New IRC Server Code Approaches Release

Hi all. As you probably know, we're in the process of testing release candidates for dancer-ircd 1.0.32, the next production IRC server code for freenode. Since the last news item, we've continued to test and debug, and we've made some progress. The change list is here.

In addition to some bug-squashing, we've now modified services to allow us to mlock +Jrz and -Jrz, as well as +PF and -PF with the help of network staff. Ben Reser has kindly produced a script for irssi which takes advantage of the new CAPAB IDENTIFY-MSG support to display an unambiguous indication in each line whether the person speaking (or doing an ACTION) is identified to services. This should make it quite a bit harder to spoof nicknames. To use the script in irssi, simply follow the instructions in the comments section.

We could use your help in creating similar scripts for xchat and the other free software IRC clients, and even for mIRC, to help those who are stuck using Microsoft products to connect to the network.

We're approaching release and, again, we need your help. Please come to the testnet on irc.freenode.net, port 9001 and help us find bugs! Stop by #kline-me if you'd like to help us thrash the bugs out of our KLINE/UNKLINE/REHASH changes. Or just take a look at the following (slightly updated) change list, and at our older reference manual, not yet updated, to look for features to test.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide! Changes in Dancer IRCD 1.0.32Numerous small bugs have been fixed, and the following lists some of the changes:

• Auspex mode separation. Added a new O: line umode, +A, to separate server-related information from user- and channel-related information in auspex mode.

• COLLIDE message. An alternate, quieter KILL for use by services in GHOSTing nicks.

• CTCP ACTION treated as a message. For the purposes of user mode C (and everywhere else we can manage), CTCP ACTION will be treated as a normal message, rather than as a client control/status command.

• Dump command. Added for debugging purposes.

• Identified user highlighting. The CAPAB command has been added to allow client software to register special capabilities. The first such capability is IDENTIFY-MSG; with it turned on, the text of messages, notices and CTCP ACTIONs will be prefaced with '-' when they come from an unidentified user, and '+' when the user is identified to services. The purpose of this feature is to make it difficult to spoof someone's identity. If you're running irssi, there's already a script available to format the output of this feature for your convenience.

In addition, we've provided another capability, IDENTIFY-CTCP, which similarly formats the output of CTCPs other than ACTION.

• Join throttling (channel mode J). Format: +J ,. Users may join this channel once every seconds, with an initial burst and limit value of users. NOTE: If +Ff is turned on in the channel, users who are throttled will be sent to another channel instead of being sent an error message.

• Identified-only mode (channel mode r). With +r set, only users identified to services (user mode +e) can join the channel. NOTE: If +Ff is turned on in the channel, users who are denied access because they are not identified to services will be sent to another channel instead of being sent an error message.

• NoForward modes. Added channel mode +Q to prevent forwarding to a channel. Added user mode +Q to prevent forwarding of a user.

• Opmoderate mode (channel mode z). With +z set, quieted/banned/moderated users' comments still appear to channel operators. This can be helpful during seminars and special functions.

• Rehash throttling.

• SCAN command enhancements. SCAN CMODES, KLINES and UNKLINES have been added.

• Server capabilities message. The quasi-standard numeric 005 (declare server capabilities) has been added.

• STATS z fixed. The output should now be accurate.