Mostly just looking for feedback, and sharing my ramblings.
After investigating alternatives, I'm probably just going to self-host an IRC server via Ergo: https://github.com/ergochat/ergo
Integrate user authentication with the LDAP plugin for single sign-on.
Ergo is very feature rich e.g.,
integrated services: NickServ for user accounts, ChanServ for channel registration, and HostServ for vanity hosts
bouncer-like features: storing and replaying history, allowing multiple clients to use the same nicknam
Might be able to embed the lounge directly on site? Will have to see.
If you want to take on the responsibility of hosting and maintaining an IRC server, on top of your duties handling the forum and the Vault, I wish you luck.
The benefits of a self-hosted server is, of course, more control and extensibility. However, much of the common services Ergo provides is already included in Rizon, a network that has been around for more than two decades and hasn't given us much friction while using it.
I understand the appeal of integrating HQ accounts with chat, but that alone doesn't seem like strong enough reason to jump ship. If we were on an unstable or problematic server, then yes, we should absolutely move.
In general, I don't support integrating data between the forum and chat; keep them separate.
If there is a high priority to only allow active forum users in good standing access to the channel, there are alternatives: requiring a certain number of posts before providing instructions to join the chat or stricter moderation.
tl;dr: This seems like more work when Rizon carries much of the burden and hasn't given us a reason (yet) to leave.
Last edited by Nemesis on May 2nd, 2024, 03:08, edited 3 times in total.
