1 ERC NEWS -*- outline -*-
5 ** Go back to using ssl.el so that SSL connections work as expected.
6 Connecting with `open-tls-stream' only seems to work (if at all?) when
7 using the tls.el located in lisp/net/ in Emacs22.
9 ** Fix compiler errors in erc-autojoin.el and erc-dcc.el.
11 ** Move to end of prompt when ERC reconnects to a server.
13 ** Changes and additions to modules
15 *** Spell-checking (erc-spelling.el)
17 **** Don't spell-check nicks or words that are prefixed with '/'.
19 **** Remove flyspell properties from words we shouldn't spell-check.
21 **** Fix an issue that caused the ispell process to reload every time
22 we switch to an ERC buffer.
24 *** Timestamps (erc-stamp.el)
26 **** Fix an inconsistency in calculating width of right timestamps.
28 **** Rename option `erc-timestamp-right-align-by-pixel' to
29 `erc-timestamp-use-align-to'. This controls whether to use the more
30 fail-proof method of aligning right timestamps, as mentioned below.
32 **** Fix a right timestamp spacing problem that used to occur when
33 erc-stamp.el was byte-compiled. Now that this is fixed, it is safe to
34 use the method that aligns right timestamps perfectly in Emacs22 with
35 X. If the current version of Emacs doesn't support this method, use
36 the simpler method, which is prone to alignment issues for math
37 symbols and other variable-width text.
39 A side effect of using this new method is that there will only be one
40 space before a right timestamp in any saved logs. If this is
41 unacceptable, set `erc-timestamp-use-align-to' to nil.
43 * Changes in ERC 5.1.1
45 ** Fix a requirement on cl.el.
47 ** Use tls.el for SSL connections, rather than ssl.el.
49 ** Changes and additions to modules
51 *** ibuffer integration (erc-ibuffer.el)
53 **** Update this to work with the version of ibuffer.el that comes with
54 recent Emacs variants.
56 *** Old completion (erc-complete.el)
58 **** Fix a few errors.
60 *** Speedbar (erc-speedbar.el)
62 **** Make this work with the version of speedbar.el that comes with
63 recent Emacs variants.
65 *** Timestamps (erc-stamp.el)
67 **** By default, use a more failsafe method of displaying right timestamps.
68 To get right timestamps to align perfectly in Emacs22 using X, set the
69 new `erc-timestamp-right-align-by-pixel' option to non-nil.
71 *** Viper compatibility (erc-viper.el)
73 **** Since most of these changes are now merged into Emacs22, detect
74 whether we need these changes and install them only if necessary.
78 ** Improve XEmacs compatibility.
82 *** Now ERC doesn't use global variable space.
83 Renamed all variables that didn't start with "erc-".
85 o `away' is now `erc-away'
87 o `current-nick' is now `erc-server-current-nick'
89 o `last-peers' is now `erc-server-last-peers'
91 o `last-ping-time' is now `erc-server-last-ping-time'
93 o `last-sent-time' is now `erc-server-last-sent-time'
95 o `lines-sent' is now `erc-server-lines-sent'
97 o `quitting' is now `erc-server-quitting'
99 *** Remove the `with-erc-channel-buffer' function.
103 *** Don't inadvertently destroy face properties.
105 *** Load erc scripts in a safer way.
107 *** Don't insert a timestamp if text at point is invisible.
109 *** Don't hide messages from those in `erc-fools' by default.
110 Color their nicks instead.
112 *** Use a more foolproof method of encoding and decoding strings
113 before sending to a channel.
117 *** Renamed some server-specific variables
119 o `erc-announced-server-name' is now `erc-server-announced-name'
121 o `erc-auto-reconnect' is now `erc-server-auto-reconnect'
123 o `erc-connect-function' is now `erc-server-connect-function'
125 o `erc-default-coding-system' is now `erc-server-coding-system'
127 o `erc-duplicate-timeout' is now `erc-server-duplicate-timeout'
129 o `erc-duplicates' is now `erc-server-duplicates'
131 o `erc-lag' is now `erc-server-lag'
133 o `erc-prevent-duplicates' is now `erc-server-prevent-duplicates'
135 o `erc-previous-read' is now `erc-server-filter-data'
137 o `erc-process' is now `erc-server-process'
139 o `erc-ping-handler' is now `erc-server-send-ping-handler'
141 o `erc-ping-interval' is now `erc-server-send-ping-interval'
143 *** Renamed some functions
145 o `erc-connect' is now `erc-server-connect'
147 o `erc-process-filter' is now `erc-server-filter-function'
149 o `erc-send-command' is now `erc-server-send'
151 o `erc-send-single-line' is now `erc-send-input'
153 o `erc-setup-periodical-server-ping' is now
154 `erc-server-setup-periodical-server-ping'
156 o `erc-split-command is now `erc-split-line'
160 o erc-server-flood-margin, erc-server-flood-penalty: New options
161 that allow tweaking of flood control.
