Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Freenode

Freenode was an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network founded in 1995 as a support channel on , which later developed into a primary communication platform for (FOSS) developers and peer-directed projects. Originally known as the Open Projects Network (OPN), it rebranded to freenode and, under founder Rob Levin until his death in 2006, expanded to support thousands of channels hosting discussions for major FOSS initiatives, establishing itself as the largest IRC network dedicated to such communities by the early 2000s. The network's growth reflected IRC's role in early collaborative software development, with freenode facilitating interaction for projects lacking modern alternatives like or at the time. It maintained a policy emphasizing group contacts for project channels to prevent , fostering organized use by legitimate developers. However, freenode faced operational challenges, including DDoS attacks in that disrupted service. In May 2021, a governance crisis erupted when Andrew Lee, claiming ownership through a related entity, asserted control, prompting over a dozen staff resignations amid allegations of policy violations and affiliate revenue redirection; this led to a mass exodus of users and projects to networks like . The events, rooted in unclear succession after Christel Dahlskjaer's leadership, eroded freenode's trust as a neutral venue, though the network persisted with reduced activity.

History

Founding and Early Development

Freenode originated in the early as a small / support channel named #LinPeople, initially comprising four participants on the IRC network. The channel was founded by Rob Levin, known online as "lilo," who established it under the earlier moniker #linuxneo before renaming it to focus on community assistance. As participation increased, the group relocated the channel to the network and subsequently to in search of greater stability and capacity. By 1995, the community had outgrown hosted channels on larger networks, prompting the launch of an IRC under the domain irc.linpeople.org, marking freenode's transition to a standalone network. This move enabled direct control over operations and policies tailored to open-source enthusiasts. Early growth emphasized peer-directed collaboration, with the network attracting developers through its focus on and project discussions rather than commercial or off-topic channels. In the late , the network rebranded as the Open Projects Network (OPN) to better reflect its expanding role in hosting channels for initiatives, solidifying its niche among FOSS communities by the early 2000s. Levin's leadership, as head of the associated Peer-Directed Projects nonprofit formed later, underscored a commitment to non-commercial, community-driven governance during this foundational phase.

Integration with Peer-Directed Projects Center

In 2002, the Open Projects Network rebranded to freenode and integrated with the newly founded Peer-Directed Projects Center (PDPC), a Texas-based non-profit established by Levin to provide administrative, legal, and financial oversight for the IRC network. PDPC operated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity dedicated to supporting peer-directed projects, with freenode designated as its primary service to facilitate discussions and collaboration in open-source and free software communities. This integration formalized freenode's operations by channeling donations through PDPC, which managed and funded infrastructure, events like Freenode Live conferences, and community programs without direct commercial interests. Levin, as PDPC's , positioned the organization to promote "peer-directed" initiatives, emphasizing volunteer-driven over hierarchical control, though PDPC retained ultimate on network policies and resources. PDPC's charter extended beyond freenode to broader initiatives, such as grants for collaborative tools and on peer production models, but freenode remained its core asset, attracting major projects like the , which adopted it as an official IRC network that year. The structure insulated freenode from individual dependencies, enabling sustained growth amid increasing user bases, though it later faced challenges post-Levin's 2006 death when leadership transitioned to figures like Christel Dahlskjaer. PDPC dissolved in , transferring responsibilities back to freenode staff, but the integration had by then embedded non-profit principles into the network's ethos.

Operational Growth and Pre-2021 Incidents

Following the integration with the Peer-Directed Projects Center in 2007, Freenode underwent significant operational expansion to accommodate growing demand from communities. The network increased its server infrastructure, establishing links across multiple geographic regions including , , and to improve connectivity and reduce latency. By the late , Freenode hosted thousands of channels dedicated to projects such as , , and , solidifying its role as a central hub for collaborative development. In 2010, Freenode emerged as the largest IRC network specifically oriented toward discussions. This growth continued, with the network surpassing all others in overall size by , encompassing tens of thousands of active channels and peaking at over concurrent users in the years leading up to 2021. The expansion was supported by volunteer staff implementing features like staff cloaking and Q-lines to combat and abuse, maintaining network reliability amid rising usage. Pre-2021, Freenode encountered few large-scale operational disruptions, with routine challenges such as occasional net splits and campaigns managed effectively through community-driven policies. No major security breaches or DDoS attacks significantly impacting operations were publicly documented during this period. The network's stability allowed it to sustain growth without substantial interruptions, though underlying governance tensions related to and incorporation began simmering around 2017.

