IRC script

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

IRC scripts are a way of shortening commands and responding automatically to certain events while connected to IRC. There are different scripts and scripting languages for different types of IRC clients: ircII, BitchX, mIRC, Visual IRC, Bersirc, and others have their own scripting languages, many of which share common features and syntax.

Most IRC scripts contain one or more aliases. These are used to bind some command to a set of commands, or give it some parameters, to save time when typing them over and over. For example, a simple alias might allow you to type "/j channel" instead of "/join #channel", saving exactly 5 keystrokes (counting Shift). Aliases can add new commands, replace commands built into the IRC client, or provide abbreviations for long commands or sequences of commands. Aliases can usually be used as functions to produce a value that's used elsewhere in the script. In some cases, aliases can be associated with keyboard shortcuts.

Events or remotes allow a script to respond automatically when a particular type of message is received from the IRC server, or when a certain action is performed by the user, such as pressing a key or closing a window. Advanced event scripting usually requires knowledge of the IRC protocol, though basic events can usually be written without it.

Scripts for graphical IRC clients may contain pop-ups, which extend or replace the menus built into the client. Many scripts contain nothing but long lists of pop-ups that send humorous or cute canned messages to the channel; many of those messages take the form of a "slap", ridiculing a victim chosen by the user.

[edit] Security concerns

Since IRC scripts are used to interface with a public network, they are at particular risk for attack. Event handling code must be careful when dealing with input received from other IRC users; a poorly written script may allow attackers to read your passwords or your private conversations, execute arbitrary commands in your IRC client, or access files on your disk.

Scripts downloaded from public web sites or received from other IRC users may contain backdoors or similar malicious commands. Some users prefer to write their own scripts to avoid problems caused by malicious or buggy scripts.