The official network wishlist for Riot

[ara4n]

Summary: https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-appservice-irc/wiki/Bridged-IRC-networks

Right now we're not letting people bridge to arbitrary networks of their choice, but curating the bridges we set up (in order to ensure that we connect at scale to those networks in a way that doesn't upset them, and get permission first, setup I:lines etc, add the networks to Riot's official config.json etc).

So let's have an official backlog here for the networks that folks want to be connected to. Ones i've already heard about are:

Room alias format is listed here for non-Riot clients which don't support the new room directory API.

⚡️ indicates the network has IPv6 support (or at least advertising on IPv6 addresses). This makes it much easier for us to connect to because we don't need to maintain separate ident servers, so they will get chosen first.

• Freenode (#freenode_#channame:matrix.org - No leading _ )
• Moznet (#mozilla_#channame:matrix.org - No leading _)
• OFTC (#_oftc_#channame:matrix.org)
• Snoonet (alt Reddit) (#_snoonet_#channame:matrix.org)
• hackint (#channame:irc.hackint.org)
• Foonetic irc.foonetic.net (XKCDland) ⚡️
• geekshed : irc.geekshed.net (Jupiter Broadcasting)
• Rizon irc.rizon.net (#_rizon_#channame:matrix.org) ⚡️
• IRCnet : chat.ircnet.org (high interest)
• Ponychat : irc.ponychat.net ⚡️
• GIMPNet : irc.gimp.org (#_gimpnet_#channame:matrix.org) ⚡️
• irc.indymedia.net
• irc.2600.net ⚡️
• Lunarnet : irc.lunarnet.org , AKA Svartalfheim
• Geeknode : irc.geeknode.org (http://www.geeknode.org/) ⚡️
• pirateirc.net : irc.pirateirc.net (#pirateirc_#channel:diasp.in) ⚡️
• synirc : irc.synirc.net ⚡️
• EsperNet : irc.esper.net (#_espernet_#channame:matrix.org) ⚡️
• irc.perl.org ⚡️
• EFnet : irc.efnet.org ⚡️ (high interest)
• Quakenet : irc.ipv6.quakenet.org ⚡️(high interest)
• blitzed : irc.blitzed.org ⚡️ (high interest)
• SpigotMC : irc.spi.gt ⚡️
• Furnet : ipv6.furnet.org ⚡️
• MIXXnet : irc.ipv6.mixxnet.net ⚡️
• IRCHighway : irc.irchighway.net
• euIRC : irc.euirc.net ⚡️

No planned support / previously supported but not anymore:

• Twitch : irc.chat.twitch.tv (no planned support, server protocol too diverged)
• W3C (#_w3c_#channame:matrix.org) - Disabled. No listening IPv6 IRCd anymore.

Folks: if you have particular networks you want bridged, please add them here.

Edit by @Kegsay : If your comment has a party popper then congrats! It's on The List.

2017-01-11 status update by @Kegsay : Over the past few months we've encountered various fun and exciting failure modes with our existing set of IRC bridges. For example, we got invite spammed from IRC which resulted in #309 , we need to resolve the issue of idle users on the matrix side (#340 , #304 ), we needed to scale our startup times ( #308 ), allow people to persist NickServ passwords ( #251 ), prevent NickServ/ChanServ/etc from being rate-limited on the matrix-side ( #246 ), etc. As a result, we're still ironing out the UX on the IRC bridge. Once this has stabilised, we'll be consulting this list to work out how to proceed expanding the set of IRC networks we offer. Thank you for your patience.

2017-03-02 status update by @Kegsay : We are now bridging GIMPNet and have removed W3C support due to them dropping their IPv6-enabled IRCd.

2017-05-22 status update by @Kegsay: #208 (comment)

[Cadair]

@drewleonard42 is the one you wanted on this list?

[SolarDrew]

No, I think it was synirc.

[eternaleye]

I'd like Lunarnet, AKA Svartalfheim - there's a pair of rooms I was in pretty much constantly, but since the bridge running on yochat.biz went down a while ago I've been offline there :(

[TheCapsLock]

It would be sweet to have Geeknode (http://www.geeknode.org/) in supported servers list for IRC integration

[Mikaela]

I would like to see a bridge for PirateIRC.

Please note that despite the name this is an IRC network for political
parties and this IRC network does NOT advocate "pirating" software. This
network is for legal discussions and chat only. If you wish to contact the
network administrators to report any illegal activity please email:
admins@pirateirc.net

I heard that Pirate Party Australia (they are PPAU, aren't they) are looking into it, but I never heard anything further and have no idea whom to contact (even if I haven't investigated their channels and asked around).

