Introduction
Although Debian's IRC Channels can be accessed directly using IRC clients, they can also be accessed through Matrix using a variety of user interfaces. This page provides help in getting started using the Element web application to do so. Element is capable, easy to use, and does not require installing any software on your computer.
Create Account
First, visit https://app.element.io and click the Create Account button. The form includes a setting for where to host the account. Leave the default of matrix.org. The username you choose when creating this account will be the default for the username (a.k.a. "nick") shown to other users within the IRC rooms as you chat. The account creation process will email you a link that you will need to click to verify your email address and complete the process.
Register Your Nick
Many of Debian's IRC channels require that you go a step further and "register your nick" (nick name) which is your visible name to other users. If you fail to do this, then immediately after trying to join a room, you may be kicked out with the error code err_needreggednick. Your nick is registered by sending a message to an automated NickServ bot. Within the Element web application:
In the left sidebar, next to People click the + sign (when you hover over the + it shows Start chat).
It will prompt you for the username of who you want to chat with. Enter @_oftc_NickServ:matrix.org and click Go.
- This is the literal text you need to enter. You don't need to adjust it based on the IRC channel you're ultimately trying to connect with.
In the Send a message... box at the bottom type a register command in the form: register password email
For example: register mypassword1 me@somewhere.net
The password can be anything, and is unrelated to the password you chose above when creating your Element account. Keep the password, as it may be occasionally be needed again when reconnecting at later times.
- This process does not send you any emails for verification.
The NickServ will respond back with a link that you need to click and perform the CAPTCHA. The link should open in a separate tab/window. Once completed, back in Element, you should see that the NickServ bot sent you a message: Successfully set +R on your nick.
This process will also automatically add OFTC IRC Bridge status to your people list. Click on that and use the Start chatting button to see any messages it sends you. It provides you with any error or status messages from IRC.
Eventually, when your nick registration times out or you are reconnecting, you will be required to re-verify your nick. This is done similarly to the register command, by sending a message to the NickServ bot in the form: identify password
For example: identify mypassword1
Of course, use the same password that you used above with the register command.
Join an IRC Channel
You can now join one or more IRC Channels (rooms):
Use the Send a message... box at the bottom to type the command to join an IRC channel of your choice using the !join command followed by the room name, for example, to join the #debian-apt channel, type: !join #_oftc_#debian-apt
If you don't have the Send a message... box currently visible, then first click on one of the "People" in the left sidebar, which should by now include NickServ and "OFTC IRC Bridge status."
Be sure to include the #_oftc_ prefix as shown above. This wouldn't be needed with a direct IRC client, but is needed within Matrix.
The channel should now show up in the left sidebar and you can begin chatting using the Send a message... box at the bottom. Repeat the !join command for any additional channels you'd like to participate in.