163 o erc-split-line-length: The maximum line length of a single
168 o erc-server-flood-last-message, erc-server-flood-queue,
169 erc-server-flood-timer: Flood control.
171 o erc-server-processing-p: Indicate when we're currently processing
174 *** Remove some options
179 ** New customization group `erc-server' for dealing with IRC servers.
181 ** ERC can now be installed by doing `make install' from the command line.
183 ** ERC now has a manual in erc.texi.
184 Type `make doc' to generate HTML and Info versions of it.
186 ** ERC no longer depends on cl.el.
187 Only the macros in cl-macs.el are used.
189 ** Fix an edge case when quitting as new messages come in.
191 ** Make flood protection toggle-able as on/off, removing the 'strict option.
193 ** If possible, re-use channel buffers when reconnecting to a server.
195 ** Text in ERC buffers is now read-only by default.
196 To get the previous behavior,
198 ** Changes and additions to modules
200 *** Auto-join (erc-autojoin.el)
202 **** Recognize the Azzurra server.
204 *** BBDB (erc-bbdb.el)
206 **** When the user types /WHOIS, ask for a record to merge to.
208 **** Store the displayed name of a BitlBee contact.
209 The new `erc-bbdb-bitlbee-name-field' option specifies the field to use
210 to store this information.
212 **** Don't prompt for a name on /JOIN or /NICK.
214 *** Button (erc-button.el)
216 **** Fix customization of `erc-button-alist'
218 **** New option `erc-button-nickname-face' determines the face to use
219 when coloring ERC nicknames.
221 *** Channel tracking (erc-track.el)
223 **** Remove channels from the modified channels list if not currently
224 connected. This should remove residue from the mode line after
227 **** Recognize buttonized text
229 *** Highlighting (erc-match.el)
231 **** Highlight current nickname by default.
233 **** Added the option of beeping when certain matches occur.
234 Add `erc-beep-on-match' to `erc-text-matched-hook' to enable
235 beeping. Set the new variable `erc-beep-match-types' which match
236 types that make beeps.
238 *** Nicklist (erc-nicklist.el)
240 **** Fix a couple of errors.
242 **** Make sure a stray mouse click doesn't trigger an error.
244 **** Insert icons from the /images directory next to nicks.
245 This indicates their away status. The location is customizable via
246 the new `erc-nicklist-icons-directory' option.
248 If you do not want these icons, set `erc-nicklist-use-icons' to nil.
250 *** Nickserv identification (erc-nickserv.el)
252 **** Recognize Azzurra and OFTC networks.
254 *** Old completion (erc-complete.el)
256 **** Disable by default.
258 *** Programmable completion (erc-pcomplete.el)
260 **** Enable by default.
262 *** Timestamps (erc-stamp.el)
264 **** On Emacs22, align right timestamps perfectly, even if variable-width
265 characters are used. If we aren't using Emacs22, move text farther
266 away from the right margin when variable-width characters are used.
267 It is considered better to misalign the stamp by a bit than to go past
270 **** Enable by default
274 *** Spell-checking (erc-spelling.el)
276 **** Use flyspell in ERC.
278 *** Viper compatibility (erc-viper.el)
280 **** Helps ERC work correctly in viper-mode.
282 * Changes in ERC 5.0.4
284 ** Fix a problem with undo in channels.
286 * Changes in ERC 5.0.3
288 ** Fix typo in the `ctcp-request-to' entry of the English catalog.
290 ** Debugging with edegug has been made easier in all of the
291 erc-with-* and with-erc* macros.
293 ** Non-ASCII character sets should be better supported when sending
294 and processing messages.
296 ** A load failure with erc-autoaway.el and Emacs21 has been fixed.
