HexChat 2.9.6 released reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-11 23:00 I'm a developer for the project so if you have any questions ask away. =) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- aperson · 2013-09-11 23:39 So, why would a normal xchat user switch to hexchat? 19 hour post edit: I've used hexchat for years now, I just have been bugging TP to make something somewhere to show users why they should switch. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-12 00:17 You arn't supposed to ask the hard questions. =( The comparison of any piece of software isn't always easily quantifiable. I feel having a giant table of comparisons doesn't do the project justice so here is my essay.. The most noticeable things to the user are the small touches such as fixing misaligned icons or url detection. Along those lines we have improved the various utilities such as the banlist, something as simple as being able to right click and copy a ban mask is a minor thing that improves the experience greatly and we have done that everywhere. My personal favorite changes are to the plugin and scripting interfaces. I love [making scripts](https://github.com/TingPing/plugins) so much work has gone into fixing bugs, extending functionality, and documenting (specifically Python, my language of choice). We have also done a lot of work to try to modernize the client which still has a long way to go. Over the last few releases we support some features even some networks don't support yet such as ircv3 (SASL for example) and ZNC integration mentioned in this releases notes. This has also been done outside of irc support, on Unix we now (mostly) follow the XDG standards, properly launch programs with GVFS, and do sound alerts with libcanberra instead of launching random executables until sound comes out, etc. I'm sorry if none of that meant anything to the average user but it should at least show that we are in development improving things and moving the client forward which isn't an exciting proposal to somebody who is content with a IRC client from 2010 that likely never will. TL;DR We are doing things. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 263 · 2013-09-12 07:07 What's new? And when I upgrade will my settings be kept? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-12 08:17 You will have to re-enter your favorite channels. Everything else should be fine. The link clearly says a few of the changes as well as links to the changelog ;) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Aardshark · 2013-09-12 10:55 I installed HexChat the other day and checked the make portable option. I also had all the other options (scripting etc) checked. It crashed right away on startup. I reinstalled with just the bare minimum of options and didn't check the portable option and it worked fine. Beyond trying every combination of options and seeing which one causes the crash, is there an easier way for me to help you fix this bug? (yes I'm lazy) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-12 11:02 I would guess its one of the scripting interfaces and you don't have the languages installed, while this shouldn't crash some users report it does. If that is the case no big deal since you obviously didn't intend to use those plugins. Checkbox happy users like you cause all sorts of issues :P ---------------------------------------------------------------------- liquoranwhores · 2013-09-12 11:19 Thanks for your reply. I'm a long time xchat user (probably 10 years) and haven't really had the ambition to try out hexchat until I read your post. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- jdhore1 · 2013-09-12 16:34 You'll likely be happy to know that Hexchat has completely replaced XChat in Gentoo with (seemingly) little negative impact to users. :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-13 01:10 Yea we noticed when it happened by the huge influx of users in #hexchat reporting strange bugs when you compile it with 15 different flags :P ---------------------------------------------------------------------- o24 · 2013-09-13 01:21 I was prompted to download the Microsoft C++ distributable, what will this allow me to do/features enable? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-13 01:35 It is required for any C++ program compiled against it to function. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- o24 · 2013-09-13 10:45 Oh, so if I'm using HexChat right now then is would already be installed, right? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-13 10:50 Must be, a lot of software bundles and installs the various redists. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bllgvn · 2013-09-17 15:47 For me as a Windows user I have to pay for xchat while hexchat is free and works almost identically, it's probably the best IRC client I've found on Windows. Don't get me wrong I liked xchat, but I'm not made of money and if I can get the same functionality some place else I'm going to ---------------------------------------------------------------------- cantfeelmylegs · 2013-09-27 01:13 What are some of your favourite servers and channels? Huge fan of Hexchat by the way. I love getting updates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TingPing · 2013-09-27 01:35 I'm a boring person that frequents on-topic project channels on freenode.