PropIRC

Inspiration Author: 
Harrison Pham
  • PropIRC close up.
  • PropIRC programming.
  • PropIRC creator Harrison Pham.

Internet Relay Chat, also known as IRC, is a very popular protocol for multi user chat and collaboration.  It is commonly used in gaming communities and open source project collaboration.

Many IRC users tend to ‘idle’ in channels.  This allows them to keep logs of chats so that they don’t miss anything.  Keeping a desktop PC on just to idle in an IRC channel can be very expensive.  Current alternative solutions are not easy to configure and tend to be frowned upon.

This is where PropIRC comes in.  PropIRC implements a minimal client that directly connects to remote IRC servers via a standard Ethernet connection.  The only required external devices are a standard VGA monitor and a PS2 keyboard.  This minimizes power consumption costs and provides a quick and easy method of accessing IRC without having to resort back to using a desktop PC.

Features:

User Interface

  • Text based with a clean color scheme
  • Simple intuitive keyboard interface
  • Built in web server for remote access
  • Intuitive key / value settings for configuration

Hardware

  • 10mbps Ethernet Connection
  • 1024x768 VGA Output
  • PS2 Keyboard Input
  • Configuration stored on code EEPROM
  • Tiny 2”x2” PCB

Software

  • Modular design using objects
  • Abstracted TCP/IP stack for internet connectivity

Supported Commands

  • /nick – Change nickname
  • /join – Join channel
  • /part – Leave channel
  • /quit – Disconnect from the server
  • /msg – Send private message
  • /set – Modify / view current settings
  • Many other built in IRC server commands via direct / pass thru
     
Demonstrates an application where the Propellers multiprocessing capabilities allow it to stand in for a entire PC, and save energy. Nice job on the custom TCP/IP stack.