FT_IRC - Creating an IRC Server

The project is aimed at developing an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server. The server is intended to work on a localhost. Being a text-based communication protocol, the IRC network allows for real-time direct messages as well as group messages within channels. This server facilitates these exchanges by allowing IRC clients to connect and interact in these channels

Approach

The project's approach involves achieving the following functionalities with programming in C++98:

Server Handling: Program the server to manage multiple clients simultaneously without hanging. Implement necessary checks to ensure the server never crashes or quits unexpectedly.
Non-Blocking Operations: Ensure all I/O operations are non-blocking and use a single poll function to handle operations like read, write, listen, etc.
Command Operations: The server should be able to execute a range of command operations. For example, a user/client should be able to set username or nickname, join channels, send and receive private messages.
Channel Operators: Implement specific channel operator commands like KICK, INVITE, TOPIC, & MODE along with their restrictions.
Authentication: The server must allow for user authentication.
TCP/IP Communication: The server must communicate with the client using TCP/IP(v4 or v6).
Some additional features include handling file transfer and supporting a bot.

The compiled server will be tested using an IRC client. It will be connected using the given port number and password. Our server was tested with KVIRC IRC client program.

Usage

To run the program you need to compile the source files using the provided Makefile and execute the resulting ircserv file:

Compile: make

Run: ./ircserv <port> <password>

To interact with the server, you will need an IRC client. For this project, we have tested the server using the KVIRC client program.

Run server with Valgrind && Docker

docker build -t irc .

docker run -p 6667:6667 irc

IRC Commands

Some of the commands you can use with this server:

Nick: To set a nickname, use the command: /nick your_nickname
User: To set a username use the command: /user your_username
Join: To join a channel, use the command in the format: /join #channel_name.

As a channel operator, you have additional commands available to you:

Kick: To eject a user from a channel: /kick #channel_name username_to_kick
Invite: To invite a user to a channel: /invite username_to_invite #channel_name
Topic: To change or view the topic of the channel: /topic #channel_name new_topic
Mode: To manage various channel privileges:
- Set/remove Invite-only channel: /mode #channel_name +i/-i
- Set/remove the restrictions of the TOPIC command to channel operators: /mode #channel_name +t/-t
- Set/remove the channel key (password): /mode #channel_name +k key/-k
- Give/take channel operator privilege: /mode #channel_name +o username/-o username
- Set/remove the user limit to channel /mode #channel_name +l limit_number/-l

Authors

            Ft_IRC was created by lacush, Sergi0Garcia, and jide_O  as part of the 42 school curriculum.

Lacusch/Ft_IRC