Internet Relay Chat is one of the older Internet protocols, actually developed for a BBS in the late 1980’s. Software for accessing this worldwide chat network exist for nearly every computer platform and operating system in existence.
I decided this would be a good time to take a run through a few of the clients (programs) available for connecting to IRC. We’ll start with AdiIRC, a client for Windows.
Now, I’m not trying to scare people away from mIRC before I even review it, but Kron, the author of this client, created it out of a kind of disgust. He had been invited to an IRC conversation, and downloaded mIRC, which is hands-down the most popular client in my observation. He found it hugely complicated and bloated, and uninstalled it in minutes, deciding to write a simpler client himself, and that’s what he’s done.
Acquisition and Installation
The install package, weighing in at an expectedly small 330k, can be acquired here. Current version is 1.6, but there is a beta available for the adventurous among you that reportedly is a significant improvement from its predecessor. The installation is quick and option-free, with exception to deciding on a destination folder. The installer creates a desktop icon as well as a start menu group. Side note: AdiIRC requires .NET, which if you’re running a windows version before Vista, you’ll have to download. Let’s run this puppy.
Features and Use
This is what Kron wanted: when you run the program, this is what you see. One window, ready for the relevant information. Choose your nickname(handle), and alternative in case your first choice is taken, then the only critical info is the server address. In this case, I’ve chosen the server where AdiIRC’s channel (room) is located, because it’s also the place where one finds the Winextra channel. When you click ‘log in’ the main AdiIRC window comes to life. If you’re just here to chat, you’re ready to roll. Nothing else need be done at all. Chat away to your heart’s content. Beauty.
However, it doesn’t end here if you don’t want it to. Clicking ‘file|Options’ in the menu bar brings up a nicely organized list of 16 sections of options you can use to personalize your IRC experience. You can set a background image of your choosing, make the windows transparent, change the color schemes, set notification for certain events, and tons more.
There is integrated controls for your media player, so you can "advertise" to fellow chatters what music you’re listening to. There are a slew of options you can enable to automate events, log conversations, and manage files downloaded through DCC. The integrated system info allows you to announce various facts about your computer, such as CPU type and available disk space.
Keep in mind, though, that none of these options ever need be touched if you’re looking for a simple IRC experience. Being the tinker-er that I am, I couldn’t leave them alone. Also, AdiIRC supports chatting on multiple networks simultaneously, something even the 800lb gorilla mIRC didn’t really do until a couple versions ago.
I did find a couple problems, not in design, however. The display presented a couple issues with window re-sizing and such. I was unable to resize the window by "grabbing" the bottom-right corner. I found the the program didn’t seem to know exactly where the pointer was, and once I moved the mouse a bit down and left, I could grab it. I’m told this is one of the issues addressed in the Beta v1.7: a complete re-working of the display. A quick screenshot of AdiIRC in action:
System Friendliness
AdiIRC, being small by design, has a very small footprint, and I wouldn’t hesitate to let it run 24-7. Almost no CPU usage was noted, and it’s memory appetite was no more than 42,000k, and this was with background images in place, and window transparency effects activated. It all seemed to play quite nicely with everything else I was running, no conflicts were noted. A new thing I’m starting to do, is let you know how well behaved a reviewed program is when you decide you’re done with it. AdiIRC performed OK here, completely removing it’s program folder and shortcuts, but leaving behind about a dozen registry entries that appear to have been created by windows itself, as according to the author, AdiIRC does not use the Windows Registry.
Pros: Small and simple. Great options that can be left alone if you desire. Media Player integration. Multi-server support.
Cons: Minor display issues.
Join Winextra on IRC!
Server: irc.adichat.dk
Port: 6667
Channel: #winextra
Coming up: mIRC reviewed!