298 ** A few XEmacs warnings were fixed.
300 ** Changes and additions to modules
302 *** Backend (erc-backend.el)
304 **** Move the check for hidden messages into `erc-display-message'
305 so there isn't so much replicated code.
307 **** Add `definition-name' property to constructed symbols so that
308 `find-function' and `find-variable' will be able to locate them.
310 **** Make sure logs are inserted info the correct channel buffers.
311 There was previously an error when using `erc-insert-log-on-open' in
312 combination with autojoin to multiple channels.
314 *** Button (erc-button.el)
316 **** The layering of `erc-button-face' on other faces in ERC buffers
319 *** Channel tracking (erc-track.el)
321 **** Use optimal amount of whitespace around modified channels
322 indicator. Previously, there was an additional unnecessary space.
324 **** Fix an error that occurred when unchecked buffers existed when
327 * Changes in ERC 5.0.2
329 ** If a channel key is required for a certain channel, ERC will prompt
330 for one if `erc-prompt-for-channel-key' is non-nil.
332 ** ERC doesn't try to reconnect if the network connection is refused
333 when using `open-network-stream-nowait' as the `erc-connect-function'.
335 ** Messages from multiple servers will not go to the currently active
336 buffer. The messages from each server will be contained in the most
337 recently active channel/server buffer that corresponds with the
340 ** Some text messages were cleaned up slightly.
342 ** Button faces should no longer "cover" other faces.
344 ** Made some XEmacs compatibility fixes.
346 ** Nicknames containing a backslash are now correctly highlighted as
347 current-nick and buttonized as nicks.
349 ** `erc-server-select' doesn't offer networks without servers as a
352 ** Non-ASCII character support has been improved.
354 ** Changes and additions to modules
356 *** Menu (erc-menu.el)
358 **** You can now save logs and truncate buffers from the menu-bar.
360 * Changes in ERC 5.0.1
362 ** Narrowing in ERC buffers no longer causes formatting errors.
364 ** The BBDB module now loads correctly when customizing `erc-modules'.
366 ** The value of `erc-button-face' is now respected.
368 ** Fixed a bug which caused a read-only error during connection.
370 ** Server buffers are now tracked correctly.
371 This means that `erc-track-priority-faces-only', `erc-track-exclude',
372 and `erc-track-exclude-types' now work with server buffers.
376 ** Channel members are now stored as a hash-table.
377 `erc-server-users' and `erc-channel-users' are now hash-tables, rather
378 than alists. This significantly increases performance, especially in
379 large channels. Each channel member is stored as an `erc-server-user'
380 struct, with additional information about the channels they are on
381 stored in an `erc-channel-user' struct. Code using old alist-style
382 channel members needs to be updated to work with hash-tables.
383 This new code also removes the need for erc-members.el, which has been
386 ** The way ERC deals with input from the server has changed.
387 All server response code is now in a new file, erc-backend.el. There
388 should be no real user visible changes. There are, however, a few
389 major changes for implementers, and module writers:
391 *** The PARSED response that all handlers get called with is
392 no longer a vector, but an `erc-response' struct.
394 This means LESS MAGIC NUMBERS in the ERC source code, but a few
395 changes in how you get at parsed responses.
397 The sender is accessed via `erc-response.sender'.
399 The command is accessed via `erc-response.command'.
401 The arguments to the command (everything after the command and
402 before the colon) are accessed via `erc-response.command-args'.
403 This is a /list/ of arguments in the order they appear in the
406 The contents of the response is accessed via
407 `erc-response.contents'.
409 Should, for some reason, you want to do something with the
410 /unparsed/ response, you can get it via `erc-response.unparsed'.
412 *** The `erc-server-hook-list' mechanism is gone.
414 All server response handlers should be defined with
415 `define-erc-response-handler'. This defines functions and
416 corresponding hook variables.
418 The mapping of server commands to hook variables is no longer
419 done via `erc-event-to-hook', but through an #'equal hashtable,
420 `erc-server-responses'. In order to find a hook you do:
422 (erc-get-hook command)
424 See the docstring of `define-erc-response-handler' for more
427 *** ALL hook variables have been renamed.
429 In accordance with recommendations in the Emacs Lisp manual,
430 the hook variables are no longer called `erc-server-FOO-hook',
431 but rather `erc-server-FOO-functions'. This is to indicate
432 that the functions they call take arguments.