2021 Ownership Takeover and Staff Exodus

In 2017, Freenode's then-head of staff, Christel Dahlskjaer, incorporated the network under Freenode Limited and transferred ownership to Andrew Lee, a tech entrepreneur and founder of , with the stated intent of providing legal protection without altering day-to-day volunteer operations. Tensions escalated in early when Lee began intervening more directly, including the appearance of his other company Shells' logo on Freenode's website in February, which staff viewed as a breach of the non-interference agreement. Lee appointed new staff members aligned with his vision and sought to formalize governance changes, prompting accusations from volunteers of overreach. On May 19, 2021, 22 Freenode staff members resigned en masse, publishing open letters describing Lee's moves—including unilateral staff appointments and access revocations—as a "" that undermined the network's community-driven ethos. The resignations effectively stripped the network of its experienced volunteer leadership, with staffers like (Christian) citing a decade of service ended by perceived betrayal of trust in Lee's legal ownership claims. In response, the departing team immediately launched as a , inviting users and projects to migrate for preserved open governance free from corporate control. Lee countered that the resignations stemmed from internal staff harassment and factionalism rather than his assertions, insisting his actions restored rightful control over assets he had financed and legally held, and explicitly denying any "." On May 25, 2021, under Lee's direction, new management seized control of over 700 project channels—many belonging to open-source communities—often without notice, further accelerating user defections. This exodus included major projects like , , and , which relocated to or alternatives like OFTC, reducing Freenode's peak user count from around 90,000 to under 20,000 within weeks. The events highlighted underlying disputes over whether Freenode's informal volunteer model could coexist with formal corporate .

Technical Characteristics

Server Software and Infrastructure

Freenode operated its IRC network using ircd-seven, a custom IRC server daemon developed and maintained by the Freenode staff. This software, hosted on under the freenode organization, supported the network's high-volume traffic and specific operational needs, including advanced user modes and channel management features. Version 1.1.8 of ircd-seven was released and deployed to production servers in June 2019, incorporating improvements for stability and performance. The infrastructure consisted of a cluster of dedicated physical servers distributed across data centers in , , and to optimize and provide redundancy. These servers ran operating systems, as evidenced by a 2014 security compromise involving a backdoor module that affected multiple hosts. To expand capacity, Freenode solicited sponsorships for new servers, requiring minimum hardware such as a or equivalent processor on dedicated machines with reliable connectivity. Following the 2021 ownership changes, the network transitioned to InspIRCd as its software, diverging from the prior ircd-seven implementation. This shift accompanied broader operational alterations, though details on post-transition hardware remained limited.

Network Features and Policies

Freenode operated as an IRC network emphasizing support for projects and peer-directed communities, utilizing standard IRC protocols with extensions for enhanced and . Users connected via servers supporting IRCv3 capabilities, including SASL for plaintext or certificate-based to registered nicknames, which required email verification for account creation. This was mandatory for joining channels set to +R, restricting access to users to mitigate and abuse. Channel management featured founder-based registration through NickServ, granting the registrant control over access lists, successors, and modes such as +i (invite-only) or +k (keyed entry). policy reserved specific namespaces, like single #channel for registered groups with verifiable , while unregistered or inactive channels risked Q-line restrictions or reclamation to prevent . Group registrations allowed projects to affiliate multiple channels under a unified , requiring public contact information and adherence to network guidelines on founder identification. User modes included +i for invisibility to non-matching queries, +R to block unregistered private messages, +Z indicating SSL/TLS connection, and +Q disabling forced nickname changes or forwarding. The network enforced no-logging of public or private chats by operators, though users could maintain personal logs, with policies cautioning against sharing personal data. Channels operated under operator-defined rules aligned with network recommendations, such as primary English communication, avoidance of politics or religion, and sensitivity to younger audiences by restricting explicit content. Spam, floods, and harassment triggered akills or klines from staff, prioritizing project-focused discussions over general chat.

