC is to customize which of its many
575 There is a spiffy customize interface, which may be reached by typing
576 @kbd{M-x customize-option erc-modules RET}. Alternatively, set
577 @code{erc-modules} manually and then call @code{erc-update-modules}.
579 The following is a list of available modules.
583 @cindex modules, autoaway
585 Set away status automatically
587 @cindex modules, autojoin
589 Join channels automatically
591 @cindex modules, bbdb
593 Integrate with the Big Brother Database
595 @cindex modules, button
597 Buttonize URLs, nicknames, and other text
599 @cindex modules, capab-identify
601 Mark unidentified users on freenode and other servers supporting CAPAB.
603 @cindex modules, completion
604 @cindex modules, pcomplete
605 @item completion (aka pcomplete)
606 Complete nicknames and commands (programmable)
608 @cindex modules, fill
612 @cindex modules, hecomplete
614 Complete nicknames and commands (old). This is the old module---you
615 might prefer the ``completion'' module instead.
617 @cindex modules, identd
619 Launch an identd server on port 8113
621 @cindex modules, irccontrols
623 Highlight or remove IRC control characters
629 @cindex modules, match
631 Highlight pals, fools, and other keywords
633 @cindex modules, menu
635 Display a menu in ERC buffers
637 @cindex modules, netsplit
641 @cindex modules, noncommands
643 Don't display non-IRC commands after evaluation
645 @cindex modules, notify
647 Notify when the online status of certain users changes
649 @cindex modules, page
651 Process CTCP PAGE requests from IRC
653 @cindex modules, readonly
655 Make displayed lines read-only
657 @cindex modules, replace
659 Replace text in messages
661 @cindex modules, ring
663 Enable an input history
665 @cindex modules, scrolltobottom
667 Scroll to the bottom of the buffer
669 @cindex modules, services
671 Identify to Nickserv (IRC Services) automatically
673 @cindex modules, smiley
675 Convert smileys to pretty icons
677 @cindex modules, sound
679 Play sounds when you receive CTCP SOUND requests
681 @cindex modules, spelling
683 Check spelling of messages
685 @cindex modules, stamp
687 Add timestamps to messages
689 @cindex modules, track
691 Track channel activity in the mode-line
693 @cindex modules, truncate
695 Truncate buffers to a certain size
697 @cindex modules, unmorse
699 Translate morse code in messages
703 @c PRE5_3: Document every option of every module in its own subnode
706 @node Advanced Usage, Getting Help and Reporting Bugs, Modules, Top
707 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
708 @chapter Advanced Usage
709 @cindex advanced topics
712 * Connecting:: Ways of connecting to an IRC server.
713 * Sample Configuration:: An example configuration file.
714 * Options:: Options that are available for ERC.
717 @node Connecting, Sample Configuration, Advanced Usage, Advanced Usage
718 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
719 @section Connecting to an IRC Server
722 The easiest way to connect to an IRC server is to call @kbd{M-x erc}.
723 If you want to assign this function to a keystroke, the following will
724 help you figure out its parameters.
727 Select connection parameters and run ERC.
728 Non-interactively, it takes the following keyword arguments.
735 @item @var{full-name}
738 That is, if called with the following arguments, @var{server} and
739 @var{full-name} will be set to those values, whereas
740 @code{erc-compute-port}, @code{erc-compute-nick} and
741 @code{erc-compute-full-name} will be invoked for the values of the other
745 (erc :server "irc.freenode.net" :full-name "Harry S Truman")
751 @defun erc-compute-server &optional server
752 Return an IRC server name.
754 This tries a number of increasingly more default methods until a non-nil
758 @item @var{server} (the argument passed to this function)
759 @item The @code{erc-server} option
760 @item The value of the IRCSERVER environment variable
761 @item The @code{erc-default-server} variable
766 @defopt erc-server nil
767 IRC server to use if one is not provided.
772 @defun erc-compute-port &optional port
773 Return a port for an IRC server.
775 This tries a number of increasingly more default methods until a non-nil
779 @item @var{port} (the argument passed to this function)
780 @item The @code{erc-port} option
781 @item The @code{erc-default-port} variable
787 IRC port to use if not specified.
789 This can be either a string or a number.
794 @defun erc-compute-nick &optional nick
795 Return user's IRC nick.
797 This tries a number of increasingly more default methods until a
798 non-nil value is found.
