People in the IRC have been being disconnected very frequently for a long time, but lately especially. Netsplits have also just become sort of a daily thing. This kinda stuff just sort of comes with the territory of being on a large network, though, which is why we in the IRC have been talking for a while about moving to another, preferably smaller, network. Shardea knows some people who run their own IRC server which a few people have been trying out for like a week now, and it's been working infinitely better than DALnet for keeping us connected to it. If it turns out that it doesn't work though, for whatever reason, LordHuffnPuff also suggested us a network where we'd have an /in/. Obviously we wouldn't just be immediately switching over, so we'd have time to notice any problems with wherever we try moving the channel, but we really would like to get moving. I could see how people who don't go to IRC often, or even people who are only used to DALnet or a similar network, might not see the advantages, but we really are capable of a much nicer IRC experience than the one we presently have. Any suggestions or discussion on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

ToGdor wrote:

Aye, DALnet is shitty, the server we've been testing isn't. Seems like a no-brainer.

Also worth noting that before trying the new server, Alyx didn't see any point in leaving DALnet.

Syd Lexia wrote:

I want to be on a big network. Honestly I'd REALLY REALLY like to stay on DALnet. I picked both IRC and DALnet as our chat method for nostalgic reasons, not for any sort of convenience. I would be willing to consider QuakeNet or Undernet if I must. I will NOT EVER join the chat if you move to some small server out in hicktown, and if that is what you guys choose to do, I would appreciate it very much if you do not put the #sydlexia name on it.

I cannot even imagine what the IRC would be like without your presence, so I'm very interested in keeping your patronage. I'm not sure I understand why you don't approve, though; I don't see the point in having an IRC channel if it doesn't work very well, and we've found a solution that /does/ work very well. I've grown pretty attached to some of DALnet's niceties though, so I really wouldn't want to move to a network without NickServ, which rules out QuakeNet and Undernet.

We're testing Mibbit the Network and Freenode now. Mibbit is fine feature-wise, just looking at stability now. Freenode is great feature-wise I know, testing stability, but it doesn't allow connection through Mibbit the Client, which I think is pretty lame. Also somebody else already registered FigNewton on Freenode :(

@om*d wrote:

What about abandoning IRC and putting a chat in the forums? I know there are plenty of free options there.

No chance in hell.

UsaSatsui wrote:

1 - If we're going to stay on a larger network, I'd rather stay on DalNet than migrate around. I see even less reason to jump from one giant to another. 2 - I don't see much of a reason to be on a larger network. The channel is secret right now, it doesn't show up on a DalNet search or anything. It's not gonna be found through IRC means.

I agree with both of these points, ideally. Depends if we fine a huge improvement for the first point, but I /really/ agree with the second. Connection issues get more prominent on larger networks, too.