Editor's Note: This is a revised version of RFC 1459, intended for students in 15-441, Sep 2003. It is based on the HTML version of RFC 1459 from www.irchelp.org.
This memo defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet community. Discussion and suggestions for improvement are requested. Please refer to the current edition of the "IAB Official Protocol Standards" for the standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
The IRC protocol was developed over the last 4 years since it was first implemented as a means for users on a BBS to chat amongst themselves. Now it supports a world-wide network of servers and clients, and is stringing to cope with growth. Over the past 2 years, the average number of users connected to the main IRC network has grown by a factor of 10.
The IRC protocol is a text-based protocol, with the simplest client being any socket program capable of connecting to the server.
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