#startups on Freenode was mentioned here before, I think.
The last time I checked, that channel has almost nothing to do with startups.
Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
11–20 of 95 posts
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#12There is one particular use of IRC channels that is insanely useful, that I'd like to share.
On various programming language channels, there are ad-hoc expression evaluation bots that experienced people use to guide newcomers through the intricacies of the language. If you're new to Haskell, for example, what you can do is grab the logs for the past 3 years, grep for "> " (used to invoke the evaluator) and you have instant insight into how an experienced Haskeller's mind works. It can speed up your learning by a factor of 10 compared to reading papers / blogs / formal tutorials. I know because it did this for me.
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#13Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#14Personally, I never found IRC to be a helpful tool for learning new things from unfamiliar people. To me, IRC has always been a "grapevine" tool, where etiquette, social pecking orders and gossip are shared amongst a smallish close-knit social circle. IRC always feels more like a social scene, and a distraction. If anything, perhaps an IRC channel is useful for managing fluid, rapidly changing situations, where you m…
I disagree with this for many application or language specific channels on Freenode. In fact some Freenode communities have a #subject-offtopic channel which is intended for the social chit-chat you described, and if you're seen making small talk in the #subject channels you often find yourself getting your wrists slapped and told to take the conversation elsewhere.
As for channels I've found useful; all Freenode:
#go-nuts (Go language)
#mysql (no explanation needed)
#android-dev (for times when I'm scratching my head while writing Android apps)
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#15An approach that seems to work well for me is to use IRC as a way to communicate with groups people that mostly I know in person and share a common interest with. That way, I'm able to avoid a social pecking order or having to be "initiated" into a group. You may already be in one of these groups already, though the medium isn't necessarily always IRC--think Skype (text) chats groups with a subset of regulars.
Remember, you can always drag others along with you and start your own channel.
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#16#wizardchan on irc.rizon.net
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#17#linux, #ruby, #rubyonrails, #bitcoin, #javascript, #nginx, #ubuntu, #rubymotion ... to name a few I visit. They are all on the Freenode network.
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#18#startups on Freenode was mentioned here before, I think.
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#19Freenode #emacs, ##linux, #nimrod, #julia and #d.
Nimrod's gang (including Araq) are very friendly and welcoming.
#julia and #d are very quiet though (except for the bots).
And #emacs -- well, that one channel which is lenient towards off-topic chats!
Re: Ask HN: Best IRC channels?
#20There is one particular use of IRC channels that is insanely useful, that I'd like to share. On various programming language channels, there are ad-hoc expression evaluation bots that experienced people use to guide newcomers through the intricacies of the language. If you're new to Haskell, for example, what you can do is grab the logs for the past 3 years, grep for "> " (used to invoke the evaluator) and you have i…
excerpt of #haskell quality of life https://gist.github.com/quchen/5280339