Change main way to get help from IRC to Discord within Mudlet

[vadi2]

Brief summary of issue / Description of requested feature:

IRC is still the main in-client to get help for stuff with Mudlet yet we haven't used it for years, and in this year Discord has overtaken it as an actually active community (400+ members).

Error output / Expected result of feature

1. Keep the IRC as it is still useful, but perhaps as a submenu of the Discord button.
2. Add Discord link to menu bar where IRC is as well.
3. Make the Discord app open up if it's installed on the users computer, or an external browser window (see QDesktopServices::openUrl) otherwise pointing to Mudlets help room: https://discord.gg/kuYvMQ9

[SlySven]

Um, doesn't one have to sign-up and agree their T&Cs to be a member of this new fangled Discord thingy, including given them a licence to any code that gets posted? Perhaps we should make the gitter link more prominent? Remember IRC on the other hand is: mature, stable accessible via a variety of client applications (or even a web browser, like Dicord is)...

Oh, and that Discord link gets redirected to: https://discordapp.com/invite/kuYvMQ9 ...

Are there any issue with the requirement to meet their "branding" requirement should we include a button to connect to their site in our GPLed product?

[vadi2]

Gitter is not as easy to use as Discord - a new user without an account has to jump through way less hoops to use Discord.

I don't think you give Discord a license to any posted code, but that is unrelated anyway, you can still use gitter for code if you'd like. This is for user support and if someone doesn't like they can always use our forums.

Yeah, IRC is stable, mature, and dead. Mudlet's channel has been inactive for years, it's quite proof that it did not catch on with the general population!

[SlySven]

I dunno - 20 odd years ago me and the now long-Ex-wife used to spend hours on mIRC - including chatting to the guy (Andy Davidson) who created Worms amongst others...! Ironically I thing that program was the only share-ware program I ever bought a licence for!

[Kebap]

20-30 years ago IRC was the best. Its popularity has steadily declined, especially outside tech-savvy circles. I hear some people never leave facbook, not even use e-mails anymore.

Freenode still seems to be the correct choice here: http://royal.pingdom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/irc.002.jpg

I for one still lurk in the Mudlet IRC channels a lot and every couple days somebody comes in to say hi or ask a question, only to leave again after few minutes of silence. Then again, many users join via Mudlet client (you can see from their generic nickname) and never say anything at all.

I try promoting Discord every now & then, it is also mentioned in the channel's topic message, however some users flat-out refuse to join Discord, not sure why.

Nevertheless, there are seldom more than 10 users logged in simultaneusly, which is absolutely smashed by the activity in Discord.

Then again, Gitter I would reserve for more detailed discussions closely related to actual development, not for general public help and chit chat. Not sure where to draw the line between #development in Discord and Gitter though.

As for the proposed change, can you have a drop-down menu appear after clicking a button? So to say button "Help" or "Chat" and then sub-menu with "Discord" and "IRC" with explicit tooltip about their usage by Mudlet crowd or lack thereof.

[wiploo]

IRC chat is abandoned and have message about using discord!

Discord is like IRC, but better, why we continue to support old, barely used, less user-friendly protocol?

Lightweight the installer, remove library/code.

Add discord link to menù and remove old, blamed IRC!! Upvote this! (LOL)

[vadi2]

Yep we have to change the main link within Mudlet

But IRC in Mudlet will stay for now, it's helpful to use as communication - I know systems that are using it