======Getting Started on the #Evergreen IRC Channel======

=====Connecting to IRC=====
    * An easy way to connect to IRC is to use the [[https://web.libera.chat/#evergreen|web gateway to the channel]]. Type a nickname in the //Nickname// box and then click the //Start// button.
    * If you have an IRC client, you should connect to the #evergreen channel on the [[https://libera.chat/|Libera network]]
	
=====Chatting in IRC=====
===Send a message===
To ask a question or send a message, simply type your message into the chat box of your IRC client.
===Reply===
To reply or direct a comment to a particular person in the public channel, first type that person's nickname, followed by a colon. Most IRC clients will provide an alert to the user when his/her name is mentioned. In many IRC clients, you can type the first few letters of the user's nickname and then hit the <Tab> key to automatically complete the nickname.

//Example question directed at kmlussier//
<code>
kmlussier: Can you create a quick start guide for using IRC?
</code>
===Private message===
Type /msg followed by a nickname to send a private message to that user. Nobody else in the channel will see this message.

//Example private message sent to kmlussier//
<code>
/msg kmlussier Do you have a second to talk?
</code>
===Karma===
Type nickname++ to increase karma for a user that has done a good deed. Incrementing someone's karma is always appreciated, but please refrain from decrementing karma for another user with a --.

Everyone's karma is reset to 0 annually after the Evergreen conference. [[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U_9sQ9snIgF4TM9U39dD4XkjCUbbRxDHxjcqTP6gjlw/edit?usp=sharing|See Evergreen karma from previous years]]
===Voting===
Type +1 to vote or show support for an idea. Alternatively, use -1 to vote against or show opposition to an idea.
===Actions (speak in third person)===
To perform a virtual "action" in the channel, type /me followed by a description of the action. This will generate a statement that begins with your nickname.

//Example action statement written by kmlussier//
<code>
/me waves at bshum
</code>
displays as
<code>
kmlussier waves at bshum
</code>
===Leave a message===
To leave a message for somebody who isn't in the channel, you can type the message in the following format: @later tell nickname message. The next time the user speaks in IRC, they will receive this messsage.

//Example later message//
<code>
@later tell kmlussier Can you create a quick start guide for IRC?
</code>
===Meetings===
Evergreen meetings are often held in IRC. Find useful meeting commands in the [[community:using-meetbot|Using MeetBot for IRC Meetings]] guide.