Looking for a new IRC client program or trying IRC for the first time? You’ll need a client to handle everything, and that is the focus of this week’s Freeware Frenzy. I will be taking a look at HydraIRC v0.3.151. While it may not have reached version 1.0, HydraIRC is ready to get you cruising on the various IRC networks.
Installation is straight forward, as it is with many freeware applications. First agree to the rather interesting license (forbidding politicians from using Hydra, though how the author could know this is anyone’s guess). Pick a program file location and choose a start menu, quick launch and/or desktop icon. Then, after the quick install sequence, choose to run Hydra and read the revision history. Unsurprisingly, when HydraIRC fired up, I saw a Windows Security Alert about blocking/unblocking Hydra since it requested internet access. If I block it, IRC becomes a glorified Notepad, so of course I chose Unblock.
Hydra informed me that I had no configured identities and asked if I would like to create one. I would like to as a matter of fact. An identity is your screen name and other information you choose to share. In the interest of safety and security, be sure to keep any truly personal information private and use a screen name that is not connected to a real name. After selecting mine, take a guess what I chose, I was ready to go.
For anyone new to IRC, here are the basics. IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It is a way to chat with others, similar to AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger or MSN Messenger. Contrary to those programs though, IRC can be used with a number of client programs such as HydraIRC, mIRC, or built in to Trillian and QNext. Also, instead of merely clicking on a friend to chat, IRC involves specific networks, servers and channels to chat with others. But how to find a place to go? You can browse channel lists in your client, but with thousands of servers and channels on any number of subjects, who knows what you might find. A smarter approached is to have a specific place to go from the start. You might have a channel setup that relates to a website or gaming clan, or maybe even set one up just to chat with specific friends. I use IRC to visit the PCMechanic channel. So now that we are up to speed, let’s get back to the program at hand; HydraIRC.
To begin, click on the Connect button along the top toolbar. Simply choose your network, enter a password if necessary (most networks are open) and connect. Your network will connect you to a specific server, usually someplace close to your IP address, so U.S users will be connected to American servers and European users will be connected to European servers. This ensures a reliable, fast connection. The server will probably greet you with some basic information on rules or server/client counts. You will of course need your channel to proceed further. Once in your channel of choice, you are ready to use HydraIRC fully. You may notice that Hydra has a busy looking interface; with channel windows in the center, server and name lists on the left and extra services along the bottom. Let’s breakdown some of these features.
On the bottom left you’ll find Server Monitor, Channel Monitor, Transfers and Output lumped together in one tabbed region. Server Monitor shows any messages from the server, but aside from the connection message, this won’t be very active. Transfers lets you oversee any files you are sending to and/or downloading from other users. Channel Monitor is the most useful of the group, listing everything that is said in all the channels you are currently connected to. So if you are busy chatting in Channel 1, you can still keep an eye on Channels 2 and 3. Output lists everything that is going on internally with Hydra, such as starting/stopping logs, performing commands, saving files, etc.
Over on the bottom right side, you’ll find Private Messages, Notice Messages, URL Catcher and Event Log. These are mostly self explanatory, but note the difference between the message types. Private Messages come from other users, while Notice Messages come from the server. The URL catcher is very useful if you are looking for links well after a conversation is over.
HydraIRC’s developer makes a point of Hydra consuming fewer resources then the other popular clients on the Net. I found that the Hydra process used 5,012K, while my other client mIRC used 11,100K. So kudos to Hydra if you are looking for a client with a small footprint.
To conclude, HydraIRC is a very capable IRC client. Supporting all of the major features, such as file transfers, logging, channel/server monitoring and a customizable look, Hydra can handle your IRC needs. The developer, Hydra, embarked on this project to build a better client than all of the others available. While I haven’t used enough alternatives to fully support that claim, I encourage everyone to check out HydraIRC for themselves at www.hydrairc.com .
