You'll also have to do some editing to include only some quoted text from the original message (ideally including the poster's name) and no text from the other postings in the digest.
9.1.2. How Does It Work?
The Fedora lists are managed by Mailman (the GNU mailing-list manager software), which in turn is available as part of Fedora Core.
Mailing lists are used for communication because they are easy to use, asynchronous (users don't have to be logged in at the same time, which is important when crossing time zones), and not very bandwidth-intensive. They are also very flexible on the client side, providing access from a wide range of software and network configurations.
9.1.3. What About...
9.1.3.1. ...posting to a mailing list when a disposable email address is used to subscribe to the list?
You will need to create an email account configuration that lets you post from the alias address. This requires an email client that can handle multiple sending accounts.
To use the Evolution client to send email from a disposable address, add a new account under Edit→Preference with your name and the disposable email address, a receiving server type of None, and a sending server type of Sendmail. When sending a message to the list, select the disposable email address from the pull-down list labeled From in the mail composition window.
9.1.3.2. ...subscribing to a Fedora list in nondigest mode without having the list messages cluttering up my email inbox?
Use your email client's filtering capabilities to move all of the list-related email to a separate mailbox. This will make it easy to scan the subject lines of the list postings and reply to individual messages without touching your main mailbox.
To configure this using Evolution, select the menu option Tools→Filter and create a new rule: if the message's sender contains the name of your list (such as fedora-devel-list), then move the message to a folder that you have created (such as fedora-devel).
9.1.4. Where Can I Learn More?
The Fedora Project communication page can be found at http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicate
The Red Hat mailing lists: http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo
The Fedora mailing-list guidelines are located at http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/MailinglistGuidelines
The Mailman web page: http://www.list.org
The Mailman documentation in /usr/share/doc/mailman*
9.2. Using IRC
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a network-based, multiserver chat/instant message system. While mailing lists provide asynchronous communication, IRC provides almost-immediate, synchronous communication. You can use it to participate in online planning meetings, discuss development, or exchange support advice.
9.2.1. How Do I Do That?
There are many different IRC client programs available.
To use the IRC client XChat, select the menu option Applications→Internet→IRC, or run the command xchat. The window shown in Figure 9-1 will appear.
Figure 9-1. XChat server-list window
XChat will propose a first, second, and third nickname based on the username and actual name (GECOS field) of the account you're using. Edit these values if desired, select the FreeNode network, and click Connect. Figure 9-2 shows the main XChat window and introductory message that will appear.
Figure 9-2. XChat main window
To join a specific channel, select the menu option Window→Channel List. When the channel-list window shown in Figure 9-3 appears, enter fedora into the Regex Match field and click Apply. Select the channel you wish to join from the list and click Join Channel.
Figure 9-3. XChat channel list
The main XChat window will now show a list of users down the right side and a tab containing your selected channel at the bottom of the screen, as in Figure 9-4 . In some cases, the server will redirect you to an alternate channel such as fedora-join-instructions to assist you with registering or authenticating.
Figure 9-4. XChat connected to a channel
If you have never connected to the FreeNode network with your selected nickname, enter this command in the field at the bottom of the XChat window:
/msg nickserv register yourSecretPassword
This will send a private message to the nickserv program to register your nickname with the specified password.
Don't use your system password for IRC because it could be read by a third party. Create a separate password exclusively for use with IRC.
If you're visiting the FreeNode network with a nickname that you have already registered, authenticate to nickserv by typing:
/msg nickserv identify yourSecretPassword
If you were redirected to another channel such as fedora-join-instructions , you can switch to the channel you originally wanted to join now. Either select the channel from the list that appears after selecting the menu option Window→Channel List (Figure 9-3), or use the /join command:
/join # fedora
You can now view messages in the large pane of the XChat window or enter messages in the text field at the bottom of the window. To find out about a specific user, right-click on that username and select the name from the pop-up list that will appear. XChat will display basic information about that user.
To send a private message to another user, use the /msg command:
/msg susan Have you installed FC6 on your new laptop yet?
In the message pane, when on a public channel, outbound private messages are identified by angle-brackets pointing at the username:
>olgovie< | I don't think that will work.
When other users send a private message to you, that message will appear in a separate tab at the bottom of the screen. The label text on a tab will turn red if there are unread messages on that tab, providing you with an easy way of monitoring multiple channels and several private conversations at the same time. Messages that you enter while a private tab is active are automatically private, even without the use of /msg user at the start of the line.
IRC communication has a unique flavor. It's a good idea to lurk on a channel for a little while to get a sense of the discussion tone and key players before jumping into the conversation. Because IRC is immediate, answers to questions may not be as carefully reasoned out as those received through the mailing listsso beware!