ft_irc# IRC 42 Project - Hive Helsinki

Overview

This project is an IRC server built from scratch in C++ as part of Hive Helsinki's curriculum. It follows the IRC protocol defined in RFC standards (RFC 1459, RFC 2813) and implements fundamental networking concepts without external libraries.

Project Goals

• Develop a fully functional IRC server that can handle multiple clients.
• Implement IRC commands according to protocol specifications.
• Ensure robust networking, efficient message parsing, and concurrency.
• Write comprehensive tests for stability and performance.
• Collaborate using the open-floor agenda/self-selection principle.

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Collaboration Guidelines

1. Open-Floor Agenda & Self-Selection

Instead of assigning fixed roles, we will operate based on self-selection:

• Team members choose tasks from the available TODO list.
• Work is done in dedicated Git branches.
• Code is reviewed through pull requests before merging into main.

2. Git Workflow

• Main Branch (main): Holds stable, tested code.
• Feature Branches: Each task or feature gets a separate branch.
• Pull Requests: Before merging, team members review each other's code.

3. Communication & Documentation

• Use GitHub Issues to track tasks and discussions.
• Write clear commit messages ([Feature] Implement JOIN command).
• Maintain a well-structured README & Wiki for easy onboarding.

TODO Task outline (choose and implement)

Basic IRC Server - Todo List Phase 1: Core Server & Networking Server Setup Create a Server class Implement socket creation, binding, listening Set the server socket to non-blocking mode Use poll()/select() to manage connections Handle errors using errno and strerror()

Client Management
    Develop a ClientHandler (or Connection) class with:
        Socket descriptor, input/output buffers, connection state
    Maintain active client connections in a container (e.g., std::vector)

Phase 2: IRC Protocol Parsing & Message Handling Message Parsing Create a Message class Store prefix, command, and parameters (using std::string_view) Develop a parsing routine with unit tests

Command Dispatch
    Build a CommandParser module
        Map command strings (e.g., "NICK", "JOIN") to handler functions
        Optionally use std::variant for type-safe command representation

Phase 3: Core IRC Commands User Registration Implement a User class with attributes: nickname, username, etc.

    Create command handlers:
        handleNick() for the NICK command
        handleUser() for the USER command

Channel Management
    Develop a Channel class to manage channel names and user lists
    Implement:
        handleJoin() for channel joining
        Optionally implement handlePart() for leaving channels

Messaging & Disconnect Implement handlePrivmsg(): Differentiate between channel and direct messages using efficient string handling

    Implement handleQuit() to cleanly disconnect clients and clean up resources

How to Contribute

1. Pick a task from the TODO list.

2. Create a feature branch (feature-join-command).

3. Work on the implementation.

4. Submit a pull request for team review.

5. Discuss improvements, merge into main, and repeat!