[Ralith]

I'd like to see synirc and EsperNet.

[sbts]

It would be good to add irc.perl.org to the list

[neurocis]

FYI I have setup a GeekShed bridge for the Jupiter Broadcasting channel. If there is enough interest I would be willing to expand it to all geekshed channels and move it to a more permanent home:

#jupiterbroadcasting:qubed.net

Also thanks to @lukebarnard1 for his help during setup.

[aakord]

Well, EFnet was there in internet back to '90 (about ~8 before google); so I guess they won't get easily upset if you add them 👍

They saw lot of stuff in 26 years

[pztrn]

Quakenet, please? :)

I think getting "trust" from them is required, here what they demand: https://www.quakenet.org/help/trusts/how-do-i-get-a-trust

[vext01]

I'd really appreciate a link to the blitzed IRC network. Thanks.

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

Here is a comprehensive list, alphabetical: http://irc.netsplit.de/networks/

That page contains a link within the same site, which ranks it's "Top 100" IRC networks that are "competitive". Freenode, for example, is NOT ranked there. So, the Alphabetical list is a better reference.

Anyway, the "top" 10, not already listed here, that have MANY users:
Undernet, Rizon, ChLame, IRC-Hispano, DALnet, OltreIrc, ExplosionIRC, Abjects, P2P-NET, GameSurge

The more people connected via Matrix, the better. One "selling point" is that if they come over to the Matrix side, they do NOT need a "bouncer" (BNC/ZNC)!!!

I suggest the O.P. post in alphanumeric order, first already bridged, then the hopefuls, which should be easier for all, as the list grows.

Also, maybe some IRCOps/SysAdmins might like control of their own Matrix server instance, or not.

Thanks.

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

I would like to see Undernet & DALnet

Thanks.

[jjardon]

GIMPNet (irc.gnome.org) please?

[albfan]

Missing GIMPNet too.

[fuzzy76]

Those already implemented should really be in the repo wiki or the readme. I have been searching for a list of them for a long time. :-/

[Mikaela]

Those already implemented should really be in the repo wiki

It's a wiki so feel free to edit it :)

It would be nice if in addition to the name and prefix the appservice name was listed so the end-user FAQ could refer there.

[albfan]

What would be the roadmap to integrate gimpnet (irc.gnome.org) can be help in any way?

[elnygren]

According to wikipedia, IRCnet is the #2 largest network. Missing it is currently a bit of a dealbreaker for me (and probably other people as well).

What could be done to get it ASAP? Could I help in some way?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat#Networks

[fuloating]

I have been asking about IRCnet aswell. I'm not that apt with the technicalities, but I'll share this slightly edited log http://sprunge.us/DfhT from some months back when I was investigating. Nothing special there but could be something of relevance. (I shared it back then too somewhere after asking if it was ok) It's from IRCnet #ircnet.

The eu.irc6.net (ipv6 only) operator uepsie can be contacted on ircnet, and irc.atw-inter.net (ipv4 and ipv6 support) operator BR likewise. They both also idle on IRCnet #ircnet.

And with IRCnet you can just have a deal with one of the server operators, preferably one of above that allow users from anywhere around the world.

Also IRCnet does not have/support any ChanServ's or NickServ's, so setting the bridge with IRCnet is probably less hassle than with some other networks.

(edited to add some extra info)

[Powersource]

• irc.overthewire.org
• irc.afternet.org
• irc.tribalwar.com

Btw thanks for all of this, I love the IRC communities but the clients have always been horrible (at least from my perspective).

[Kegsay]

Filed a status update on the OP.

[vext01]

For the record, Blitzed IRC have said they are happy to have their network bridged to matrix. The person to speak to is dg in #blitzed on blitzed IRC. He requests that we let them know when a bridge has connected so that they can identify it (and presumably review the connection limits).

[ericblank]

I would like to see Indymedia IRC and 2600 IRC

irc.indymedia.net
irc.2600.net

[Croydon]

https://gamesurge.net/?language=English would be nice

[lub]

https://www.euirc.net/en/
https://help.twitch.tv/customer/portal/articles/1302780-twitch-irc

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

According to their websites, as of 2013, both DALnet and Undernet offer ipv6 connectivity.

https://www.dal.net/news/shownews.php?id=122

http://help.undernet.org/topics.php?what=newin12#05

[fladd]

https://www.mixxnet.net/ would be nice to have.

[heftig]

I'd like to see IRCHighWay bridged, too.

[Mikaela]

PirateIRC:

it's ok to add new gateways as long as a) they don't affect security and b) they can be banned if there are problems like mass spamming channels etc..

