IRC

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is one of the primary avenues of communication for those involved at all levels in the Gentoo project. Since chat messages are sent and received almost instantly, using IRC quickens collaboration processes by providing a real-time environment for communication. IRC is also well suited for user support, but should only be relied upon when clear answers cannot be found by using a search engine or on the Wiki. Many Gentoo sub-projects use the Freenode network to host project-related channels. These channels are used for tracking changes to source code, requested and discussing (new) features, addressing issues, planning and meetings, support, and interpersonal communication between Gentoo developers and the community.

Channels associated with the Gentoo project have a code of conduct that should be reviewed by each user before connecting. Navigate here to view a list of Gentoo-related channels on Freenode.

Available software
The following table contains some of the IRC software available in Gentoo. Discover which client works best by emerging each one or by visiting each homepage:

Usage
For a novice who is used to chatting through a web browser (Facebook, Hangouts, etc.) or game client (Steam, League of Legends, Blizzard, etc) using a program designed specifically for chatting might seem odd. Learning can be especially challenging when attempting to use a text-mode (CLI) client like Irssi or WeeChat. IRC can be tricky to learn because there are many associated, sometimes entirely new, concepts that should be covered in order to prepare users to communicate effectively. For this reason the IRC guide has been written. Head over there for in-depth information on many IRC related topics.

External resources

 * https://freenode.net/ - The largest IRC network providing discussion facilities for the Free and Open Source Software communities, not-for-profit organizations, and related communities.
 * https://gchat.gentooligans.com/ - The behavior policy of the channel (depreciated by the Code of Conduct).