IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, was developed in the late 1980s by a Finnish computer scientist named Jarkko Oikarinen. It was created as a means of enabling real-time communication between users over the internet. Here’s a basic overview of how IRC was built:
- Motivation: Jarkko Oikarinen wanted to create a platform that allowed users to chat and exchange messages in real-time over the early internet, which was primarily text-based and lacked the graphical user interfaces we have today.
- Programming Language: IRC was primarily written in C programming language, which was a popular choice for system and network software development at the time. This choice allowed for efficient communication and resource usage.
- Client-Server Architecture: IRC is based on a client-server architecture. There are IRC servers that host chat rooms (called channels), and users connect to these servers using IRC clients. The servers manage the distribution of messages to users within the channels.
- Protocol Design: Jarkko Oikarinen developed the IRC protocol, which defines how messages should be formatted, sent, and received between clients and servers. The protocol specifies the various IRC commands, such as JOIN (to join a channel), PRIVMSG (to send a private message), PART (to leave a channel), etc.
- Open Source: IRC was released as open-source software, which meant that anyone could use, modify, and contribute to its development. This open nature contributed to its widespread adoption and the growth of the IRC network.
- RFCs (Request for Comments): The IRC protocol was documented in RFC documents, specifically RFC 1459, which defined the original IRC protocol, and later RFC 2810, RFC 2811, RFC 2812, and RFC 2813, which provided additional details and clarifications.
- Global Network: IRC servers were set up worldwide, and these servers formed a global network that allowed users from different servers to communicate with each other. This network of interconnected servers is one of the key features of IRC.
- Client Development: IRC clients were developed for various operating systems, including Unix-based systems, Windows, and more. Users could choose from a wide range of IRC clients based on their preferences.
- Evolution and Extensions: Over the years, IRC has evolved with the development of various extensions and add-ons, such as IRC bots, services (NickServ, ChanServ), and scripts that added functionality and customization.
IRC’s simplicity, open nature, and the ability to create and manage chat rooms (channels) made it a popular communication platform in the early days of the internet. It played a significant role in shaping online communities and chat culture. While other real-time communication platforms have since gained popularity, IRC continues to have a dedicated user base and remains a viable option for certain types of online interactions.