801 @item @var{nick} (the argument passed to this function)
802 @item The @code{erc-nick} option
803 @item The value of the IRCNICK environment variable
804 @item The result from the @code{user-login-name} function
810 Nickname to use if one is not provided.
812 This can be either a string, or a list of strings.
813 In the latter case, if the first nick in the list is already in use,
814 other nicks are tried in the list order.
817 @defopt erc-nick-uniquifier
818 The string to append to the nick if it is already in use.
821 @defopt erc-try-new-nick-p
822 If the nickname you chose isn't available, and this option is non-nil,
823 ERC should automatically attempt to connect with another nickname.
825 You can manually set another nickname with the /NICK command.
828 @subheading Full name
830 @defun erc-compute-full-name &optional full-name
831 Return user's full name.
833 This tries a number of increasingly more default methods until a
834 non-nil value is found.
837 @item @var{full-name} (the argument passed to this function)
838 @item The @code{erc-user-full-name} option
839 @item The value of the IRCNAME environment variable
840 @item The result from the @code{user-full-name} function
845 @defopt erc-user-full-name
848 This can be either a string or a function to call.
851 @node Sample Configuration, Options, Connecting, Advanced Usage
852 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
853 @section Sample Configuration
854 @cindex configuration, sample
856 Here is an example of configuration settings for ERC. This can go into
857 your Emacs configuration file. Everything after the @code{(require
858 'erc)} command can optionally go into @file{~/.emacs.d/.ercrc.el}.
861 ;;; Sample ERC configuration
863 ;; Add the ERC directory to load path -- you don't need this if you are
864 ;; using the version of ERC that comes with Emacs
865 (add-to-list 'load-path "~/elisp/erc")
870 ;; Load authentication info from an external source. Put sensitive
871 ;; passwords and the like in here.
872 (load "~/.emacs.d/.erc-auth")
874 ;; This is an example of how to make a new command. Type "/uptime" to
876 (defun erc-cmd-UPTIME (&rest ignore)
877 "Display the uptime of the system, as well as some load-related
878 stuff, to the current ERC buffer."
880 (replace-regexp-in-string
881 ", load average: " "] @{Load average@} ["
882 ;; Collapse spaces, remove
883 (replace-regexp-in-string
885 ;; Remove beginning and trailing whitespace
886 (replace-regexp-in-string
888 (shell-command-to-string "uptime"))))))
890 (concat "@{Uptime@} [" uname-output "]"))))
892 ;; This causes ERC to connect to the Freenode network upon hitting
893 ;; C-c e f. Replace MYNICK with your IRC nick.
894 (global-set-key "\C-cef" (lambda () (interactive)
895 (erc :server "irc.freenode.net" :port "6667"
898 ;; This causes ERC to connect to the IRC server on your own machine (if
899 ;; you have one) upon hitting C-c e b. Replace MYNICK with your IRC
900 ;; nick. Often, people like to run bitlbee (http://bitlbee.org/) as an
901 ;; AIM/Jabber/MSN to IRC gateway, so that they can use ERC to chat with
902 ;; people on those networks.
903 (global-set-key "\C-ceb" (lambda () (interactive)
904 (erc :server "localhost" :port "6667"
907 ;; Make C-c RET (or C-c C-RET) send messages instead of RET. This has
908 ;; been commented out to avoid confusing new users.
909 ;; (define-key erc-mode-map (kbd "RET") nil)
910 ;; (define-key erc-mode-map (kbd "C-c RET") 'erc-send-current-line)
911 ;; (define-key erc-mode-map (kbd "C-c C-RET") 'erc-send-current-line)
915 ;; Join the #emacs and #erc channels whenever connecting to Freenode.
916 (setq erc-autojoin-channels-alist '(("freenode.net" "#emacs" "#erc")))
918 ;; Interpret mIRC-style color commands in IRC chats
919 (setq erc-interpret-mirc-color t)
921 ;; The following are commented out by default, but users of other
922 ;; non-Emacs IRC clients might find them useful.
