New servers

We're in the process of migrating way from AWS virtual servers owned by pxdnbluesoul to a new set of VPSes on Vultr. There are a few reasons for this:

• The OS distribution on the existing servers is approaching EOL.
• AWS is suboptimal both from a UI perspective (seriously, it's awful, I can't believe they're charging money for this) and from an ethical perspective (hashtag ethics committee.)
• Under the current arrangement, I frequently have to ask pxdnbluesoul or aismallard to carry out routine administrative tasks when I lack the necessary permissions to handle them myself. Under the new arrangement, aismallard, Hexick, and I will have the necessary permissions.

We won't be reusing server names, so safe.oh.us.irc.scpwiki.com, euclid.ie.eu.irc.scpwiki.com, and keter.nsw.au.irc.scpwiki.com will be retired. The new theme will be story elements: setting.nj.us.irc.scpwiki.com and plot (Location TBD, but most likely Tokyo) will be the new user-facing servers, with IRC services running on conflict.nj.us.irc.scpwiki.com. Once both new user servers are up and running, we'll begin a staged shutdown of the old servers by disabling new connections and shutting each one down as the last user disconnects.

VIP Lounge

Our soft launch of VIP Lounge is going well overall. The current interim user addition process is a bit more labor-intensive and slower than we'd prefer, but plans are underway to automate it. We're experiencing a reliability issue with our current VIP Lounge host on AWS, so that's being moved to Vultr as well.

Here are some examples of currently-implemented SkipIRC-specific functionality:

+ Some screenshots

- Some screenshots

What's next

We're currently working on some quality-of-life features to make IRC more accessible to users who might be less comfortable with the traditional command-line interface. Hexick is working on porting our pronoun customizations to the latest version of atheme, the IRC services package used on SkipIRC. I'm currently working on some RPC (Remote Procedure Call) enhancements that will allow the VIP Lounge to interact directly with IRC services, to present a friendly interface for nick/channel registration and customization. A planned enhancement for the VIP Lounge will replace its separate user/password database with a connection to IRC's NickServ, meaning that either signing up for VIP Lounge or registering a nick with NickServ will effectively do both at once. Finally, we'll be adding verification web links to sign-up emails. The combination of these registration enhancements will present a sign-up experience that will be more familiar to the majority of users.

After that, we'll begin work on some enhancements. IRCv3 supports replies and reactions; they're currently available in IRCCloud but not yet in The Lounge. It's within our capabilities to add them but it'll be a bit of work. Profile pictures are an unofficial IRCCloud extension, on the other hand. We could support them as well but bidirectional interoperability would require cooperation from the IRCCloud team.

Why SkipIRC?

Finally, for those who are wondering why we still need to maintain an IRC presence, I wrote a brief essay on the topic.

As always, feedback is welcome.

pxdnbluesoul

Kufat

DrMagnus

MalyceGraves

DrBleep

LilyFlower

ChaoSera

ProcyonLotor

Dexanote

DrBleep will act as the liaison between the IRC operator team and site staff, whilst LilyFlower will act as the liaison between the IRC operator team and chat staff.

There should be no change to the average user experience on SkipIRC, and outwith those already members of chatstaff, network operators will have no say in the running or management of #site19. The handover will allow for the better determent of trolls and abusive users on the network.

Questions on the change may be posted to this thread, where they will be replied to as soon as possible.

aismallard

The list of exempt nicks was prepared by Hexick. (Thanks!) Nicks exempted from expiration will display the "hold" flag in their NickServ information. Use /ns info NICKNAME to check.

If we missed anybody, please let me know.

Created of this thread approved by ProcyonLotor

This thread will serve as a central list and discussion area for proposed changes and enhancements to our chat system. Now that we control all levels of chat, including IRC servers, services, (NickServ, ChanServ, etc.) and our default web client, we're free to make whatever customizations we deem appropriate. We can add commands, modes, services commands, and so on. I anticipate being the main programmer for most changes, but any help is welcome.

Some of these changes will have security implications. Please remember that this is a publicly viewable forum, and that sensitive information should be discussed privately.

I have a writeup at skipirc:donations that goes into the cost outlay and my rough plans, this will be the tl;dr.

tl;dr The 8 servers involved in running the networks cost a little over $3 a month each for the next 3 years. I'm looking at adding 8 tiers in my Patreon, limited to 1 person each, at $4 to cover fees. In exchange the patron gets to add a silly (no plugs or adverts allowed) message to a table showing the sponsorship status of each server. That money goes into an account that does nothing but pay server bills.

I want to know if there are any objections to doing this. I want to intentionally set this up in a way that I don't profit from it. That's not my intention with this network, and these 3-year agreements mean that I will be obligated to pay that amount no matter what happens with Patreon or anything else.

I've had probably 10 people already indicate they want to help pay for things, and while I can cover the costs myself to the tune of about $25 a month, I will not turn down the assistance if that's what people want to do.

Let me know your thoughts. This is in something of a gray area outside of the wiki proper so I'm leaving it in the chat forum, but I am opening this up to non chat staff to discuss as well. If I do not have any objections to this prior to 10/1, I will launch as I've described above.

We are gearing up to launch the new IRC network tomorrow evening. I have a lot of documentation written supporting this.

SkipIRC - Home
SkipIRC - Oper Guide
SkipIRC - Channel Operator Guide
SkipIRC - User Guide
skipirc:donations
SkipIRC - FAQ

As well as a mainsite Chat Guide rework that will go live with launch, and a new web client to replace the old cgiirc client. Our current goal is to be as close to fully migrated to the new network as possible before the evening of 9/30 as there will be significant maintenance going on at synIRC at that point. We aren't obligated to do this at a certain time if we run into a big blocker, but we haven't had anything of the sort come up in our testing yet and are optimistic about the migration right now.

If you wish to help out, your presence on the new network in #help and #site17 would be greatly appreciated. If you can read up on the FAQs and user guide, what I envision to be most of the questions we will get asked have been answered already. If we need to add things to either document, please let me know but if it needs to be there ASAP don't hesitate to do it yourself.

I want to thank everybody that's been mobilizing users early and answering questions during alpha and beta.