Eggdrop
Encyclopedia
Eggdrop is a popular IRC bot
IRC bot
thumb|409px|right|An IRC bot performing a simple task.An IRC bot is a set of scripts or an independent program that connects to Internet Relay Chat as a client, and so appears to other IRC users as another user...

 and the oldest still in active development
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...

.

Development History

It was originally written by Robey Pointer in December 1993 to help manage and protect the EFnet
EFnet
EFnet or Eris Free network is a major IRC network, with more than 35,000 users. It is the modern-day descendant of the original IRC network.- History :...

 channel #gayteen.
Eggdrop was originally intended to help manage and protect channels from takeover
IRC takeover
An IRC channel takeover is an acquisition of IRC channel operator status by someone other than the channel's owner. It has largely been eliminated due to the increased use of services on IRC networks.-Riding the split:...

 attempts and other forms of IRC war.

Features

The bot is written in the C programming language
C (programming language)
C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....

 and features interfaces for C modules
Modular programming
Modular programming is a software design technique that increases the extent to which software is composed of separate, interchangeable components called modules by breaking down program functions into modules, each of which accomplishes one function and contains everything necessary to accomplish...

 and Tcl
Tcl
Tcl is a scripting language created by John Ousterhout. Originally "born out of frustration", according to the author, with programmers devising their own languages intended to be embedded into applications, Tcl gained acceptance on its own...

 scripts that allow users to further enhance the functionality of the bot.

A large number of Tcl
Tcl
Tcl is a scripting language created by John Ousterhout. Originally "born out of frustration", according to the author, with programmers devising their own languages intended to be embedded into applications, Tcl gained acceptance on its own...

 scripts are available to expand the bot's functionality, most of them written by Eggdrop users.
Scripts are available to add and extend support for: online games, stats, user and channel management, information storage and lookup, greeting channel members, tracking last seen times, botnet
Botnet
A botnet is a collection of compromised computers connected to the Internet. Termed "bots," they are generally used for malicious purposes. When a computer becomes compromised, it becomes a part of a botnet...

 management, anti-spam, file serving and distribution (usually via the DCC
Direct Client-to-Client
Direct Client-to-Client is an IRC-related sub-protocol enabling peers to interconnect using an IRC server for handshaking in order to exchange files or perform non-relayed chats. Once established, a typical DCC session runs independently from the IRC server. Originally designed to be used with...

 protocol), IRC services
IRC services
Internet Relay Chat services is a name for a set of features implemented on many modern Internet Relay Chat networks. Services are automated bots with special status which are generally used to provide users with access with certain privileges and protection...

 (similar to ChanServ and NickServ), and much more.

Eggdrop includes built-in support for sharing user information and channel bans, however a script is required to simultaneously control multiple bots and for bots to coordinate channel management and modes.

The bot also features a botnet
Botnet
A botnet is a collection of compromised computers connected to the Internet. Termed "bots," they are generally used for malicious purposes. When a computer becomes compromised, it becomes a part of a botnet...

, which allows multiple bots to be linked together to share data and act in a coordinated fashion. The botnet supports a "party line", which is accessible via DCC CHAT
Direct Client-to-Client
Direct Client-to-Client is an IRC-related sub-protocol enabling peers to interconnect using an IRC server for handshaking in order to exchange files or perform non-relayed chats. Once established, a typical DCC session runs independently from the IRC server. Originally designed to be used with...

 and telnet
TELNET
Telnet is a network protocol used on the Internet or local area networks to provide a bidirectional interactive text-oriented communications facility using a virtual terminal connection...

. People can communicate within the botnet on various channels in an equivalent to a miniature IRC. Channel 0, the default, is referred to as the "party line".

Popularity

Over the years Eggdrop has become one of the most popular bots run by IRC
Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...

 users.

See also

  • Internet Relay Chat
    Internet Relay Chat
    Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...

  • Internet Relay Chat bot
  • Comparison of Internet Relay Chat bots
    Comparison of Internet Relay Chat bots
    The following table contains general and technical information about a range of Internet Relay Chat bots .-General:...

  • Shell account
    Shell account
    A shell account is a user account on a remote server which gives access to a shell via a command-line interface protocol such as telnet or ssh....

  • Tcl
    Tcl
    Tcl is a scripting language created by John Ousterhout. Originally "born out of frustration", according to the author, with programmers devising their own languages intended to be embedded into applications, Tcl gained acceptance on its own...


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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