Can you send me the IP of gateway, I'll add it some rights to have enough connections thru single IP address.

[Mikaela]

Furnet / irc.furnet.org (or ipv6.furnet.org) would also be nice to have bridged to Matrix.

[Mikaela]

PirateIRC has been bridged a few days ago and the details can be found from the wiki (#pirateirc_#channel:diasp.in).

I have been trying to request the issue to be edited at Matrix, but as no one ever did it, I think it's best that I add this comment.

[grahamperrin]

EFnet : irc.efnet.org

👍

Today in irc://irc.efnet.org/#freebsd-xorg I asked:

Random question (if it has been asked before, sorry): ever thought of moving this channel from EFnet to freenode?

The reply:

nope, most of the bsd channels (#bsdports, #bsddev, #bsdcode, #bsdmips, etc) are on EFnet. #kde-freebsd is the odd one out on freenode

Not just one, other BSD-related channels on freenode include:

• ##bsd
• #freebsd
• #freebsd-bugs
• #freebsd-commits
• #freebsd-labs
• #freebsd-ports
• #freebsd-social
• #freebsd-src
• #freebsd-vbox
• #freebsd-virtualbox
• #freenas
• #ghostbsd
• #knoxbug
• #openbsd
• #unitedbsd

Still, there's my vote for a bridge to EFnet becuase I doubt that there'll be a shift away (to freenode) for the five channels of which I'm aware:

• #bsdcode 23 ops, 94 total
• #bsddev 23 ops, 95 total
• #bsdmips 25 ops, 99 total
• #bsdports 41 ops, 162 total
• #freebsd-xorg 9 ops, 55 total

[Kegsay]

I have been trying to request the issue to be edited at Matrix, but as no one ever did it, I think it's best that I add this comment.

Done. Thanks @Mikaela

[turt2live]

Bridging irc.spi.gt would be nice. Their terms of use do not support the bridge, however they may be willing to negotiate a bridge. They also have IPv6 support :)

[Xe]

Please set up irc.ponychat.net.

[vext01]

I tried to bridge blitzed under my own steam tonight, but I was scared off by lots of scary C++ errors when running npm. I think I'd prefer the experts to do the bridging, since it seems to be quite involved and sensitive to software versions :(

[static-void]

Registering interest in bridging blitzed here

[jflory7]

I would like to see the SpigotMC IRC network added. All servers use IPv4 and IPv6, and you can see the full server list here. Generally, @md-5 is the point of contact there, but you can drop an email to staff [at] spigotmc [dot] org too.

[wakest]

just commenting to bump the bridging of EFnet. Been really wanting to follow the ArchiveTeam's room from riot.

[14mRh4X0r]

IRCNet has several open servers listening on IPv6, as can be seen by resolving servers on this list.
That said, we at SNT (the organisation behind openirc.snt.utwente.nl) are going to host our own Matrix bridge, but probably only once Dendrite is production-ready.

[elouin]

To have Quakenet would be awesome, since its one of the biggest IRC Networks(If not the biggest)...

[Kegsay]

QuakeNet appears to have some ipv6 support

$ host irc.quakenet.org
irc.quakenet.org has address 66.225.225.66
irc.quakenet.org has address 83.140.172.211
irc.quakenet.org has address 83.140.172.212
irc.quakenet.org has address 80.65.57.26
irc.quakenet.org has address 128.39.65.226
irc.quakenet.org has address 83.140.172.210
irc.quakenet.org has address 91.217.189.21

Though it looks like there is a solitary IPv6 server on:

$ host irc.ipv6.quakenet.org
irc.ipv6.quakenet.org has IPv6 address 2001:16d8:aaaa:2::1337

Will update accordingly.

[Kegsay]

Updated OP. General status update:

I'm generally happy with the state the IRC bridge is in currently. It's not perfect by any means (as the 100 open issues will attest), but I'm not aware of any critical bridge-destroying bugs out there anymore. Previously, we encountered problems for very large networks (ala Freenode) whereby performance became a real problem. After a lot of profiling and bug fixes, this doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

That being said, we are encountering occasional performance issues on the main matrix.org homeserver which is affecting our ability to deploy new IRC networks. Coupled with that, we're quickly approaching the point where we bridge so many IRC networks that our existing ops setup isn't working that great for us (deploying new versions, allocating ports / IPv6 blocks, metrics, logs etc become a pain when you have to do it N times). We're going to need to think about how to resolve these issues so we can scale out networks in a sustainable way.

It's not all bad news though. We recently enabled Rizon and EsperNet.

