spacemacs/contrib/!irc/rcirc/README.org

#+TITLE: RCIRC contribution layer for Spacemacs

[[file:img/irc.png]]

* Table of Contents                                                   :TOC@4:
 - [[#description][Description]]
 - [[#features][Features]]
 - [[#install][Install]]
     - [[#layer][Layer]]
     - [[#configuration][Configuration]]
         - [[#storing-the-credentials-in-your-dotfile][Storing the credentials in your dotfile]]
             - [[#example][Example:]]
         - [[#storing-the-credentials-in-your-dropbox][Storing the credentials in your Dropbox]]
             - [[#example][Example:]]
         - [[#storing-the-credentials-in-authinfo][Storing the credentials in authinfo]]
         - [[#connecting-behind-a-znc-bouncer-and-storing-the-credentials-in-authinfo][Connecting behind a ZNC bouncer and storing the credentials in authinfo]]
             - [[#disclaimer][Disclaimer]]
             - [[#note][Note]]
 - [[#key-bindings][Key Bindings]]
 - [[#rcirc-documentation][Rcirc documentation]]

* Description

This layer provide support for [[http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_mono/rcirc.html][rcirc]] with optional support for authinfo
and ZNC.

* Features

- Store channel logs into =~/.emacs.d/.cache/rcirc-logs/<channel>=
- Support for credentials stored in =~/.authinfo.gpg= (need to have gnutls) 
- Support ZNC support (with optional =~/.authinfo.gpg=)
- Colored nicknames
- WIP: Real time change when people use =/s/foo/bar= in the chats
  
* Install

** Layer

To use this contribution add it to your =~/.spacemacs=

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
  (setq-default dotspacemacs-configuration-layers '(rcirc))
#+END_SRC

** Configuration

There are several ways to configure rcirc supported by the layer:
- By storing your credentials in =rcirc-server-alist= in your dotfile (not
  secured)
- By storing your credentials in =rcirc-server-alist= in your Dropbox (better
  but still not secured)
- By storing your credentials in authinfo (secured)
- By using a ZNC bouncer _and_ storing your credentials (secured)
  
*** Storing the credentials in your dotfile

You can store your servers configuration along with your credentials in the
=dotspacemacs/config= of your dotfile.

*Important:* This method is the less secured and it is not recommended since
your dotfile is often stored in a public repository and is not crypted. This
is convenient but not recommended.

**** Example:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(setq rcirc-server-alist
  '(("irc.freenode.net"
      :user "spacemacs_user"
      :port "1337"
      :password "le_passwd"
      :channels ("#emacs"))))
#+END_SRC

*** Storing the credentials in your Dropbox

You can store your servers configuration along with your credentials in
your dropbox in the file =~/Dropbox/emacs/pinit-rcirc.el=.

*Important:* This method is more secured since your file is stored in
a private location but it is still not crypted on your drive. Moreover
since Dropbox automatically sync your files you may have a lot of copies
of the file containing your credentials. This is convenient but not
recommended.

**** Example:

#+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
(setq rcirc-server-alist
  '(("irc.freenode.net"
      :user "spacemacs_user"
      :port "1337"
      :password "le_passwd"
      :channels ("#emacs"))))
#+END_SRC

*** Storing the credentials in authinfo

This method is considered secured and is the recommended way to configure
rcirc.

1) If you want to use =authinfo.gpg= you have to enable the support for it by
   setting =rcirc-enable-authinfo-support= to =t= in your dotfile:
 
   #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
  (setq-default dotspacemacs-configuration-layers '(
    (rcirc :variables rcirc-enable-authinfo-support t)))
   #+END_SRC

2) In your =~/.authinfo.gpg= file store your credentials like this:
   #+BEGIN_SRC
   machine irc.freenode.net port nickserv user <user> password <passwd>
   #+END_SRC

3) At last you need to provide your servers configuration in the
 =dotspacemacs/config= function of your dotfile:

   #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
   (setq rcirc-server-alist
   '(("irc.freenode.net"
       :user "spacemacs_user"
       :port "1337"
       :channels ("#emacs"))))
   #+END_SRC

*** Connecting behind a ZNC bouncer and storing the credentials in authinfo

This methods is also secured since it uses authinfo _but_ you must secure your
ZNC server configuration as well!

ZNC is a popular bouncer which is easy to setup. A bouncer is a proxy that
connects to your IRC channels on your behalf, instead of connecting to the IRC
server you connect to your ZNC server. The ZNC server can store the discussions
in a buffer while you are not connected.

**** Disclaimer
This assumes that you are familiar with ZNC and you have a ZNC server properly
setup. If it is not the case then it is recommended to read about ZNC
[[http://wiki.znc.in/ZNC][here]]. There is also an installation guide for Ubuntu [[https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-znc-an-irc-bouncer-on-an-ubuntu-vps][here]].

**** Note
For now authinfo is mandatory to use the ZNC configuration.

1) To enable ZNC support set the variable =rcirc-enable-znc-support= to =t= in
   your dotfile:

   #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
     (setq-default dotspacemacs-configuration-layers '(
       (rcirc :variables rcirc-enable-authinfo-support t)))
   #+END_SRC

2) In your =~/.authinfo.gpg= file store your credentials like this:
   
   #+BEGIN_SRC
   machine freenode.spacemacsserver.me port irc user spacemacs_user/freenode password ZNC_PASSWORD
   machine geekshed.spacemacsserver.me port irc user spacemacs_user/geekshed password ZNC_PASSWORD
   #+END_SRC

 *Important* =port= must be set to =irc=. This is a convention of the layer to
   retrieve the credentials for the ZNC configuration.

3) Then setup your servers configuration using subdomains in the
 =dotspacemacs/config= function of your dotfile. The =:auth= keyword arguments
   will be replaced by the credentials stored in your =~/.authinfo.gpg=.

   #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
     (setq rcirc-server-alist
      ;; This will replace :auth with the correct thing, see the doc for that function
      '(("freenode"
          :host "freenode.spacemacsserver.me"
          :port "1337"
          :auth "spacemacs_user/freenode"
          :channels ("#emacs"))
      ("geekshed"
          :host "geekshed.spacemacsserver.me"
          :port "1337"
          :auth "spacemacs_user/geekshed"
          :channels ("#jupiterbroadcasting"))))
   #+END_SRC

* Key Bindings

| Key Binding | Description                                                                   |
|-------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ~SPC a i r~ | Open rcirc                                                                    |
| ~SPC L o i~ | Open rcirc in a custom perspective "@RICRC" (need perspectives layer enabled) |

In normal state:

| Key Binding | Description              |
|-------------+--------------------------|
| ~C-j~       | next item in history     |
| ~C-k~       | previous item in history |

* Rcirc documentation

The rcirc documentation can be found [[http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_mono/rcirc.html][here]].