Governance and Ownership

Evolving Staff and Decision-Making Structures

Freenode's staff structure originated as a volunteer-driven model, with decisions made collaboratively among network administrators, operators, and elected team leads responsible for areas such as , , projects, and communities. This self-governance emphasized democratic processes, where team heads were elected by staff to maintain operational independence, even after the formation of Freenode Limited in and its sale to Andrew Lee in 2017, with assurances that the owner would not interfere in day-to-day network management. Tensions emerged in February 2021 when then-head Christel Dahlskjaer added a logo for Shells—a owned by —to the Freenode website without staff consultation, prompting objections over the association with Shells' CTO, Karpeles, and leading to her resignation in March 2021. In April 2021, remaining staff elected Tom Wesley (known as "tomaw") as the new project lead to continue volunteer-led operations. However, began asserting greater authority, including removing a staff-published blog post on leadership transitions and the adoption of IRC software, shutting down a test network without discussion, and registering channels like #freenode-board outside established protocols. By May 11–12, 2021, issued formal notices claiming legal ownership of the network through Freenode Limited and demanding compliance, which staff interpreted as a hostile centralization of power that bypassed elected structures. This culminated in the mass resignation of 20–30 volunteer members on May 19, 2021, including key figures like (Christian), amdj, edk, emilsp, , JonathanD, Md, mniip, niko, njan, and Swant, who cited the forced removal of elected team heads and the erosion of as irreconcilable with the network's community-oriented principles. countered that he had provided financial support since 2013 and held rightful ownership since 2017, framing staff actions as unauthorized attempts to undermine his authority. Post-resignations, decision-making shifted to a top-down model under Lee's direct oversight, with tomaw aligning with the new regime and new appointments such as as Head of Staff and as Head of Infrastructure, reflecting a prioritizing owner directives over prior volunteer . This evolution marked a departure from Freenode's longstanding emphasis on distributed, peer-led administration toward corporate-style control, contributing to the exodus and the formation of successor networks like with explicit commitments to elected boards and transparency.

Legal and Financial Underpinnings

Freenode's governance was underpinned by the (PDPC), a Texas-incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 2002 to serve as its fiscal sponsor, managing legal liabilities and channeling donations for operational costs such as server infrastructure and community events. PDPC's structure allowed Freenode to maintain a volunteer-driven model without direct monetization, though it introduced a divide between financial oversight and on-the-ground staff decision-making, with the former holding ultimate asset control. To formalize asset ownership, Freenode Limited—a private without share capital—was incorporated in on 29 July 2016 (company number 10308021), tasked with holding the freenode.net domain, trademarks, and related . In , head staffer Christel Dahlskjaer transferred ownership of this entity to Andrew Lee, founder of , who became its sole director; this move, reportedly tied to sponsorship arrangements, vested Lee with legal authority over core network elements despite the absence of community-wide consultation. Financially, Freenode eschewed user fees, advertising, or commercial services, relying exclusively on voluntary donations solicited through PDPC's targeted campaigns within (FOSS) communities. These funds covered bandwidth, hardware, and occasional legal expenses, but public disclosures were minimal, reflecting the non-profit's low-overhead approach; PDPC's around 2017 shifted reliance toward private contributions, including from , amplifying his leverage in subsequent control assertions. The 2021 by invoked this and history, positioning it as a reclamation of invested resources amid staff claims of opaque prior arrangements.

Key Figures

Rob Levin

Rob Levin (December 16, 1955 – September 16, 2006), known online as "lilo," founded the Freenode IRC network, initially as the Open Projects Network (OPN) in 1994, to provide dedicated chat services for developers. Starting as the #linuxneo channel on before migrating to independent servers, OPN emphasized peer-directed collaboration and grew into a central hub for (FOSS) communities, hosting channels for projects including and the GNU Project. Levin served as executive director of the Peer-Directed Projects Center (PDPC), the nonprofit formed in 2002 to support Freenode's operations through donations and infrastructure. Under Levin's leadership, Freenode prioritized non-commercial, project-focused IRC usage, distinguishing it from larger networks by enforcing policies against , flooding, and off-topic channels while fostering real-time communication for distributed teams. He personally managed network administration and staff recruitment, often operating on limited resources; by the mid-2000s, Levin and his family resided in a near Houston, Texas, reflecting his commitment to sustaining the network without aggressive monetization. His efforts helped Freenode become one of the largest IRC networks, serving thousands of users and enabling coordination for major initiatives. On September 12, 2006, Levin was struck by a car while in , sustaining severe head injuries that led to a ; he died four days later in a local hospital's neuro-trauma unit at age 50. Following his death, PDPC board member Christel Dahlskjaer assumed interim leadership, incorporating a UK-based entity to continue operations, though Levin's vision shaped Freenode's ethos until the 2021 controversies. Tributes from communities like and highlighted his pivotal role in providing accessible IRC infrastructure for collaborative development.

