Freenode

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The correct title of this article is freenode. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.

freenode, formerly known as Open Projects Network, is a popular IRC network used to discuss peer-directed projects.^[1] Their servers are all accessible from the DNS name chat.freenode.net, which sends the users to the server in rotation that is best able to accept new connections. ^[2]

1 Beginnings
2 Today
3 Major Events
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Beginnings

freenode began as a 4-person GNU/Linux support channel called #LinPeople on EFnet, another IRC network. By 1995 it moved from being just a channel to its own network, irc.linpeople.org. In early 1998 it changed to Open Projects Net with about 200 users and under 20 channels. In 2002 the name changed to freenode, a service of Peer-Directed Projects Center.

[edit] Today

freenode is the largest FOSS IRC network in existence, encompassing more than 30,000 users and 10,000 channels.^[3]

The top 5 channels (in number of users) are (as of January 1, 2007):^[4]

#ubuntu at 909
#gentoo at 797
#debian at 579
#perl at 467
#rubyonrails at 421

[edit] Major Events

On June 24, 2006, a user with the nick ratbert (actually one of the lilo's services-linked nicknames) gained the network privileges of Rob Levin (lilo) and took control of the network. It is likely that approximately 25 user passwords were stolen as a result.[1] This user proceeded to k-line many freenode staff members, and most freenode servers subsequently went down for several hours.[2][3][4] Messages from the user indicated that the GNAA or the free-for-all "tactic" phenomenon known as "Bantown" may have been involved.

Freenode administrator Robert Levin, who used the IRC nick lilo, died on Saturday, September 16, 2006.^[5] His death was caused by head injuries sustained in a hit and run collision while riding his bicycle at night without a helmet on September 12th. He fell into a coma at the scene and did not regain consciousness.