Eggdrop | |
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Developer(s) | Eggheads [1] [2] |
Initial release | December 1993 |
Stable release | |
Repository | |
Written in | C, Tcl |
Operating system | Unix-like |
Size | 1 MB |
Type | IRC bot |
License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
Website | www |
Eggdrop is a popular IRC bot and the oldest that is still being maintained. [4] [5] [6]
It was originally written by Robey Pointer in December 1993 to help manage and protect the EFnet channel #gayteen; one Eggdrop bot version was named Valis. [7] [8] [9]
Eggdrop was originally intended to help manage and protect channels from takeover attempts. [6] [10] [11] [12] [13]
The bot is written in the C programming language and features interfaces for C modules and Tcl scripts that allow users to further enhance the functionality of the bot. [5] [9] [14]
A large number of Tcl scripts are available to expand the bot's functionality, most of them written by Eggdrop users. [5] [15] [16] Scripts are available to add and extend support for: online games, stats, user and channel management, information storage and lookup, greeting channel members, tracking last seen times, botnet management, anti-spam, file serving and distribution (usually via the DCC protocol), IRC services (similar to ChanServ and NickServ), and much more.[ citation needed ]
Eggdrop includes built-in support for sharing user information and channel bans. However, a script is required to simultaneously control multiple bots and for bots to coordinate channel management and modes.[ citation needed ]
The bot also features a "botnet", which allows multiple bots to be linked together to share data and act in a coordinated fashion. [9] [12] [14] [17] [18] The botnet supports a "party line", which is accessible via DCC CHAT and Telnet. People can communicate within the botnet on various channels in an equivalent to a miniature IRC. Channel 0, the default, is referred to as the "party line". [12] [19]
Over the years Eggdrop has become one of the most popular bots run by IRC users. [12] [20] [21]
Meanwhile, back in #gayteen, Pointer's other IRC haunt, a raging power struggle had alienated most of the regular members of the channel
There are bots that greet newcomers to channels with information about the channel. Valis, the gaybot at #gayteen, is such a bot.