Irc

IRC channels related to GIMP

This is supposed to be a short description of the IRC channels related to GIMP, plus some rules and hints to maximize your return on investment when using them.

1. IRC channels related to GIMP
   1. IRC
   2. GIMPNet
      1. Channels
         1. #gimp
         2. #gimp-users
         3. #gimp-web
         4. #gimps
      2. Bots
   3. Other networks
   4. Rules & Hints

IRC

If you don't know what IRC is, here is a (very) short definition:

"Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a form of instant communication over the Internet that allows both one-to-one communication and group communication in discussion rooms called channels." taken from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat. It is strongly recommended that you read this article. You will find links to IRC clients there, too.

GIMPNet

GIMPNet is a network as described in the Wikipedia article. The channels found here are mostly related to things from the GIMP and GNOME projects, and can be accessed by

irc://irc.gimp.org/

Channels

Joining GIMPNet was the first step; now let's have a look at the channels related to GIMP.

#gimp

This is the main GIMP channel. Both users and developers hang around, and almost any question about GIMP is ontopic. From a user's point of this, this can be a downside: discussion often focus on GIMP development and the bleeding edge version of GIMP.

irc://irc.gimp.org/#gimp

Fun factoid: the channel limit for number of users (/mode +l nnnn) is used to indicate the latest GIMP unstable release. If your irc client displays something like "#gimp (+lnt 2312)" when you join the channel, this means that the current developer's version is 2.3.12.

#gimp-users

The main support channel for GIMP users. This is probably the right place to ask questions (but please see the hints at the bottom of this page). This channel might be less scary than #gimp, especially for new users...

irc://irc.gimp.org/#gimp-users

#gimp-web

A channel devoted to GIMP's website, including, but not limited to, http://www.gimp.org/. Most active when the migration from http://classic.gimp.org/ happened a few years ago, it is pretty quiet now. But if you have suggestions or issues with the current website, this channel is for you.

irc://irc.gimp.org/#gimp-web

#gimps

Being an abbreviation of "gimp social", this channel is for the GIMP people, and anything but GIMP is ontopic here.

irc://irc.gimp.org/#gimps

Bots

We have a few IrcBots. Follow the link for instructions on how to use them.

Other networks

There are many more irc networks. Some of them have channels dedicated to GIMP. If you know any, please list them below:

• OFTC:

  • English: irc://irc.oftc.net/#gimp (moving to GIMPNet/#gimp-users - see IrcMigration)

  • French: irc://irc.oftc.net/#gimp-fr (moving to GIMPNet/#gimp-fr)

• Freenode:

  • English: irc://irc.freenode.net/#gimp (moving to GIMPNet/#gimp-users - see IrcMigration)

  • French: irc://irc.freenode.net/#gimp-fr (moving to GIMPNet/#gimp-fr)

  • German: irc://irc.freenode.net/#gimp-de

  • Spanish: irc://irc.freenode.net/#gimp-es

Rules & Hints

• Don't expect to be greeted. Start talking or listen.

• Don't ask to ask, just ask. Questions like "May I ask a question?" are obsolete, you have obviously joined the channel to do something.

• Be patient. This is not a phone support line.

• Don't ask frequently asked questions. Using a search engine, visiting the main gimp site and developer site and reading the documentation will help you to determine if your question falls into this category. It's not forbidden to ask the question, though, but you should be prepared for answers like "RTFM" or "use google".

• Don't mess with other users. In case of doubt, they are far more experienced than you, might have admin status or be the equivalent to gods, IRC operators. An occasional joke is ok (unless your sense of humor is really weird), but try to keep a minimum of maturity.

• Don't make fun of other people's problems with the language. English is the language used in the #gimp* channels, and it might not be the native language of some users.

• Don't assume that you can break the rules if others seem to do so. There are a few users in #gimp* who have been granted a jester's license. Additionally, there is an unwritten rule that you may talk offtopic up to the amount of your ontopic contribution.

• Don't mess with the admins. You will regret it.

• Say what you want, tell us what you've done, and be precise about it.