IRC-Client v2

A command-line IRC client written in C that allows users to connect to an IRC server, join a channel, and send messages. This program provides a simple and intuitive interface for interacting with IRC servers.

Features

• Improved Error Handling: Robust error handling ensures stability and reliability.
• Code Organization: Modular code structure for better readability and maintainability.
• Memory Management: Efficient use of system resources with no memory leaks.
• Logging: Comprehensive logging for debugging and tracking program execution.
• Threading: Concurrent input/output handling using threads for enhanced performance.

How to Use

Compiling the Program

1. Navigate to the directory containing the Makefile.
2. Run the command make to compile the program.
3. The executable file ircy will be created in the bin directory.

Running the Program

1. Navigate to the bin directory.
2. Run the command:

   ./ircy -s <irc-server> -n <nick> -c <channel>

3. Replace <irc-server> with the hostname or IP address of the IRC server.
4. Replace <nick> with your desired nickname.
5. Replace <channel> with the channel you wish to join.

Example: ./ircy -s irc.example.com -n Disease -c channel-1

Using the Program

Type messages to send them to the channel.

Use IRC commands like /join to switch channels or /quit to exit the program.

Available Options

• -s <irc-server>: Specify the IRC server to connect to.
• -n <nick>: Specify the nickname to use.
• -c <channel>: Specify the channel to join.

Changes & Additions

• Error Handling: Enhanced error handling for socket and connection operations.
• Code Organization: Refactored the main function into separate, modular functions.
• Code Style: Improved readability with consistent formatting and descriptive variable names.
• Security: Input validation and safer string manipulation techniques.
• Performance: Non-blocking and asynchronous I/O for improved responsiveness.
• Portability: Utilized portable functions for network operations.
• Command-line Argument Parsing: Implemented using the getopt library.
• IRC Protocol Implementation: Added support for handling PING/PONG messages.
• User Interface: Enhanced command-line interface with additional features.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please fork the repository and submit a pull request with your improvements.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. 2024