Andrew Lee and Post-2021 Leadership

Andrew Lee, an American entrepreneur and founder of the VPN service (launched in 2010), acquired ownership of Freenode Limited in 2017 from Christel Dahlskjaer, the then-head of staff, who had incorporated the entity that year. Lee had been a major sponsor of the network since 2013, providing servers and funding through his companies, and stated his intention to continue supporting its operations without altering its volunteer-driven model at the time of acquisition. Following the May 2021 assertion of operational control—which departing described as a but which characterized as legitimate enforcement of his ownership rights— assumed the role of and Chairman of freenode limited, appointing new and restructuring governance. He emphasized the network's commitment to (FOSS) communities, publishing statements reaffirming its dedication to serving developers and prohibiting commercial exploitation. Under Lee's direction, freenode partnered with FOSSHOST in 2021 to provide infrastructure support for FOSS projects hosted on the network, aiming to enable users to focus on core missions without operational burdens. Lee's post-2021 leadership included initiatives to expand IRC's reach, such as launching IRC.com in June 2021 as a modern gateway to the freenode network, marketed as a revival of IRC for broader accessibility. He outlined plans to "take IRC further" through enhancements and community empowerment, positioning freenode as a hub for innovation in chat technologies. However, these efforts coincided with a sharp decline in user base and channel activity; by late 2021, peak concurrent users had fallen below 10,000 from pre-takeover highs exceeding 90,000, as major projects and communities migrated to alternatives like . In August 2021, Lee declared freenode the "Official Digital Territory of the Empire," tying it to his self-proclaimed status as heir to the Korean throne—a claim rooted in his personal background but lacking recognition from mainstream historical or governmental sources. This announcement, signed by Lee as "HIH Andrew Lee of the Empire," drew criticism for blending corporate control with unsubstantiated monarchical assertions, further eroding trust among remaining users. Despite ongoing operations as of 2024, freenode under Lee's leadership has remained a niche network, with limited recovery in participation and persistent allegations from former staff of channel seizures and data access overreaches, which Lee has denied as misrepresentations of legal authority.

Controversies and Criticisms

Operator Abuses and Pre-Takeover Issues

Prior to the 2021 takeover, Freenode's volunteer network staff, endowed with operator privileges enabling network-wide bans (klines), drew complaints for inconsistent and perceived arbitrary enforcement. Instances of users protesting "unfair klines" appeared in public channel logs as early as , where individuals contested bans issued by staff in the #freenode , viewing them as disproportionate or mishandled. Such actions stemmed from staff discretion in addressing , , or policy violations, but lacked formalized processes, fostering perceptions of caprice among affected users. Channel-level operators, often overlapping with network staff, exhibited aggressive moderation in certain communities. For example, in the #raspberrypi channel, users reported operators employing pointedly capricious tactics, including swift kicks, bans, and topic changes without clear justification, alienating participants despite the channel's informal "blessed" status by the . These behaviors reflected broader IRC norms where operator powers prioritized rapid control over deliberative fairness, yet amplified distrust when applied unevenly. Internal staff dynamics revealed further strains, including allegations of misconduct. Owner Andrew Lee claimed that Christine Dahlskjaer's February resulted from "persistent " by a team overseen by senior tomaw, pointing to a pattern of volunteer operators leveraging their influence to undermine . Resigning , including tomaw, rejected these accusations, attributing tensions to disputes over enforcement and rather than personal . These episodes underscored causal vulnerabilities in Freenode's decentralized structure, where unchecked intersected with opaque , eroding internal cohesion without empirical metrics for accountability.

Perspectives on the 2021 Takeover

The 2021 Freenode takeover, culminating in Lee's assertion of direct control over the network's operations, generated polarized views among staff, users, and open-source communities. Former volunteer staff, who had managed day-to-day operations for years, described the events as a , arguing that Lee's actions breached implicit understandings from his 2017 acquisition of Freenode Limited via a sponsorship , which was intended to exclude him from governance. Specific grievances included Lee's of his company Shells on the Freenode website in February 2021, the abrupt shutdown of a staff-led test network in April 2021, and demands for elevated access privileges, which staff interpreted as attempts to undermine their autonomy and access user data without consent. On May 19, 2021, at least 11 senior staff resigned en masse, citing an intolerable erosion of trust and a shift away from Freenode's volunteer-driven, non-profit toward corporate oversight. In response, the resigning staff promptly launched on the same day, relocating servers and channels to establish a successor network explicitly committed to supporting (FOSS) projects through decentralized, community-governed operations. This migration was framed not as an abandonment but as a preservation of Freenode's original principles amid perceived threats to transparency and independence. Prominent FOSS initiatives, such as and , followed suit within days, announcing shifts to and voicing concerns over channel seizures on Freenode—particularly those referencing the new network—as evidence of retaliatory overreach. By May 25, 2021, had attracted over 16,500 simultaneous connections, underscoring broad community alignment with the staff's critique. Andrew , Freenode's legal owner through his control of the domain and associated company since 2017, rejected the narrative, asserting instead that his interventions countered a staff-led bid since March 2021 to wrest control of network assets from him. He characterized the resignations as disproportionate and maintained that Freenode remained dedicated to communities, with actions like channel interventions aimed at eliminating rather than suppressing . Lee positioned himself as a long-term benefactor—having sponsored events and infrastructure—defending his role in refactoring the network to sustain its viability against internal dysfunction.