434 All the modules in ERC have been updated to reflect this change,
435 but external module authors should beware.
437 ** The values of `erc-mode-line-format' and `erc-header-line-format'
438 are now defined as strings to be formatted using `format-spec'.
439 `erc-mode-line-format' does not replace the whole mode-line anymore,
440 only `mode-line-buffer-identification' is set. This way, personal
441 mode-line configurations are not modified and all key bindings work as
442 expected. The process status (connecting, closed) is now shown in
445 ** Customization of ERC variables has been made easier. Variables
446 have been split into more groups for better organization.
450 o `erc-send-whitespace-lines' - Set this to send lines even if they
453 o `erc-manual-set-nick-on-bad-nick-p' - If the nickname you chose is
454 already taken or not allowed, your nick is not changed and you can
455 try again manually if this is non-nil.
457 o `erc-mode-line-away-status-format' - You can now set what is shown
458 in the mode-line when you are away.
460 o `erc-header-line-uses-help-echo-p' - The header-line now uses the
461 help-echo property. You can set this to nil to disable it.
463 o `erc-format-query-as-channel-p' - Set this to nil to have messages
464 in the query buffer formatted like private messages.
466 o `erc-show-channel-key-p' - The channel key is now shown with the
467 other channel modes in the header line. Set this to nil if you
470 o `erc-prompt-for-channel-key' - Set this if you want to be prompted
471 for the channel key (channel's mode is +k) when you call
472 `erc-join-channel' interactively.
474 o `erc-kill-server-buffer-on-quit' - If non-nil, kill the server
475 buffer automatically when you quit.
479 o `erc-join-hook' - Called when you join a channel.
481 o `erc-kick-hook' - Called when you are kicked from a channel. The
482 channel's buffer is sent as an argument to functions called from
485 o `erc-nick-changed-functions' - Whenever your nickname changes
486 successfully, the functions in this hook are run with the
487 arguments NEW-NICK and OLD-NICK.
489 ** New command /WHOAMI - Do a /WHOIS on your current nickname.
491 ** The key binding for changing channel modes is now C-c C-o.
495 o `erc-echo-notices-in-minibuffer-flag' and
496 `erc-echo-notices-in-current-buffer' - You should use
497 `erc-echo-notice-hook' and `erc-echo-notice-always-hook' instead.
499 o `erc-prompt-interactive-input' has been removed (commented out)
500 because nickname completion does not work with it.
502 o All INFO buffer-related variables and functions have been removed.
504 ** You can now disable modules by setting `erc-modules' with the
505 customization interface.
507 ** Changes and additions to modules
509 *** Autoaway (erc-autoaway.el)
511 **** New variable `erc-autoaway-no-auto-back-regexp' - Add text which,
512 when you type anything matching it, will not automatically discard
513 your away status when `erc-auto-discard-away' is non-nil.
515 *** Filling (erc-fill.el)
517 **** New variable `erc-fill-variable-maximum-indentation' - Don't
518 indent more than this many characters when indenting a message from a
519 user with a long nickname.
521 *** Goodies (erc-goodies.el)
523 **** Miscellaneous small modules have been moved from erc.el.
524 The functions erc-add-scroll-to-bottom, erc-make-read-only,
525 erc-send-distinguish-noncommands, erc-interpret-controls, erc-unmorse,
526 erc-smiley, and erc-occur, which were defined in the main erc.el file
527 have been moved to erc-goodies.el and have mostly been translated to
528 the modules scrolltobottom, readonly, noncommands, irccontrols, smiley
533 o `erc-input-line-position' - The line number to use with
534 `erc-scroll-to-bottom'.
536 o `erc-beep-p' - Beep if there is a \C-g control character in a
539 *** Channel lists (erc-list.el)
541 **** New variable `erc-chanlist-highlight-face' - A face used for
542 highlighting the current line.
544 *** Highlighting (erc-match.el)
546 **** `erc-current-nick-highlight-type' has new options: 'keyword and
549 *** Menu (erc-menu.el)
551 **** The `IRC' menu is now automatically added to `erc-mode' buffers.
553 *** Networks (erc-nets.el)
555 **** The functions for determining current network are in this file.
