2 ngIRCd - Next Generation IRC Server
3 http://ngircd.barton.de/
5 (c)2001-2013 Alexander Barton and Contributors.
6 ngIRCd is free software and published under the
7 terms of the GNU General Public License.
12 This file lists all commands available on ngIRCd. It is written in a format
13 that is human readable as well as machine parseable and therefore can be used
14 as "help text file" of the daemon.
16 In short, the daemon reads this file on startup and parses it as following
17 when an user issues a "HELP <cmd>" command:
19 1. Search the file for a line "- <cmd>",
20 2. Output all subsequent lines that start with a TAB (ASCII 9) character
21 to the client using NOTICE commands, treat lines containing a single "."
22 after the TAB as empty lines.
23 3. Break at the first line not starting with a TAB character.
25 This format allows to have information to each command stored in this file
26 which will not be sent to an IRC user requesting help which enables us to
27 have additional annotations stored here which further describe the origin,
28 implementation details, or limits of the specific command which are not
29 relevant to an end-user but administrators and developers.
31 A special "Intro" block is returned to the user when the HELP command is
32 used without a command name:
36 This is ngIRCd, a server software for Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
37 networks. You can find more information about ngIRCd on its homepage:
38 <http://ngircd.barton.de>
40 Use "HELP COMMANDS" to get a list of all available commands and
41 "HELP <command-name>" to get help for a specific IRC command, for
42 example "HELP quit" or "HELP privmsg".
45 Connection Handling Commands
46 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
49 See doc/Capabilities.txt
57 Change your nickname to <nick>.
60 PASS <password> <version> <flags> [<options>]
62 Set a connection <password>. This command must be sent before the
63 NICK/USER registration combination.
65 See doc/Protocol.txt for more info.
68 PING <server1> [<server2>]
70 Tests the presence of a connection. A PING message results in a PONG
71 reply. If <server2> is specified, the message gets passed on to it.
74 PONG <server1> [<server2>]
76 This command is a reply to the PING command and works in much the
82 End IRC session and disconnect from the server.
84 If a <quit-message> has been given, it is displayed to all the
85 channels that you are a member of when leaving.
88 USER <user> <modes> <realname>
90 This command is used at the beginning of a connection to specify the
91 <user>name, hostname, <realname> and initial user <modes> of the
94 <realname> may contain spaces, and thus must be prefixed with a colon.
106 Provides the server with a message to automatically send in reply to a
107 PRIVMSG directed at the user, but not to a channel they are on.
109 If <message> is omitted, the away status is removed.
114 Show help information for a specific IRC <command>. The <command> name
117 Use the command "HELP Commands" to get a list of all available commands.
119 The HELP command isn't specified by any RFC but implemented by most
120 daemons. If no help text could be read in, ngIRCd outputs a list of all
121 implemented commands when receiving a plain "HELP" command as well as
124 ngIRCd replies using "NOTICE" commands like ircd 2.10/2.11; other
125 implementations are using numerics 704, 705, and 706.
129 MODE <nickname> <flags> (user)
130 MODE <channel> <flags> [<args>]
132 The MODE command is dual-purpose. It can be used to set both (user) and
135 See doc/Modes.txt for more information.
138 NOTICE <target> <notice>
140 Send <notice> to <target> (nick or channel).
142 This command works similarly to PRIVMSG, except automatic replies must
143 never be sent in reply to NOTICE messages.
146 PRIVMSG <target> <message>
148 Send <message> to <target> (nick or channel).
150 Common IRC clients use MSG as PRIVMSG alias.
151 (Some clients use "QUERY <nick> [<message>]" to open a private chat.)
154 Status and Informational Commands
155 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
160 Show administrative information about an IRC server in the network.
161 If no server name has been given, the local server will respond.
166 Show the version, birth & online time of the current IRC server.
167 If <server> has been given, it shows the INFO of the specific <server>.
172 Queries the server to see if the clients in the space-separated list
173 <nicknames> are currently on the network.
175 The server returns only the <nicknames> that are on the network in a
176 space-separated list. If none of the clients are on the network the
177 server returns an empty list.
180 LINKS [<remote server> [<server mask>]]
182 Lists all server links matching <server mask>, if given,
183 on <remote server>, or the current server if omitted.
186 LUSERS [<mask> [<server>]]
188 Return statistics about the size of the network. If called with no
189 arguments, the statistics will reflect the entire network.
191 If <mask> is given, it will return only statistics reflecting the
192 masked subset of the network.