Legacy and Successors

Achievements in FOSS Communities

Freenode established itself as a cornerstone for collaboration in (FOSS) communities by providing a dedicated IRC network focused on peer-directed, non-commercial projects starting in 1995. Originally launched to support Linux-related discussions, it evolved into the platform for real-time developer interactions, hosting channels for major initiatives such as (#debian), (#gnome), (#kde), and (#openstack). This infrastructure facilitated decentralized coordination among volunteer contributors worldwide, enabling efficient exchanges on code reviews, bug triage, and feature implementation without reliance on tools. The network's scale amplified its utility for FOSS growth, peaking at over 90,000 concurrent users by March 2021, with a substantial portion engaged in activities across thousands of specialized channels. Prior to the widespread adoption of alternatives like or , Freenode served as the primary venue for mentoring newcomers, resolving technical issues, and organizing virtual meetups, thereby lowering for distributed teams. Projects like , , and various subgroups leveraged its channels for ongoing support and development discussions, contributing to the maturation of ecosystems that underpin modern computing. By maintaining a volunteer-operated, -centric environment, Freenode promoted principles of and , allowing communities to thrive independently of corporate agendas for over two decades. Its emphasis on group contacts and project advocacy helped sustain long-term engagement, as evidenced by the migration patterns of enduring channels to successor networks post-2021, underscoring its foundational role in building resilient networks.

Decline, Migrations, and Current Status

In May 2021, a governance crisis at Freenode escalated when a majority of staff resigned en masse, citing concerns over control asserted by the network's owner, Andrew Lee, whom they accused of attempting a through legal maneuvers and demands for access to infrastructure. This triggered the rapid formation of on May 19, 2021, by the departing staff, who prioritized continuity for (FOSS) communities. The resignations prompted widespread migrations, with prominent FOSS projects transferring their channels to to preserve independence and avoid perceived risks of or abuse under the new regime. Examples include on May 20, 2021; ; Vox Pupuli Puppet modules; ; ; and the . Dozens of other organizations followed suit within weeks, eroding Freenode's dominance as a FOSS hub. Freenode's user base plummeted as a result, with trends showing substantial declines in concurrent connections post-May 2021. On June 15, 2021, administrators reset the network's database and restarted operations from scratch, wiping user histories and channels, which accelerated and further depressed activity levels. As of October 2025, Freenode persists as an IRC network with volunteer staff managing servers accessible via irc.freenode.net on standard ports (e.g., 6667 , 6697 TLS), hosting channels like #freenode, #, and # for residual users. Recent additions include Freenode Radio for music streams, indicating ongoing but limited maintenance efforts. However, it operates as a diminished entity, overshadowed by Libera.Chat's growth and retaining primarily niche or non-FOSS communities, amid reports of intermittent server outages and eroded trust from the 2021 events.

