====== Official FreeBSD IRC Channels on Libera Chat ======

**Libera Chat is now %%FreeBSD%%'s primary and official IRC network and presence.**

You can find our official home at libera.chat: #freebsd IRC channel (ircs:%%//%%irc.libera.chat/#freebsd)

If you need help or support, please reach out on #freebsd-irc (ircs:%%//%%irc.libera.chat/#freebsd-irc) or <irc@FreeBSD.org>.

===== How to engage with the community =====

  * [[https://libera.chat/guides/connect|Connect to Libera Chat: irc.libera.chat]] in their IRC client

  * **Share this post** on your social and other communication networks to help our communication effort

  * **Register your nickname**: ''%%/ns help register%%''. If your nickname has already been registered, reach out to staff @ #libera

  * **Update documentation**, blog posts, etc, replacing %%FreeBSD%% freenode network or channel references with Libera Chat counterparts

===== Additional Information =====

Our decision to use Libera Chat centered on the following motivations, considerations and success criteria:

  * Minimise disruption for the %%FreeBSD%% community, now and potentially in the future
  * Minimise management/structure/support changes required (channel namespaces, registration, cloaks, setup etc)
  * Minimise broader %%OpenSource%% Community/Project fragmentation
  * Confidence level in current/future $network operations and reliability
  * Support level available from $network staff

We consulted with individuals in the %%FreeBSD%% and broader %%OpenSource%% Project Community for their thoughts and feedback, where along with the growing consensus in the [[/IRC|decisions other Open Source Projects made]], Libera Chat represented the best present option for a reliable IRC home for the community.

From here, after already securing our Libera Chat #freebsd* namespace, registered and official
Group Contacts and our main channels, we'll be:

  * Updating documentation and IRC network references
  * Communicating the changes as best we can
  * Discussing / planning what the future may hold

If you're interested in this space or you have any questions, please reach out at <irc@FreeBSD.org> or jump in #freebsd-irc (ircs:%%//%%irc.libera.chat/#freebsd-irc)