193 If <server> is given, the command will be forwarded to <server>
199 Show "Message Of The Day" of the current server or specified <server>.
202 NAMES [<channels> [<server>]]
204 Returns a list of who is on the comma-separated list of <channels>,
207 If <channels> is omitted, all users are shown, grouped by channel name
208 with all users who are not on a channel being shown as part of channel
210 If <server> is specified, the command is sent to <server> for
214 STATS <flag> [<server>]
216 Returns statistics about the current server, or of a specified <server>.
220 g = G-Lines (Network-wide bans)
221 k = K-Lines (Server-local bans)
222 l = Link status (Parent server and own link)
223 m = IRC command status (usage count)
229 Show the local time of the current server, or of a specified <server>.
234 Trace a path across the IRC network of the current server, or if given
235 of a specific <server>, in a similar method to traceroute.
240 Show the user-host of <nicknames> (seperated by space).
241 "-" means <nick> is away,
242 "+" means <nick> is available,
243 "*" indicates your connection.
248 Show the ngIRCd version of the current server, or specified <server>.
253 Returns a list of users who match <target> (nick, hostmask or channel).
255 If the flag "o" is given, the server will only return information about
259 WHOIS [<server>] <nicknames>
261 Returns information about the comma-separated list of <nicknames>.
263 If <server> is given, the command is forwarded to it for processing.
266 WHOWAS <nickname> [<count> [<server>]]
268 Used to return information about <nicknames> that are no longer in use
269 (due to client disconnection, or nickname changes).
271 If given, the server will return information from the last <count> times
272 the nickname has been used.
273 If <server> is given, the command is forwarded to it for processing.
280 INVITE <nick> <channel>
282 Invites <nick> to <channel>.
283 <channel> does not have to exist, but if it does, only members of the
284 channel are allowed to invite other clients.
286 If the <channel> mode "+i" is set, only <channel> operators may invite
290 JOIN <channels> [<channel-keys>]
292 Makes the client join the <channels> (comma-separated list), specifying
293 the passwords, if needed, in the comma-separated <channel-keys> list.
294 A <channel-key> is only needed, if the <channel> mode "+k" is set.
296 If the channel(s) do not exist, then they will be created.
299 KICK <channel> <nick> [<kick-message>]
301 Remove <nick> from <channel>, optional with a <kick-message>.
303 Only <channel> operators are able to KICK.
306 LIST [<channels> [<server>]]
308 List all visible <channels> (comma-seperated list) on the current
310 If <server> is given, the command will be forwarded to <server> for
314 PART <channels> [<part-message>]
316 Leave <channels> (comma-separated list), optional with a
320 TOPIC <channel> <topic>
322 Set a <topic> for <channel>.
324 Only <channel> operators are able to set a <topic>.
327 Administrative Commands
328 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
331 CONNECT <target server> [<port> [<remote server> [<mypwd> <peerpwd>]]]
333 Instructs the current server, or <remote server> if specified,
334 to connect to <target server>.
336 To connect <remote server> you need to have remote oper status.
337 If <port> is omitted, it uses the server port of the configuration.
338 If <mypwd> and <peerpwd> is given, it uses those passwords instead
339 of the ones in the configuration.
344 Instructs the server to shut down.
347 DISCONNECT [<remote server>]
349 Disconnects the current server, or <remote server> if specified.
350 To disconnect a <remote server> you need to have remote oper status.
353 GLINE <nick!user@hostmask> <seconds> :<reason>
355 This command provides timed G-Lines (Network-wide bans).
356 If a client matches a G-Line, it cannot connect to any server on
357 the IRC network. If you put 0 as <seconds>, it makes the G-Line
360 To remove a G-Line, type "GLINE <nick!user@hostmask>".
361 To list the G-Lines, type "STATS g".
366 Forcibly removes <nick> from the IRC network with a <reason>.
369 KLINE <nick!user@hostmask> <seconds> :<reason>
371 This command provides timed K-Lines (Server-local bans).
372 If a client matches a K-Line, it cannot connect to the issued server.
373 If you put 0 as <seconds>, it makes the K-Line permanent.
375 To remove a K-Line, type "KLINE <nick!user@hostmask>".
376 To list the K-Lines, type "STATS k".
379 OPER <user> <password>
381 Authenticates <user> as an IRC operator on the current server/network.
386 Causes the server to re-read and re-process its configuration file(s).
396 Sends <message> to all users with user mode "+w".
411 Server Protocol Commands
412 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
415 CHANINFO <channel> +<modes> [[<key> <limit>] <topic>]
417 CHANINFO is used by servers to inform each other about a channel:
418 its modes, channel key, user limits and its topic.
420 See doc/Protocol.txt for more information.
423 ERROR [<message> [<> [...]]]
425 Return an error message to the server. The first parameter, if given,
426 will be logged by the server, all further parameters are silently
429 This command is silently ignored on non-server and non-service links.
432 METADATA <target> <key> <value>
434 The METADATA command is used on server-links to update "metadata"
435 information of clients, like the hostname, the info text ("real name"),
438 See doc/Protocol.txt for more information.
447 Disconnects an IRC Server from the network.