References

  1. [1]
    Freenode - IRC.info
    History. The freenode began as a four-person Linux support channel called #LinPeople on EFnet, another IRC network. By 1995, after moving to Undernet, and ...
  2. [2]
    Freenode Debacle Prompts Staff Exodus, New Network - Hackaday
    May 20, 2021 · Originally started as a Linux support channel in 1995, Freenode grew to become the defacto communication and support tool for free and open ...
  3. [3]
    History of IRC (Internet Relay Chat) - Daniel Stenberg
    Freenode - Open Projects Network. Yet another IRC network that opened its doors in 1998 named the Open Projects Network, and had about 100 users and less ...
  4. [4]
    IRCHelp.org — Freenode
    irchelp.org is a website about the workings of IRC for both newbies and experts alike. It exists since 1996, but has recently been converted to jekyll.History · Philosophy · Catalysts<|separator|>
  5. [5]
    Turmoil at the freenode IRC network - LWN.net
    May 26, 2021 · The largest IRC network, freenode, is embroiled in a messy dispute that has led to the mass resignation of many of its volunteer staff, the ...
  6. [6]
    bagder/irchistory: The history of IRC - GitHub
    Yet another IRC network that opened its doors in 1998 named the Open Projects Network, and had about 100 users and less than 20 channels that year. In late 2001 ...
  7. [7]
    KDE Thanks Rob Levin
    Sep 19, 2006 · He was the founder of the Freenode IRC network, a place where many open source projects established a real-time meeting ground. Freenode is ...
  8. [8]
    GNU Project Will Use Freenode as Its Official IRC Network
    Aug 26, 2002 · Freenode, formerly Open Projects Net, is a service of Peer-Directed Projects Center, a Texas non-profit corporation. About Free Software ...
  9. [9]
    archive - freenode
    Server Issues: Update Pricey on 2014-10-15; Server issues mrmist on 2014-09-13; New extban: $j Pricey on 2014-06-18; April 1st 2014, Followup yano on 2014-04 ...Missing: timeline | Show results with:timeline
  10. [10]
    freenode - IRC Network
    About freenode. IRC network for free and open source software communities. We've been hosting FOSS projects and developers since 1995.About Freenode · Connection Guide · Popular Channels
  11. [11]
    [IRC/Freenode] "This is not a hostile takeover", says Andrew, as he ...
    Oct 12, 2021 · The most notable of them was Freenode, which at March of this year boasted 90k users, more than all other networks combined, and hosted ...Can someone fill me in on what happened with freenode? - RedditThoughts on the state of the freenode IRC network - Edward KmettMore results from www.reddit.com
  12. [12]
    Freenode IRC staff resign en masse, unhappy about ... - The Register
    May 19, 2021 · ... Freenode's website, steering affiliate ad revenue to a company co-founded by Lee, and that other Freenode staffers disagreed with that decision.<|control11|><|separator|>
  13. [13]
    Freenode IRC staff resign en masse after takeover by Korea's ...
    Freenode IRC staff resign en masse after takeover by Korea's “crown prince”. Former staffer alleges “a hostile entity is now in control… and has ...What Korean Crown? · A Dubious Contract · Escalation In AprilMissing: controversies issues
  14. [14]
    After staff revolt, Freenode management takes over hundreds of IRC ...
    May 26, 2021 · "On May 25th, Andrew Lee conducted a channel takeover of unprecedented breadth on Freenode, assuming control of hundreds of channels, many of ...
  15. [15]
    freenode/ircd-seven: freenode's IRC server daemon - GitHub
    Jun 6, 2021 · freenode's IRC server daemon. Contribute to freenode/ircd-seven development by creating an account on GitHub.
  16. [16]
    ircd-seven 1.1.8 - freenode
    Jun 17, 2019 · Hi all,. We're preparing to release version 1.1.8 of ircd-seven and deploy it to the production network over the coming weeks.
  17. [17]
    https://freenode.net/irc_servers.shtml
  18. [18]
    Analysis of the Linux backdoor used in freenode IRC network ...
    Oct 17, 2014 · The backdoor uses "magic" TCP packets, a kernel module, and a user-mode helper. It bypasses firewalls and uses a port knocking sequence to ...
  19. [19]
    Supporting the project - freenode
    The freenode project exists to provide an interactive environment for coordination and support of peer-directed projects, including those of free software and ...Missing: Center integration
  20. [20]
    freenode-faq.md - GitHub Gist
    From July 2021 no more connections to freenode could be established. The network was accordingly classified as historic. Though what has actually happened ...
  21. [21]
    Connecting with SASL - freenode
    SASL access only IP ranges. Some IP address ranges are configured to require SASL authentication to an existing NickServ account with a verified email address.
