IRCServices VS Anope

AshenWolf · Guest

Is it me, or are they incredibly similar?

I've been told that anope was based off of an old version of ircservices,
however ircservices has better module support (even though its harder
to get custom modules that do what you want), and has 1 or two options
that I really like (e.g. actually KILLing a user who doesn't ID to their
nick, instead of just svsnick'ing them).

My basic question to anyone who has used both a lot is:
"What exactly are the differences?"

The ones I've noted so far are:
* Anope has superadmins, ircservices does not
* IRCServices has 'supass' access to services root.
* Anope has botserv!
* Anope supports dynamic loading and unloading of modules via IRC
* Anope has many more modules avalible
* IRCServices has one or two more config file options, I think.
* One of them (I think) has a database import/export function, the other
does not.
* IRCServices can convert anope formatted databases into its format,
whereas anope can't convert any other databases to its format, I think.
* Anope has a lively forum and feature request system, and, in general
has much more of a "we code what the users want" type approach then
IRCServices has. Because Church heads IRCServices, the impression
I get from watching his mailing lists and todos, etc, is that he has his own
set of desires and refuses to make changes to his software no matter
how many users / admins request that change. Anope is much, much
better at handling requests made to the coding team.

Apart from these things, which I've seen so far, are they any other
differences between anope and IRCServices?

-Ashen

Vorex · none Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Posts: 41

anope is run by the cult leader dengel Surprised

Rob_ · Idler Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 309

well yes, they are similiar, anope was taken from epona, which was taken from irc services a long time ago (version 3 i think), this will probably explain why almost all of the base functionality is pretty much the same. You should be able to look at the epona/anope Changes file to see what changed since it stoped being irc-services, and then look at irc services Changes file to see what they did instead, and you would have your list of diffrences.

re converters: there is a program to go from irc services to anope, well to epona really, but anope will read epona db files just fine, it was made by lucas not lara or anope-dev but i've heard of lots of people who have used it.

as a side note, since i dont actaully use irc services, could you tell me why irc services has better module support? :P

Vorex · none Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Posts: 41

/me smacks Rob around a bit with a nekkid Vorex

DeMiNe0 · Posted: Apr 28, 2004 5:03am Post subject:

Also an upcomming feature of anope:

Guest · Posted: Jun 09, 2004 6:45pm Post subject:

I may just add that I am working on a botserv for IRCServices, just not too activly. If anyone wants a look/to take over the job, drop me a line on

robin.burchell @ oxleyDOTnsw.edu.au

or irc.netronet.org/#thelounge

Reason im not being too active on it is that:
1) I simply dont have the time
2) We switched to anope ( Sad

)

---------
I really dont love anope that much, especially the "changing your nick unidentifies you" bit.

codemastr · Idler Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 353

You're right, IRCServices module support is better than Anope's, but the reason is, Anope split long before IRCServices added module support. So basically, they've both tried to implement the same feature just in different ways.

The biggest module feature that Anope lacks is the ability to dynamically load IRCd support. In Anope, you compile for an IRCd. It will give you a list, and you select the IRCd you use. If you change IRCds, you need to recompile. With IRCServices, you just load a different protocol module.

Both programs are very good, and are written by fine programmers. What it comes down to is, simplicity versus lots of features. Anope has a lot of stuff, some of which not everyone likes. For example, it has BotServ and HostServ. Not everyone wants those things. IRCServices is more simplistic, it just offers the standard set of bots. Neither is better in that regard, it's just a matter of which you want.

As for saying Andy Church doesn't listen to user input, I don't think that's a valid statement. I know for example, Andy contacted me because several of his users were upset that IRCServices unban-me feature was unable to remove IP based bans in UnrealIRCd. So he does listen to his users. But you're right, I'm sure he does have his own ideas, as do all programmers. Just because users suggest it doesn't mean it will be done, same with Anope. I'm sure they've rejected several feature suggestions from people. What I guess it comes down to is, are the features that get rejected the features you wanted to see.

Regardless of which program you choose, you are going to be getting a nice services package.

uchat · Idler Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 335

Nicely put codemastr. I'd like to add that BotServ and HostServ in Anope are optional.. so you don't *HAVE* to keep them if you don't want to.

As far as the dynamic IRCd switching goes ... I can see why some Services Packages do it dynamicly .. however, I can't really see it being a huge issue. Ircd's are not something that needs to be switched back and forth alot. I've seen networks lose a large portion of their user base because of an IRCd switch.

Way back when .. prolly about 98-99ish .. I was involved with IRCServices a bit and have exchanged emails with Andy Church a few times. He does listen to his users, but he also has his own agenda .. and will tell you so up front Smile

.

This can be seen in the FAQ:

w00t · Posted: Jun 10, 2004 7:53pm Post subject:

I also email andy occasionally (yes, im registered this time round for some weirdish reason) and he does listen. I need a chanserv export, and sure enough a version later, that export appeared in the 5.0.32 changelog.

I can understand the way Andy acts-- he doesnt want to code something he doesnt like\wont use. Most of us are that way. He has, however, given us the building blocks to implement such things. The good thing about this is that it keeps those absolute IDIOTS that I see on the anope forums off ircservices (No offence intended if you arent an idiot, and you use Anope (ala me, now Razz

))

HostServ for ircservices does already exist, thanks to chatspike dev.

See www.servicescommunity.za.net and poke around on there for a bit to find the module.

zeke · Idler Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 325

I think that much like the IRCu vs Unreal vs everything else debate somewhere else on here, it comes down to personal preference. Some like IRCServices, some don't, some like Anope, some don't, some like auspice, the rest of us sit in the corner and quietly laugh at them. Personal preference Smile

if you don't like it don't use it. Thankfully this thread hasn't become an argument yet

w00t · Posted: Jun 17, 2004 6:37pm Post subject:

Hasn't even come close, this has been healthy discussion Razz

I know it's personal preference, I like features of a number of services, and Winse is the result I am working towards (my own dear services).