AfterNET Matrix Server

We are experimenting with a new chat system called Matrix, and you can join us! Matrix is a next-gen open chat protocol designed to improve on IRC using modern tools.

AfterNET now runs an afternet.org matrix server, and it is bridged with IRC so you can join many AfterNET channels on matrix. We are now federated (connected with the rest of the matrix servers on the internet) so you can use an existing matrix account, or login with your afternet username/password.

Choose a client.. Matrix really shines on mobile platforms, where it isn't subject to disconnects and battery drain the way mobile IRC clients are.

• iPhone users: Check out Element's app in the app store
• Android users: Check out Element in google play or f-droid
• Desktop users: Get a copy from The Element Download page
• In-Browser: You can also just use your browser: AfterNET Element Web App

• On the initial screen, choose “Log In”
• Click the box next to “Custom server options”
• Enter the server url: https://matrix.afternet.org
• For username and password, use your existing AfterNET account

Channels from IRC show up as #channelname:afternet.org so to join a channel you can enter

/join #mychannel:afternet.org

Or, just find it in the list. Your matrix user will show up on IRC with a [m] after their nick, and if you grant ops to this user, the riot client will have access to manage the corisponding matrix room.

Matrix is federated, meaning you can communicate with it across networks/servers. So if you already have a mozilla or matrix.org account, you can participate in AfterNET from there (and vice versa)

From our (or any) matrix server, you can also join bridged irc channels from other places

• /join #_oftc_#linux:matrix.org #joins you to the #linux channel on OFTC via matrix.orgs public irc bridge
• /join #libera:libera.chat #joins you to the #libera channel on the libera.chat irc network

After you join a bridged irc channel, you will get a message from the bridge management bot, sometimes called @appservice-irc. Using this bot you can control your IRC doppleganger, including setup its username and password for services (nickserv) on the network.

Keep in mind this is all very new, and a little fresh, so it is not perfect!

When you join an IRC bridged channel, our services create a fake connection under your nick on IRC. If you talk on matrix (Say, using the element web client) this fake-you on irc will talk. This provides a 2-way bridge between matrix and IRC.

The first time you join a bridged channel (Maybe by typing /join #afternet:afternet.org) you will get a message from our bridge bot, @appservice-irc:afternet.org. You can send this bot !help to see what it can do, but the first thing you should do is configure your irc-self to be logged in as you. To do this, use the !storepass <your afternet password> command.

It is possible, due to the federated nature of Matrix, to also use other people's IRC bridges, to get to IRC networks besides Afternet, such as Libera:

/join #libera:libera.chat

Many libera channels require registration, so you may need to setup your nickserv password with libera's IRC bridge user (@appservice:libera.chat)