FreeBSD has a Discord server to socialize, get support, support others, learn, contribute, collaborate, and stay up to date on all things FreeBSD and Open Source.

Everyone is welcome to Join our FreeBSD Discord Server. This invitation will take you to our #lobby channel.

If the above invitation link doesn't work, use this FreeBSD Discord Invitation

Discord:

• is broadly accessible
• is popular with non-technical people
• broadens the appeal of FreeBSD beyond traditional spaces and audiences
• is commonly used by gaming communities, also used by many others
• has unique features that do not require a steep learning curve.

Our FreeBSD Discord server rules and guidelines are additional, and complementary, to the FreeBSD Code of Conduct.

While we don't have strict 'on-topic' rules, the following types of content are never acceptable, and are grounds for immediate removal without notice:

• NSFW or obscene content (including text, images, or links featuring nudity, sex, violence and other disturbing content)
• Links to, or sharing of, copyright or pirated material
• Content that is, or could be considered, discriminatory.

Note: It is challenging to describe crystal clear boundaries for including and excluding particular content, which means the above guidelines are not exhaustive. We expect community members to always exercise their best judgement, with the primary consideration and priority being the health and well-being of the FreeBSD community.

Please also note the following definitions of trolling or troll-like behaviour:

• Behaviour that is designed to cause an argument, flame war, heated debate, or anything along these lines;
• Making unsubstantiated statements or claims without providing evidence, especially when you attempt to claim others should provide the evidence or “Google it”;
• Making a statement that is obviously false or highly subjective, without providing evidence;
• Being obnoxious and attempting to get a “rise” out of another community member with clearly provocative language, statements, reactions, GIFs, etc.

Trolling behaviour will be treated accordingly by Community Helpers, and may result in being timed out, kicked from the community, or even banned, if warnings are not followed and behaviour isn't adjusted accordingly.

We want this server to be a welcoming space, so if you see something against the rules or that makes you feel unsafe, let us know. You can reach out to Community Helpers by using the @helper role and or using the #helpdesk channel under the “HELP & SUPPORT” category. You can also attempt to DM a @helper, but their personal Discord settings might make this difficult.

If you've made the move to FreeBSD on your desktop/laptop/device, and you're now wondering how you access the FreeBSD Discord (or just Discord in general), then read on.

Firstly, Discord does not provide an official build of their official client that runs natively on FreeBSD. Instead, we have to use one of a few options:

1. The Discord client via the browser - basically https://discord.gg/
2. A Electron “wrapper” around the official Discord client
3. A third-party client (please read the notice/warning)

Using Discord via the web browser is easy: you simply visit https://discord.gg/, login, and you're good to go.

Using the Electron “wrapper” is more involved, but well documented: https://github.com/SrWither/DiscordBSD

This one is recommended simply because it's the most up to date based on the last commit date.

Here is a list of third-party Discord clients, each with their own respective pros and cons, install instructions, and more:

1. gtkcord4 – net-im/gtkcord4
2. https://github.com/diamondburned/6cord (deprecated and marked a read-only! Be careful!)

Channels are organised into five high-level user-goal oriented categories, to help you find what you're looking for:

• SOCIALIZE - Connecting and enjoying time with other people in the community.
• HELP & SUPPORT - Getting help, helping and supporting others.
• LIVE - Real-time events, streams and other live content.
• LEARN & CONTRIBUTE - Leveling up knowledge, participating and contributing.
• PULSE - Staying informed and up-to-date.

Principles and guidelines that inform our behaviours, decision-making and evolution:

• Casual, relaxed, fun and authentic is the flavour here. ¹⁾
• Prioritize, leverage and focus on Discord's unique features. ²⁾
• Encourage, promote and reward innovative and unique or activity, content and creativity.
• Do things the community does little of or hasn't done before. Blaze a new trail.
• Default to and lean toward less-is-more as much as possible.
• Default to and lean toward as open, transparent and public as possible. ³⁾
• Default to and lean toward continuous progress, change and improvement. Nothing is set in stone. ⁴⁾
• Respect the user, their time and attention. Provide real value. ⁵⁾
• No engagement for engagement's sake. ⁶⁾
• Focus on outcomes, not (only) methods. ⁷⁾
• Balance dedicated spaces with/versus fragmented activity/groups. ⁸⁾
• Remove class distinctions (ideally to zero). Eg: “user”, “dev”, “committer”, “moderator”, etc.

• You! Get in touch!
• SeteshStrong (Discord: setesh) - Community Helper: Lead Helper
• LewisCook (Discord: lcook) - Retired, Original author of Pulsar
• VincentMilumJr (Discord: Vince (darkain))
• KubilayKocak (Discord: koobs)
• Biti (Discord: biti_tiger) - Community Helper: Bot Management
• MichaelCrilly (Discord: michaelcrilly) - Community Helper
• AhmadAbdulla (Discord: wolfquin) - Community Helper

Community Helpers are a team of people recruited from the FreeBSD community whose primary goal is to encourage and facilitate the highest-quality and best user and community experience possible.

Roadmap of things we're looking at to improve the experience on and management of our FreeBSD Discord server.

If you'd like to participate and contribute to our FreeBSD Discord Roadmap, discussion takes place in our #community channel

Absolutely! We are keen for members to reach out and talk about how we can best leverage and improve the Discord experience. Some ideas we'd love people to get involved with include:

• Brainstorm/Suggest unique and creative ideas or features.
• Provide bug reports and user experience feedback and suggestions.
• Actively promote Discord in other social media spaces, particularly those that may be new or curious to learn more about FreeBSD.
• Contribute to the Wiki page and its content[1].
• Participate and support other members on Discord.
• Run a live stream on a FreeBSD-related topic.
• Hang out in our live audio and video channels if you're comfortable doing so.

Even the smallest of ideas can go a long way, so get in touch on our Discord:#community channel.

We run a number of automated bots on our Discord server, currently:

• Pulsar. For:
  • freebsd doc, ports and src commits in the PULSE: #commits channel.
  • Reaction roles. Ability for people to join a “colour” role with the !role <colour> trigger
• Dyno. For:
  • Server change audit logging in PULSE: #discord channel.

IRC

• RHprKbvWJN (quarterly report)
• n2wshsy (FreeBSD Wiki)
• qr3XZ5ZM (13.0-RELEASE Party Audio)
• xv8BVD7T (13.0-RELEASE Party - #release-party)
• SYtJEeaDt8 (@FreeBSDHelp)
• AKXU6agYfV (LIVE:#livechat)
• kAUfqQekcx (Office Hours & AMA)
• JMJdurE2mK (Collabathon)
• VsGcCwTM (#community channel listed on CommunityHelpers)