  22. [22]
    Nickname Registration - freenode
    If a channel is set to mode +R , you won't be able to join it unless you are registered and identified to NickServ. If you try to join, you might be forwarded ...
  23. [23]
    Channel Registration - freenode wiki
    Apr 29, 2022 · When you register a channel, you are recorded as the "founder" of the channel. The channel founder is allowed to change all of the channel ...
  24. [24]
    Channels - freenode
    Channel Policies. In general, local policy and rules for each channel are set by that channel's operators. While we encourage all channel operators to adopt our ...
  25. [25]
    The Policies - freenode
    freenode does not collect or log private or public chat. However, users may log their own chats privately. Be careful about disclosing any personal information ...Terms Of Service · Privacy Policy And Data... · Table Of ContentsMissing: features | Show results with:features
  26. [26]
    Modes on IRC Freenode Network - Medium
    Feb 15, 2017 · User modes in freenode are: i (invisible) g (caller ID) R (block unregister) Z (SSL connected) Q (Disable forwarding)
  27. [27]
    freenode Channel Rules
    Mar 29, 2024 · 1. Primary Language: Please communicate in English for the benefit of all members. · 2. Restricted Topics: Avoid discussing politics, religion, ...
  28. [28]
    Channel Guidelines - freenode
    Avoid sensitive material. Some users on freenode channels, particularly on public channels, are quite young. Others are parents or teachers who might have young ...
  29. [29]
    Freenode Holdings
    Leadership ; rasengan is the President ; Dooney is the Vice President ; Shane is the Head of Staff ; poison is the Head of Infrastructure.Missing: pre- governance hierarchy<|control11|><|separator|>
  30. [30]
    Re: irc.debian.org - Debian Mailing Lists
    There are quite a few projects on OPN, now freenode ... Our parent organization, Peer-Directed Projects Center, has just started up. ... money from the Debian ...
  31. [31]
    Developers Flee Open Source Project After 'Takeover' By Korean ...
    May 19, 2021 · Developers of the open source organization Freenode are quitting en masse after Andrew Lee, a tech entrepreneur ... Freenode was founded in 1994 ...
  32. [32]
    Buy a piece of Net nostalgia for $5000 - The Register
    Jan 29, 2003 · Of which $3,600 was then spent paying a lawyer to set up the non-profit organisation Peer-Directed Projects Center (PDPC) - run by Mr Levin.
  33. [33]
    Libera Chat | Lobsters
    Freenode was Limited by Guarantee, which is English law jargon for a non-profit. A legal form guarantees nothing. 7 · Student avatar Student 4 years ago. No it ...
  34. [34]
    The Evolution of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) - André Machado | Blog
    Dec 20, 2024 · Freenode was originally founded in 1994 as a small network called “Open Projects Network” (OPN) by Rob Levin. It grew to become a hub for free ...
  35. [35]
    Robert Levin, founder of freenode and PDPC, passes away
    Sep 18, 2006 · Early in the morning of September 16th, Rob Levin passed away in the neuro trauma intensive care unit of a Houston hospital after being struck ...
  36. [36]
    Rob Levin, aka “lilo,” Dead at 50 after Hit-and-Run - Geek Friendly
    Sep 16, 2006 · Rob sacrificed a lot to work for PDPC and Freenode. For the past few years, he and his family lived in a trailer park outside of Houston, TX. ...Missing: founder | Show results with:founder
  37. [37]
    News: Goodbye Rob (Lilo) - Arch Linux
    Sep 17, 2006 · As many have heard, lilo (Rob Levin), the father of the Freenode IRC network, passed away on September 16th.Missing: founder | Show results with:founder
  38. [38]
    Rob Levin - aka lilo - killed in traffic accident - Linux.com
    Sep 17, 2006 · On the 12th September Rob Levin, known to many as Freenode's lilo, was hit by a car while riding his bike. He suffered head injuries and was ...
  39. [39]
    PDPC President Rob Levin has died - Wikinews, the free news source
    Sep 16, 2006 · He was 50 years old at the time of death. A special e-mail address, condolences[at]freenode[dot]net, has been setup for people to send their ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
  40. [40]
    On freenode and its commitment to FOSS - freenode
    Since 2013, I have been a major sponsor of freenode providing servers and funding through one of my companies. I have no intention to stop this in the future.
  41. [41]
    freenode exists for FOSS
    May 25, 2021 · Thanks again for choosing freenode, the home of the FOSS community. On behalf of freenode and the entire freenode team,. Andrew Lee (rasengan).
  42. [42]
    freenode and FOSSHOST Partner to Empower FOSS - freenode
    Andrew Lee, President of freenode, said, “We're excited to empower freenode users to be able to focus on their core mission. FOSSHOST will help projects ...
