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Build an IRC Server

Build an IRC server like ircd/Ergo: client registration, channels with modes, PRIVMSG routing, PING/PONG keepalive, server-to-server federation, IRCv3 capability negotiation + message tags + SASL, and the chat protocol that ran open-source communities for 35+ years.

intermediate10 lessons4 chapters10 graded exercisesPython

No sign-up needed for lesson 1 · certificate on completion · sign up to save progress

What you’ll have built

Chapter by chapter. Every step is a graded exercise.

  • IRC Basics
  • Channels & Messaging
  • Server Architecture
  • Modern IRC
Starts in Python — solve in the language you choose in the editor, same tests either way.

Curriculum

4 chapters, 10 lessons. Each lesson is a short read, one graded exercise, and a quiz.

  1. 1IRC: 1988 Until TodayRead · exercise · quiz
  2. 2Client RegistrationRead · exercise · quiz
  3. 3Channels & ModesRead · exercise · quiz
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Build an IRC Server