556 There were a couple of functions spread about in different files which
557 each had a different way of determining the current network. The
558 methods have been combined, and the big list of known networks
559 (`erc-networks-alist') is being put to use. You can access the
560 network's name by calling the new function `erc-network'. This
561 returns the name of the current network as a symbol or 'Unknown if it
562 could not determine which network it is.
564 *** Nicklist (erc-nicklist.el)
566 **** ERC has a new way of displaying nicknames in a channel.
567 The new file erc-nicklist.el defines a new command `erc-nicklist'
568 which pops up a small Emacs window showing the nicknames of all
569 members of the current channel. The implementation is not complete
570 and is rather proof-of-concept for now. The result is something a bit
571 like erc-speedbar, but not quite as invasive, and doesn't require use
574 *** Internet services / Nickserv (erc-nickserv.el)
576 **** Network detection is now taken care of by erc-nets.el.
577 The function `erc-current-network' is deprecated, use `erc-network'
578 instead. The variable `erc-networks' has been removed, use
579 `erc-networks-alist'. The network symbols used in
580 `erc-nickserv-alist' now match those in `erc-networks-alist'.
582 **** New variable `erc-nickserv-identify-mode' - Choose which method
583 to use for automatic identification: you can wait for Nickserv to ask
584 you to identify (the default), or send an identify message
585 automatically after you change your nickname.
587 *** Speedbar (erc-speedbar.el)
589 **** New variable `erc-speedbar-sort-users-type' - Sort users in a
590 channel by activity, alphabetically, or not at all.
592 *** Timestamps (erc-stamp.el)
594 **** `erc-timestamp-only-if-changed-flag' now works when
595 `erc-insert-timestamp-function' is set to 'erc-insert-timestamp-left.
597 **** New variable `erc-timestamp-intangible' - Set this to nil if
598 timestamps should not have the 'intangible property.
600 *** Channel tracking (erc-track.el)
602 **** Using faces to indicate channel activity in the modeline now works
607 o `erc-track-priority-faces-only' - Ignore changes in a channel
608 unless there is a face from the `erc-track-faces-priority-list' in
611 o `erc-track-exclude-server-buffer' - Ignore changes in the server
614 o `erc-track-position-in-mode-line' - Set the position in the
615 mode-line where modified channels are shown (only works in GNU
616 Emacs versions above 21.3).
620 ** The module system has again changed a lot. You can now customize
621 the variable `erc-modules' and define once and for all which
622 extension modules you want to use. This unfortunately may require
623 you to change your current erc initialisation code a bit, if you
624 have some existing customsations. On the other hand, this change
625 makes the configuration of extension modules a lot easier for new
626 users. In theory, you should be able to configure all aspects of
627 ERC by using the customize interface, you should no longer really
628 need to write Lisp code for trivial customizations.
630 By default, the following modules are now loaded: (pcomplete
631 netsplit fill track ring button autojoin)
633 Please use M-x customize-variable RET erc-modules RET to change the
634 default if it does not suite your needs.
636 ** THe symbol used in `erc-nickserv-passwords' for debian.org IRC servers
637 (formerly called OpenProjects, now FreeNode) has changed from
638 openprojects to freenode. You may need to update your configuration
639 for a successful automatic nickserv identification.
641 * Changes in ERC 3.0.cvs.20030119
643 ** New module erc-dcc:
645 This finally implements DCC. It requires server sockets to fully work
646 in both directions. This feature is currently only available in Emacs
647 21.3.50 (CVS). Here is a short list of what should work though.
650 * Emacs 21.2, DCC get, and accepting DCC chat offers.
651 * XEmacs 21, Only accepting DCC chat offers.
653 ** erc is switching to global-minor-modes for activation of submodules.
655 This allows you to customize such a mode and get automatic loading of
656 the module. No longer putting a lot of require statments in .emacs.
657 At least this is the long-term plan, not all modules are converted
660 ** The most important user visible change is that you now need to activate
661 erc-completion-mode, to get TAB completion. The new completion code
662 is based on pcomplete. To get the old code, manually load
663 erc-complete and bind TAB to erc-complete in erc-mode-map.
665 To activate completion on startup, put (erc-completion-mode 1) in your
668 Same applies to timestamps. You no longer need to (require
669 'erc-stamp), you can customize the variable `erc-timestamp-mode', and
670 the rest should be automatic.
672 arch-tag: 2b21b387-6cdc-4192-889c-6743cfffdcb1