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

i wanted rizon so thanks

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

butt also dalnet and undernet are kinda large with ipv6 like i showed so can they at least be on the wishlist with the lightening bolt

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

https://www.dal.net/news/shownews.php?id=122

http://help.undernet.org/topics.php?what=newin12#05

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

http://irc.netsplit.de/networks/top100.php

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

that links shows that there might be 500 ponychat users but here in #208 they seem to matter more than the 20000 concurrent on undernet or 7000 concurrent on dalnet

[ara4n]

a) ponychat is bridged by the community, not by us. b) we have limited capacity on the matrix.org HS, which is precisely why we haven't bridged many larger networks like undernet yet.

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

oh thanks for splaining i thought it was the power of adult male brony/bronie fans of the my little pony show showing more influence but maybe if as the above links show that undernet and dalnet have ipv6 we could give a go of adfing them to the toppost/op until matrix can handle the extra load thanks

[Xe]

@ara4n I pulled down the ponychat bridge, it was difficult to debug or introspect given the service is written in node.js.

[ara4n]

okay. since those days the bridge has got way better fwiw, and even has a manhole for realtime introspection and debugging (but in general one should never need to do so, unless dealing with something huge like FN)

[jaller94]

Paranode (irc6.paranode.net) would be awesome as it hosts the local Freifunk community of Cologne, Bonn and the surrounding area.

[silkeh]

There is now a bridge to IRCnet: #_ircnet_#channame:irc.snt.utwente.nl

[staticsafe]

I'd like to request a bridge to irc.entropynet.net. All servers are IPv6 enabled and that RR has AAAA records.

Let me know what exempts I have to add.

[daurnimator]

Could you please add irc.hashbang.sh (port 6697, ssl only)?

I'm an admin, so happy for you to reach out to me if you need changes on our end.

[feld]

irc.linpro.no would be nice. That's where Varnish is developed. 👍

[henk717]

Here is another vouch for GameSurge.net, these host the channels of the HL2 server community.
Main interest is for #sourcemod and #nfo-support.

[zeenix]

I recently switched to using matrix for my IRC needs. I can connect to GNOME, Freenode and Mozilla IRC so most of my needs are already satisfied. However, there is one channel on IRCNet that I need to connect to and I wouldn't want to run two different chat clients just for being able to connect to one additional channel. So here is a big 👍 for IRCNet.

[Kegsay]

@zeenix - #208 (comment)

[zeenix]

@Kegsay hm.. weird. I tried #ircnet#meritahti:irc.snt.utwente.nl and #ircnet#meritahti:irc.ircnet.com and ended up on empty channels, although I can see from xchat that they are not empty.

[silkeh]

@zeenix you can join #ircnet:matrix.org for support.

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

hey howzabout we get nets with moor peeps b4 bowing 2 furry n mlp brony/bronie freaks eh? thur are lotsa sex chans on matrix now. if thes small groops want to mix thur matrix n irc they prob got control on irc net. let em run a matrix and irc bridge. the pub matrix is for big irc that needs big machines nd maybe ask irc powers. butt mabe ip6 dont kneed iline if all get each owned ip addy. butt sum big nets r lef out

[eggy]

Please feel free to reach out to me for adding an officially supported bridge to IRCHighWay (irc.irchighway.net). I'm part of the appropriate admin team to help with implementation. (On a side note, I started looking into setting up a bridge to IRCHighWay through my own hosted HS which is how I stumbled upon this particular issue).

[Spydar007]

I currently run a private bridge for Furnet. I have requested I:lines but the opers who have the ability to set I:lines do not respond to the other opers and therefore I am getting nowhere, so I doubt anyone else will either. You can message me on Matrix at @Spydar007:spydar007.com if you wish to use my private bridge however, as I currently have some spare connections available.

Edit: it appears the comment I was replying to has been deleted, but I will leave this here anyway.

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

K, I am not all the time the best with writings but I try. Anyone else ? No, huh? @eggy maybe get support on #irc:matrix.org which also goes by bridge 2 Freenode #irc-matrix yeah?

[locutis-of-borg-1999]

Now. Can some tell on some IRC nets with ipv6 if iline is a thing or not ? If a net has ipv6 and do not care to need iline as well it should be easy but I ask not tell

[Spydar007]

@locutis-of-borg-1999 Yes, an I:line is an exemption block for both IPv4 and IPv6. Generally, networks will define a set number of users allowed per subnet. For example, they might say that you are allowed 20 users per /48. It is a good idea to request an I:line for the bridge regardless of IPv4 or IPv6. You should also always seek permission from the operators of the network before running a bridge regardless of any other criteria you may or may not fulfil.