So you type 'irc' at the command prompt hoping to join your favorite channel and instead find yourself in this strange world where you have to press space to talk, the commands you expect don't work, and you can't even figure out how to quit (hint: try 'q'). This is 'COM' (aka, 'COMMODE' or just 'com').
COM is a chat program which is unique to SDF. The original version dates back to 1994 and it has been developed and used on the SDF servers ever since. Together with the 'bboard' BBS it is one of the primary ways SDF users communicate with each other. Some features may be familiar to you from other programs, but many will be new to you. Most notably, COM is command-driven, meaning that you are in “command mode” by default and must hit a key (spacebar or enter) before you can talk. See below for additional commands, all of which are simply typed in from command mode.
So why did you get COM when you expected IRC? For reasons of security and concerns about abuse, IRC access is not allowed unless you are an ARPA member or higher. If you are reading this then it is likely you are not. For this reason when you type 'irc' at the shell, COM will be launched instead. This allows new users an opportunity to interact with other SDF users and hopefully answer some of the questions they might have. Unlike IRC, COM is not network-based and only users who are currently logged into SDF can use it.
COM is based around 'rooms'. The default room you enter when you start the program is 'limbo'. If you are a pre-validated user then 'limbo' is the only room you can enter. Send in your validation if you want to change that. Common things you might want to do in limbo include talking to people (press the spacebar, followed by what you want to say, followed by enter), review (press 'r' for a short review or 'R' followed by a number of lines and enter), or check who is in the room (press 'w'). See below for more commands.
Basic rules of etiquette to keep in mind:
I'. If the room has been quiet for a while, say hello but give people time to respond.
Here is a list of commonly used COM Commands. It only covers the basics, so refer to the online help (with 'h') or man page for more information. Some of the commands will not be available to pre-validated users.
- e - emote
- g - goto a room
- h - command help
- I - user idle query
- l - list open rooms
- L - post a link to com
- p - peek into room
- q - quit commode
- r - room history
- R - extended history
- s - send private
- w - who is in the room
- W - who is in a room
com' to start com, the man page is accessed with 'man commode'
$Id: comnotirc.html,v 1.8 2006/04/26 14:02:04 jbaber Exp $