Wikipedia:IRC channels
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikipedia has "chat rooms" dedicated to it 24-hours per day on the freenode network, in which Wikipedians can engage in real-time discussions with each other. Many Wikipedians have chatting open in one window and hop back and forth between it and other windows in which they are working on Wikipedia. The chat rooms dedicated to Wikipedia are listed below.
"Chat room" is another name for an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channel. To participate in the chat rooms, you need a type of program or plug-in called an IRC client. Popular clients include mIRC for Windows, Colloquy for Mac OS X, and ChatZilla for Firefox. Scripts to enhance your client are available at Wikipedia:Scripts.
Some users stay logged-in to the chatrooms whenever they are on Wikipedia, and check in on the discussions from time to time, to read what's been accumulating there and to participate. Some programs used for chatting "beep" you whenever there is activity in a chat room so you won't miss anything. Often, users jump onto a chat room to draw the attention of others there of something on Wikipedia that needs attention.
A more complete list of channels (for other language Wikipedias, other languages, and recent changes feeds) exists at m:IRC channels, while this page lists channels specific to the English Wikipedia...
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[edit] How is Wikipedia IRC related to Wikipedia?
The Wikipedia channels on freenode are an unofficial place for Wikipedians to chat using IRC. As far as their influence on Wikipedia goes, IRC is equivalent to e-mail, or a conversation in a pub: chat is a private conversation which, in ordinary circumstances, has no effect on how one is treated on Wikipedia.
Most Wikimedia channels prohibit the publication of chat logs. For more details, see m:IRC channels#Logging_prohibition.
[edit] Channels
[edit] Main
- #wikipedia is the most-visited Wikipedia-related IRC channel, although conversations are often off-topic.
- #wikipedia-en is another channel, specifically for discussion of the English language Wikipedia, and is usually more on-topic.
- #wikipedia-en-admins is a private channel used mainly by admins and some other users. Despite the name, the channel is - like every other IRC channel - completely unofficial. Access is at the sole discretion of James F., Shanel, Mindspillage, Interiot, Dmcdevit, Mark Ryan, Lar and sannse.
- #wikimedia-social is a relatively new channel intended primarily for social discussion among contributors to Wikimedia projects.
- #wikipedia-en-functionaries is a brand spanking new channel for discussion of Wikipedia administration. Ask Mackensen or Interiot for access. The channel is open to all users.
- #wikipedia-en-cabal New public logging admin channel, most users are invited, ask Shanel, Dmcdevit, Mark Ryan or Xaosflux for access.
[edit] General collaboration
- #wikiproject is especially for Wikipedia:WikiProject coordination and collaboration.
- countervandalism
- #vandalism-en-wp is listing and discussing current vandalism (requires confirmation).
- #vandalism-en-wp-2 is an alternative not requiring confirmation.
- #vandalwatch is an alternative to both.
- #wikipedia-en-spam is a botfeed of all links added to English Wikipedia. Channel is for linkspam reverting. Feeds for other languages and projects also now exist.
- #wikipedia-spam-t ...and its associated talk channel.
[edit] Organisations
- #wikipedia-bootcamp is a help channel for new Wikipedians. It also receives notification about questions at the Help Desk and other places.
- #wikipedia-medcab is used by the Mediation Cabal.
- #wiki-hurricanes A channel for the Tropical cyclone WikiProject.
- #wikipedia-spotlight devoted to the Wikipedia:Spotlight collaboration, for concerted editing of specific articles in need of help.
- #wikipedia-en-roads-us is for Wikipedia:WikiProject U.S. Roads coordination and collaboration.
[edit] Tools
- #AWB General discussion and support requests for WP:AWB.
- #vandalproof Information, help and support for VandalProof users.
- #wdm The help and discussion channel for WikiDiscussion Manager.
- #NPWatcher Help and discussion of NPWatcher.
[edit] Alternatives
[edit] Jabber
If you don't use IRC, there is a Jabber chat room at wikipedia@conference.jabber.org which you may try.
[edit] Web-based Java version
Web browser-based access to freenode channels is available using Java at http://java.freenode.net. This is the preferred method of access, as it retains the user's original hostmask, unlike CGI:IRC sites, and is officially sanctioned by Freenode.
[edit] See also
[edit] Information
- m:IRC channels (main list)
- Wikipedia:IRC tutorial
- More details are on Meta.
- Meta:IRC channel cloaks provides information about obtaining a hostmask cloak.
- Graph showing what IRC clients are used in channel, and by how many people
[edit] Tools
- Wikipedia:Scripts#IRC channel scripts
- Wikifier and WikipediaLink plugins for the Colloquy IRC client makes wikilinks clickable.
- VandalFighter is a Java program that gives a nice, customizable front end to the Recent changes IRC channels.
- VandalProof is a Windows application that allows users to watch recent changes, watch lists, and user contributions.
- WikiGuard is an OSX program that monitors Recent changes IRC channels and attempts to approximate each edit's risk.
- Wikipedia:IRC channel scripts has some example scripts you may find useful in the Wikipedia IRC channels.
- #wikipedia stats by Fennec
