Matrix and IRC

From postmarketOS Wiki
Note Chat platforms other than IRC and Matrix are not official. We advise against proprietary platforms.

Please join our chat, so we can help you with using postmarketOS in real time.

The chat is bridged between Matrix and IRC, which means whatever you send in IRC will be received on Matrix, and vice-versa, so you can talk to use regardless of what chat platform (IRC or Matrix) you use.

We also provide an off-topic channel, which can be used to discuss your favorite pizza API and other non-related topics with the postmarketOS community.

Here's a list of channels. Either join them manually using a native client or click on the name to open a web client.

Once connected, go straight to the Help and guidelines for new IRC and Matrix users section before asking.

Topic IRC Matrix
Main channel, for user questions and general discussion #postmarketos #main:postmarketos.org
For device porting, getting kernels to compile, ... #postmarketos-porting #porting:postmarketos.org
For discussing integration and development of systemd #postmarketos-systemd #systemd:postmarketos.org
For discussing development on systemd polyfills and alternatives #postmarketos-openrc #openrc:postmarketos.org
For all other postmarketOS development, e.g. pmbootstrap, tools, ... #postmarketos-devel #devel:postmarketos.org
Mainline kernel development #postmarketos-mainline #mainline:postmarketos.org
Bootloader hacking, assembly, etc. See also Category:Low-level #postmarketos-lowlevel #lowlevel:postmarketos.org
Announcements for maintainers, for testing new releases #postmarketos-release-party #release-party:postmarketos.org
For discussion about events and conferences (unavailable) #events:postmarketos.org
Other topics #postmarketos-offtopic #offtopic:postmarketos.org

Matrix

Matrix client Element

In case you have no experience in using IRC, this is a method similar to mainstream chat platforms.

On postmarketOS phones, you can even try clients listed in Applications by category#Matrix.

The easiest is to join the Matrix space: #space:postmarketos.org (might not be supported by all clients). This groups all available rooms together.

After you register at any Matrix homeserver and join the channel, the offline history will be saved automatically. So, your questions can be answered even when you are offline!

Note: Our rooms are public & everyone can access the history even if you are not a registered Matrix user.

IRC

IRC client TheLounge

OFTC hosts the postmarketOS channels. If you wish to use your own IRC client to chat, point it to OFTC using the following parameters:

  • Network address: irc.oftc.net
  • Port: 6697
  • SSL/TLS encryption: enabled

The easiest is, if you're using a web client, to join all channels at once: join all channels. The web client enables you to chat on the IRC channels right from your web browser.

On postmarketOS phones, you can even try clients listed in Applications by category#IRC.

Note Due to abuse, Tor users without a cloak or virtual host are quieted. If you're connecting through Tor, you must register your nick and get a cloak before you can talk.

Help and guidelines for new IRC and Matrix users

As with every Matrix room and IRC channel, we encourage you to stay around for a while after you ask a question, and listen to the various discussions. While the channels are often very active and you may be able to get an answer minutes after asking, sometimes an answer can take hours and in rare occasions can even take a day. Don't leave right after asking your question, or ask to ask, just go straight to your question, and wait! Give us as much info as possible, such as logs, which device you're using, etc, so we can help you. Many usually read everything that happens there, so it is likely that someone will answer you if they have the answer.

Due to this, please make extensive use of the off-topic channel to lower the noise in the others, and make the lives of those who read the entire backlog easier. Also note that everyone doesn't read every channel; if you want to draw someone's attention, type their name to ping them (doing this too often is considered rude, though). To prevent flooding the channel, please also use a pastebin service like https://bpaste.net/ instead of pasting your logs directly.

Remember that when you close your IRC client to go sleep, you miss out on half the planet. Please consider either setting up an IRC bouncer or using Matrix for offline history, or simply keep your IRC client open.

Be respectful and have nice discussions with everyone, follow the Code of Conduct.

Special note for Matrix users: You can set the notifications setting to "Mentions only" so that you will only disturbed when someone writes your name.

Register your username on IRC side

Some channels may not allow you to speak unless you register your nick.

  • Open a new chat with "NickServ" (Matrix: open a new chat with @_oftc_NickServ:matrix.org)
  • Register your account by sending this to NickServ: register <password> <email> (example: register dhg235h234jbb you@hello.world)
  • Verify your account at services.oftc.net
  • Login by sending this to NickServ: identify <password> <nickname>

It's recommended to setup SSL CertFP on your client for automatic login. Instructions for IRC clients are here. Unfourtunately, autologin with Matrix is broken (for years now).

Any questions related to OFTC should go in their support channel, #oftc.

Bots

All channels have a bot using the Matrix account @robot:postmarketos.org, and connecting to IRC under the nicks pmosbot and pmosbot_ (actually the bridged Matrix user). It helps with administration (banning users, syncing rooms, etc.). Only team members can access the admin functions, but it will respond with useful context about repository issues or merge requests if you refer to them by number like [alias]![id] for MRs and [alias]#[id] for issues.

[alias] can be any of the following:

  • pma = pmaports
  • org = postmarketos.org
  • pmb = pmbootstrap
  • art = artwork
  • bpo = build.postmarketos.org
  • mrh = mrhlpr
  • osk = osk-sdl
  • wiki = wiki
  • relup = postmarketos-release-upgrade
  • megapixels = megapixels
  • boot-deploy = boot-deploy
  • welcome = postmarketos-welcome

For example:

 > Hmm, bot!5 CI seems to fail for some reason..
 * pmosbot_: [!5, opened] Don't react on quoted messages: https://gitlab.com/postmarketOS/jonathan/-/merge_requests/5

Bridging a new postmarketOS channel (team members only)

Requirements

  • An IRC client and a NickServ account with permissions on IRC side (must have +o for the bridging process)
  • Admin permissions on Matrix side

How-to

  • In Element, click on the "Room info" icon, then "Add widgets, bridges & bots" (*Warning: the integrations feature is proprietary*)
  • Click on "IRC Bridge (OFTC)", then enter the IRC channel name
  • Enter your IRC nick (which must have +o in the IRC channel)
  • Click on "Request link"
  • On IRC, you should have received a message similar to this:

<MatrixBridge> @myself:matrix.org has requested to bridge 'postmarketOS new channel' (https://matrix.to/#/#postmarketos-channel:matrix.org) with #postmarketos-new-channel on this IRC network. Respond with 'yes' or 'y' to allow, or simply ignore this message to disallow. You have 300 seconds from when this message was sent.

  • Send yes or y to MatrixBridge
  • Both channels should now be bridged, now proceed to setting up the bridge

Setting up the bridge

  • In Element, type /devtools
  • Click on "Explore room state", then "Send custom state event"
  • Enter the following:
    • Event Type: org.matrix.appservice-irc.config
    • State Key: (empty)
    • Event content:
      • {
          "lineLimit": 10
        }
        
  • Click on "Send"

See also