When using IRC often, it's more comfortable to use a client (a specific software) which allows to be notified when receiving a message, to manage private talks on a more practical way, etc.

Chosing a client will depend on your operating system. We're advising to use X-Chat and its clones, which if not perfect have the merit of working properly without giving yourself a headache. And since everyone is using it, it's easier to get help to configure it if you need.

If you're getting started on the IRC, read first the general page on IRC.

You'll find on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_Relay_Chat_clients a list of clients working on all OS.

• DMDirc, under OSX, Windows and Linux. Easy to use.
• HexChat, a clone of X-chat (see below).
• Quassel seems interesting, but it looks like it's missing some basic functions (such as a simple beep when receiving a message). Problems to join the khanat channel under OSX 10.9
• Weechat, is an irc in command line, requires to be compiled and the installation is under dependances.
• kvirc, a bit complex, but has potential. A bug noted on the private talk windows, which are supposed to pop on your desk: the message doesn't always appear…
• Kiwi IRC, is a web chat, alternative solution to freenode's one.

• Xchat. Client chosen by most of the users, because it's simple to configure and quite mature. Its clones on Windows allow to change OS without losing one's marks, and to help people on other OS.
• Pidgin. A recurring problem that explains that we tend not to keep it: it's difficult to find how to configure it with UTF8 on all channels. ISO-8859-1 encoding seems to word, and interact properly with the other users.

• Ychat (direct download link), should not be mixed up with Xchat, which is a shareware with a 30 days trial limit, only for Microsoft users. And yes, on Mac and Linux, Xchat is really free. You can also find Xchat2, clone of Xchat and without de 30 days limit.
• Pidgin is working just fine also!

• On Iphone and Ipad, the Mango software seems to be one of the most correct ones.
• Under OSX 10.9 Mavericks, Xchat Azure is even a bit more complete than the X-Chat for Linux and Windows (you lucky guys!). An you even have a tutorial to install it.
• LimeChat

• On Android systems, several of us have found AndChat not too bad. Unfortunately, it isn't an open sofware. It's nonetheless available for free and can be installed easily from the Google store for Android, GooglePlay. A version with donation also exists, and also on GooglePlay.

Choose the Freenode network, check your logons, and enter the following command

/join #khanat

• Pidgin Set-up¹⁾
• XChat and YChat Set-up²⁾

Xchat Azure is available under OSX 10.9. On the set-eup part, it has lots of points in common with the versions of X-Chat on other operating systems.

Install “Xchat azure” from the applestore: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id447521961

Then, in Launchpad, lauch the application:

Enter the user information: nickname, second choice, third choice if you want, and a Name.

Notice that those information will appear when you enter a channel. Then writing your true name in one of these boxes isn't advised.

Select freenode in the drop-down list and click on Show details at the bottom of the window.

In the General tab, tick option “Connect only to selected servers)” ³⁾

In the “Ongoing connection” tab, select option “Log-in automatically to this netword at start” ⁴⁾

Select UTF-8 in “Encoding”.

In the “On Join” tab, click on the + button and add the name of the channel you want to join at Xchat start, for example #khanat. Hash (#) is important!

Click on Connect in the left window.

If you don't see properly the accents ⁵⁾ (replaced with question marks), it is an encoding problem.

It also happens that you can see the accents but write yourself with an encoding choice that prevents other from seeing your accents.

You've got to use UTF8.

With Xchat and its clones, to chose UTF8, go the menu Xchat>Network list>Edid (on freenode network) and select Encoding: UTF8.

Save, and go then in the menu Settings>Preferences>Interface>Textbox, select a font with all unicode characters. On Linux, missing characters are automatically retrieved from other fonts, but it doesn't work on Windows, and the default font for Xchat doesn't include all the characters. The Sans or 'Consolas 10'' fonts (used by HexChat, for example) seem to be correct. It is possible that, on Mac, you have to select the proper font.

To test, copy some accents and symbols: ♫♬♥☼☽

By default, when your nickname is used, the sentence is highlighted, usually by writing it in red. You can set-up, in your client, the way it manages this highlight is managed (with your nickname, but you can also chose other words to trigger it), so that a notification appears, or on the contrary to remove all this.

To change the color when you're speaking, in X-Chat, go to Set-up/Preferences/Interface, and select colors. Change the 30 square (second line, second to last) with your favorite color.

These changes will be visible only for you, the other users don't know what your favorite colors are when you chat!