Guide to (SomeNet-)IRC

There are 4 simple Design rules that make IRC (one of) the best chat protocols currently alive:

Networks are closed systems with 1-n servers. (There is no Net<->Net communication)

You are defined by your connection. (userprovidedNick!UserprovidedName@User'sIP)

Your nick is networkwide unique. (Unlike e.g. Jabber where nickA in channelA does not need to be NickA in ChannelB)

Nick/Channel Registration can be done against one server within a network and is optional. (Called Services in most cases)

Here be help