CHAT icon on BionicPup64 desktop doesn't work

[scraginagpup]

I am using xenial pup 64 on one machine, bionic pup 64 on another...on the both OS's, on the desktop, there is a "chat" button. I have enjoyed using this in times past and have gotten much useful information from it, as well as some enjoyable chats.
Now, it doesn't work...it says I need an IRC account, so I registered with IRC and they said they sent a confirmation number by email, so I waited but didn't get it (checked spam too)
Nevertheless I seemed to be able to log in to IRC, but I do not know how to tell the puppy chat that I am now "legitimate", and is the chat still being used anyways?
Thanks for your answer!

[mikewalsh]

@scraginagpup :-

Take a look here:-

https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/26/ ... _takeover/

It explains much of what's happened to IRC recently. None of it good.

Mike.

[snoring_cat]

For anyone else who ran into this issue accessing the #puppylinux FreeNode IRC channel, there is a solution. FreeNode hosts a #puppylinux channel. There is now a new IRC server called Libera Chat that also hosts a #puppylinux channel. Just switch to Libera like thousands of people have already. It's settings to put into Hexchat (or other IRC app) are:

• server and port are irc.libera.chat/6697

• Use SSL for all servers on this network

• join #puppylinux

I have confidence in Libera Chat. Their administrators had previously left FreeNode after new management was apparently doing shady things. The administrators then created Libera Chat.

Hexchat settings screenshots below:

hexchat_set_libera.jpg (45.29 KiB) Viewed 285 times

hexchat_setup_join.jpg (47.93 KiB) Viewed 285 times