ShadowIRC is a new MacOS IRC client, written specifically with speed, extensibility, and ease-of-use in mind.
Where can I download ShadowIRC?
The ShadowIRC web page is at <http://www.glue.umd.edu/~dshadow/shadowirc/>.
Where can I go for more information
This file is not intended to explain the operation of ShadowIRC. For more information, you can read the "ShadowIRC Manual" file, which contains instructions on how to use ShadowIRC. For a list of recent changes in ShadowIRC, read the "Version History" file.
Updating from earlier versions of ShadowIRC
Ñ Updating from ShadowIRC 0.6.3 or 0.6.4
Simply replace the old ShadowIRC application, and the upgrading process is complete.
Ñ Updating from ShadowIRC 0.6.0, 0.6.1, or 0.6.2
To upgrade, replace the old version of the ShadowIRC application with the new one.
ShadowIRC now stores its settings file in the Preferences folder in the System folder. It should handle 0.6.x settings files properly, moving them to the preferences folder and deleting them from the folder you have ShadowIRC in.
All plugins that were compatible with any 0.6.x version of ShadowIRC are compatible with this version of ShadowIRC.
Ñ Updating from ShadowIRC 0.5.x
To upgrade, replace the old version of the ShadowIRC application with the newer version. 0.5.x Settings files are incompatible and must be deleted. 0.5.x plugins are incompatible with ShadowIRC 0.6.x and must be updated.
ShadowIRC is extensible. How? Can I use my Ircle scripts?
ShadowIRC is extensible with C-coded plugins, compiled with CodeWarrior. This makes ShadowIRC plugins much faster and much more flexible than Ircle's AppleScript-based scripts. However, it also requires knowledge of C and a copy of CodeWarrior to write plugins. ShadowIRC plugins are fundamentally different from Ircle scripts, and are NOT compatible. You can't use Ircle scripts in ShadowIRC, and you can't use ShadowIRC plugins with Ircle. For more information about plugins, look at the plugins page at <http://www.glue.umd.edu/~dshadow/shadowirc/plugins.html>.
Where can I download ShadowIRC plugins?
The ShadowIRC plugins page is at <http://www.glue.umd.edu/~dshadow/shadowirc/plugins.html>. This list of plugins is provided only for your convienence, and in no way implies that I have used, tested, or support them. Plugin authors are responsible for supporting their plugins.
Are there any known problems?
ShadowIRC is NOT feature complete. Among items not finished yet are:
Ñ DCC send is not fully functional (it may crash, and doesn't support MacBinary sends)
Ñ "Inverse" text is displayed in italic
When reporting problems, please keep this in mind.
Contextual Menus
ShadowIRC uses contextual menus for several options, including logging channel text. You can bring them up by control-clicking on a window. You DO NOT need to be using Mac OS 8 to use the contextual menus, although unless you're using Mac OS 8, contextual menus displayed near the bottom of the screen may not display properly.
What took the userlist so long?
ShadowIRC is about flexibility and choice. When plugins take advantage of its extensive plugins interface, almost anything is possible.
ShadowIRC has all the functionality built-in to drive a userlist, with one exception: the actual display of a userlist. ShadowIRC doesn't include a built-in userlist because this is an area where plugins can really shine. Instead of writing a userlist and saying "here, use this," I'm allowing plugin writers to write their own userlists. This gives you choice: rather than just one built-in userlist that I like, you get multiple userlists, each with their own advantages. Choice is a Good Thing.
A userlist is now available; there is a link to it from the plugins page (the url is above). Since it is a public alpha of the userlist, the author has requested that it not be bundled with ShadowIRC.
How can I be notified when new versions of ShadowIRC are available for download?
The ShadowIRC Announcments mailing list is a read-only mailing list that will contain announcments of ShadowIRC releases. To subscribe, send an email to majordomo@home.amug.org containing "subscribe shadowirc-announce" (no quotes). If you subscribe to this list, you will be notified as new versions of ShadowIRC are released.
Is ShadowIRC shareware? How much does it cost?
ShadowIRC is shareware, and while it is in public beta, is only $10. To register, send cash, check, or money order (in US funds, please), to
John Bafford
6 Cedar Springs Ct.
Baltimore, MD 21228
Contacting the author
My email address is <dshadow@glue.umd.edu>. I'm usually on IRC as DShadow on #macintosh, #mac, and #macdev on the Undernet (try phoenix.az.us.undernet.org). I also stop by #macdev on EfNet (try irc.cs.cmu.edu) and #macintosh on DalNet (try spider.dal.net).
The Fine Print
ShadowIRC is provided as-is with no warranty whatsoever. Plugin authors are responsible for their plugins. I in no way support, or am responsible for, any problems that may arise from the use of plugins.
Any problems you have regarding ShadowIRC should be sent to the author. Any problems regarding plugins should go to the author of the plugins.