923 ;; Kill buffers for channels after /part
924 ;; (setq erc-kill-buffer-on-part t)
925 ;; Kill buffers for private queries after quitting the server
926 ;; (setq erc-kill-queries-on-quit t)
927 ;; Kill buffers for server messages after quitting the server
928 ;; (setq erc-kill-server-buffer-on-quit t)
931 @node Options, , Sample Configuration, Advanced Usage
932 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
936 @c PRE5_3: (Node) Document every ERC option (module options go in
939 This section has not yet been written. For now, the easiest way to
940 check out the available options for ERC is to do
941 @kbd{M-x customize-group erc RET}.
944 @node Getting Help and Reporting Bugs, History, Advanced Usage, Top
945 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
946 @chapter Getting Help and Reporting Bugs
947 @cindex help, getting
948 @cindex bugs, reporting
950 After you have read this guide, if you still have questions about ERC,
951 or if you have bugs to report, there are several places you can go.
956 @uref{http://www.emacswiki.org/cgi-bin/wiki/ERC} is the
957 emacswiki.org page for ERC. Anyone may add tips, hints, or bug
961 There are several mailing lists for ERC. To subscribe, visit
962 @uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/mail/?group=erc}.
964 The mailing lists are also available on Gmane.
965 (@url{http://gmane.org/}). Gmane provides additional methods for
966 accessing the mailing lists, adding content to them, and searching them.
969 @item gmane.emacs.erc.announce: Announcements
971 @item gmane.emacs.erc.discuss: General discussion
973 @item gmane.emacs.erc.cvs: Log messages for changes to the ERC source code
978 You can visit the IRC Freenode channel @samp{#emacs}. Many of the
979 contributors are frequently around and willing to answer your
985 @node History, Copying, Getting Help and Reporting Bugs, Top
986 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
988 @cindex history, of ERC
990 ERC was originally written by Alexander L. Belikoff
991 @email{abel@@bfr.co.il} and Sergey Berezin
992 @email{sergey.berezin@@cs.cmu.edu}. They stopped development around
993 December 1999. Their last released version was ERC 2.0.
995 P.S.: If one of the original developers of ERC reads this, we'd like to
996 receive additional information for this file and hear comments in
1002 In June 2001, Mario Lang @email{mlang@@delysid.org} and Alex Schroeder
1003 @email{alex@@gnu.org} took over development and created a ERC Project at
1004 @uref{http://sourceforge.net/projects/erc}.
1006 In reaction to a mail about the new ERC development effort, Sergey
1007 Berezin said, ``First of all, I'm glad that my version of ERC is being
1008 used out there. The thing is, I do not have free time and enough
1009 incentive anymore to work on ERC, so I would be happy if you guys take
1010 over the project entirely.''
1012 So we happily hacked away on ERC, and soon after (September 2001)
1013 released the next "stable" version, 2.1.
1015 Most of the development of the new ERC happened on #emacs on
1016 irc.openprojects.net. Over time, many people contributed code, ideas,
1017 bugfixes, and a lot of alpha/beta/gamma testing.
1019 See the @file{CREDITS} file for a list of contributors.
1023 ERC 3.0 was released.
1027 ERC 4.0 was released.
1031 ERC 5.0 was released. Michael Olson @email{mwolson@@gnu.org} became
1032 the release manager and eventually the maintainer.
1034 After some discussion between him and the Emacs developers, it was
1035 decided to include ERC in Emacs.
1039 ERC 5.1 was released. It was subsequently included in Emacs 22.
1041 ERC became an official GNU project, and development moved to
1042 @uref{http://sv.gnu.org/projects/erc}. We switched to using GNU Arch as
1043 our revision control system. Our mailing list address changed as well.
1047 We switched to using git for our version control system.
1051 @node Copying, GNU Free Documentation License, History, Top
1052 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1055 @node GNU Free Documentation License, Concept Index, Copying, Top
1056 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1057 @include doclicense.texi
1059 @node Concept Index, , GNU Free Documentation License, Top
1060 @comment node-name, next, previous, up
1068 arch-tag: cf9cfaff-fc12-4297-ad15-ec2493002b1e