Why do you like Unreal?

nenolod · Idler Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 332 Location: A box!

Being an IRCd developer, I want to know why people think Unreal is so great. Please refrain from posting replies such as "It's easy to configure" or "It runs on my old Windows 98 machine -- i can use it as a server now!", as those are not useful feedback to an ircd developer. I'm looking for insightful feedback, as into what makes Unreal the most popular IRCd. After all, maybe with such feedback other IRCd software will be able to make use of it.

There's one other rule. Everything in this thread MUST be positive, technical feedback concerning Unreal. Attempted trolling will be ignored.

braindigitalis · Idler Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 443 Location: IRC

I can't speak for everyone else, but here is what i like about unreal:

The mass of different modes, while being a bit heavy in terms of execution time, are actually *useful* not just from an oper point of view but from a channel administration point of view. Our users can for example:

etc etc... and the more control a user has over their channel, the more likely they are to stay. These philosophies fit best with a network that believes in channel and nickname ownership (e.g. uses services)

There are also many useful oper tools, which make it easier for us to keep troublemakers off the network, such as:

Theres lots more... but basically, people LOVE features. People choose windows because it has lots of features that they can quickly get to grips with and make use of -- people also choose unreal for the same reason. Lots of features which impress and do interesting things, that they can get to grips with, with the minimum of hassle.

There is also pleanty that i dont like however, but none of that has any place in this thread.

nenolod · Idler Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 332 Location: A box!

Ah yes, but many ircd's have that same functionality. I'm looking for what makes Unreal unique.

Roku · Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 92

What's up with all the "what do you like about Unreal" threads .. This is like the 3rd or 4th one I've seen . can't we all just post on the same one?

braindigitalis · Idler Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 443 Location: IRC

warchild · none Joined: 01 May 2005 Posts: 1

There are many similiar ircds like Unreal. All I have to say to this is Unreal has been out there longer and has set its reputation throughout all the ircd community for being easy to use but it is littered with crappy code and exploits to its ircd.

Roku · Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 92

PingBad · Guru Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 2012 Location: New Zealand

nenolod · Idler Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 332 Location: A box!

I'd like to state (again) that putting down any ircd is not the point of this thread. The goal is to discover what technical aspects of Unreal make people wish to use it.

Cobi · Lurker Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 121 Location: IRC

Its block style config file
SSL
ZIPlinks
modular
spamfilter
floodcontrol modes
extended bans
works with most services
coherent link protocol (looks alot like client <> server protocol, unlike hybrid)
remote includes
owner has complete control over how they want their ircd to act

zeke · Idler Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 299

there are currently 2 things preventing me switching from Unreal atm. The first is the total ease of configuration. Not having to remember "What does a L:line do again?!"

And SSL connectivity..

The loads of features are extremely useful at times....being able to shun annoyances and laugh at them as they think we can still see what they're saying...

The key thing with the loads of features tho, is the ability to turn most of them on and off individually.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, as soon as InspIRCd goes stable, and supports SSL, i'll be seriously recommending most of my nets to consider changing over.

Ashen · Idler Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 285

Personally...

Things I know Unreal has that I want :
1) glines in the ircd (though, I thought a G:Line was meant to ban people by Gecos? Is this a real convention which Unreal missed, or am I wrong?)
2) native ssl support
3) more diverse range of chanop access levels, priviliges and protection (hop/op/adm/founder)
4) greater ircop control of the network..... things like spamfilter, and setq. The titles 'netadmin' and 'techadmin', whilst imho mostly used for vanity reasons, can actually be helpful in picking out who does what on the net.
5) better banmode options to handle floods and the like.
6) non-client joins. Useful for NS AJOIN, opers auto joining #opers, etc.

Things that I'm not sure Unreal has, that I want :
1) umode +C that shows all connects/quits on the network to the user that has it... useful for bopm
2) hybrid's callerid umode which lets each client define an access list. You can't pm the client unless you are on the access list. Good private message privacy :-D
3) mode +N that blocks nickchanges in channel

Roku · Newbie Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 92

Cobi · Lurker Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 121 Location: IRC

Ashen · Idler Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 285

That featureset is truly scary. :-S

I grew up on Unreal-based networks, but I moved away from them as I came out of my teen years and its been awhile since I used them now.... hence I'm not current on their features.

TBH I'd probably use Unreal on my network now simply becuase it's easier to get all the features I want with it then it is to hack them into another ircd. Some of my other staff don't like it though and atm I don't have the time to convince them to give it a chance. Ah well, one for the future maybe.

-Ashen