IRCatWork.com (was using CGI::IRC) has been purchased by Mibbit, a web based IRC client that uses Ajax. Mibbit allows us to connect to multiple IRC servers and multiple channels (in a server), has tabbed layout, nick completion on tab key press, input history (up down arrows), PM support. In short, everything that a stand-alone IRC client like mIRC provides except the logging facility (understandably) and the channel flashing upon nick mention.

Mibbit provides these servers by default (the most commonly used ones are bolded): Mibbit, Freenode, irc.icq.com, irc.slashnet.org, irc.oftc.net, blitzed.org, efnet.net, Chatterbox UK, Foonetic, WyldRyde, Justin.tv, bitlbee

You can also connect to any other IRC server not in the list by selecting ‘Other server…’ and specifying the server name along with port, like so: irc.ircsuper.net:6667

Here are the most commonly used commands in IRC that will work at Mibbit:

• To join a channel, type: /join #channelname
• To register your nickname in a server, type: /msg nickserv register yourdesiredpassword
• To identify to your nickname in a server, type: /msg nickserv identify yourpassword
• To change your nickname, type: /nick newnick

You can join multiple channels at once once you are connected to a server like this: /join #wordpress,#gallery,#help

Mibbit also has a very useful feature in that you can include server name, channel name, nickname and password that gets pre-filled into the connect form. For example http://www.mibbit.com/?server=irc.freenode.net&nick=YourNick&pass=YourPasswordchannel=%23gallery. You can create a desktop shortcut to this webpage and whenever you want to join #gallery IRC channel, just execute this shortcut, fill in your nickname and password (if your nick is registered) and hit the return key.

An embedded version might be released next week and we are certain it will prove to be a great online chat solution for website owners (you don’t need to worry about spam since you can always kick and ban users, provided you are the IRC channel owner).

So, next time you want help with or want to discuss on any open source project, use Mibbit to get connected to your favorite IRC channel in irc.freenode.net.