  43. [43]
    Introducing IRC.com by freenode
    Jun 20, 2021 · IRC is back! Hello World! On behalf of freenode and the entire team,. Andrew Lee (rasengan). President. freenode autonomous zone. previous ...
  44. [44]
    Taking IRC Further - freenode
    Jun 9, 2021 · Stay tuned for many great things to come! On behalf of freenode,. Andrew Lee. President. freenode limited. previous article, all, next article ...
  45. [45]
    freenode
    Aug 10, 2021 · We welcome you. Onward. Your proud servant,. HIH Andrew Lee. of the Joseon Empire, the oldest nation in the world since 1392. Special thanks to ...
  46. [46]
    IRC channel operators pointedly aggressive and capricious
    While Freenode's Raspberry Pi channel is somehow not "official", it advertises itself as having been "Blessed" by the Foundation. I'd like to point out to ...Missing: 2010-2020 | Show results with:2010-2020
  47. [47]
    Upheaval at freenode - LWN.net
    May 19, 2021 · Several readers have alerted us to some serious problems at freenode, which runs an IRC network that is popular in the free-software world.Missing: pre- | Show results with:pre-
  48. [48]
    My resignation from freenode
    ### Summary of Key Points from Aaron Jones' Resignation Letter
  49. [49]
    Major open source projects abandon Freenode following alleged ...
    Jun 21, 2021 · Rey accuses Andrew Lee, the Crown Prince of South Korea and current owner of Freenode, of a "hostile” takeover after allegedly rescinding ...
  50. [50]
    Channel List - freenode - IRC Driven
    Channels (2830) ; 80, #openstack, [+nt] ; 81, #trivia, [+MPlnrt 30] Welcome to #Trivia | 24/7 Trivia - Where the points don't matter and we all lose! | ZeroOne is ...
  51. [51]
    freenode: A FOSS-Centric Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Network of ...
    Aug 10, 2021 · TL; DR: freenode is an internet relay chat network founded in 1998 as Open Projects Net (OPN). The network, which started with approximately ...
  52. [52]
    https://gist.github.com/siraben/df534c378de7adc8e5dca05956f0ca95
  53. [53]
    Free Software Projects Defenestrate The Freenode IRC Network
    May 19, 2021 · The Freenode IRC network has been around for more than two decades and very popular with free/open-source software projects for engaging over ...
  54. [54]
    Projects and channels that have decided to leave Freenode - GitHub
    Jun 25, 2022 · This is an ongoing list of projects and channels that have decided to permanently move out of Freenode to https://libera.chat (unless stated otherwise).Missing: FOSS | Show results with:FOSS
  55. [55]
    Leaving Freenode - anarcat
    May 24, 2021 · freenode is the largest remaining IRC network. Before this incident, it had close to 80,000 users, which is small in terms of modern internet ...What Happened? · Where Do I Move To? · How Do I Move?
  56. [56]
    IRC channels are moving to Libera.chat - Selenium
    May 20, 2021 · We are moving our IRC Channel over to Libera.chat. It is has been created by the team that previously maintained Freenode.
  57. [57]
    Freenode IRC and Gentoo
    Freenode IRC and Gentoo May 20, 2021 · Christian (Fuchs)'s Freenode resignation · @freenodestaff tweet · Open Letter On · Open Letter On freenode's ...
  58. [58]
    Vox Pupuli migrating from Freenode to Libera
    Jun 12, 2021 · As a consequence many open source communities migrated their channels to Libera.chat. Many freenode staff resigned and published resignation ...Missing: decline | Show results with:decline
  59. [59]
    Major Internet Projects Are Leaving Freenode After Korean Prince ...
    May 26, 2021 · Dozens of organizations and projects are abandoning the historical IRC network run by Freenode following the resignations of a dozen staffers last week.
  60. [60]
    Freenode is dead. Long live IRC? - Jeff Geerling
    May 26, 2021 · The only reason what I see was really to intentionally destroy IRC but then they could've just shut their servers down like ircnet did long ago, ...Missing: shutdown causes
  61. [61]
    The Libera.Chat split 1 month later, summed up in one graph
    Jun 27, 2021 · If Freenode had not wiped out its database on 15 Jun 2021, many nicks and channels would still be present on Freenode even if they were dormant ...Missing: statement | Show results with:statement
  62. [62]
    freenode wiki
    Mar 19, 2025 · Freenode is an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) network used for discussing peer-directed projects and collaboration between individuals and ...Missing: Center integration
  63. [63]
    Next Year It'll Be Half a Decade Since the Fall of Freenode (and IRC ...
    Jul 19, 2025 · Next Year It'll Be Half a Decade Since the Fall of Freenode (and IRC is Still Doing OK) ... IRC is an open, free, transparent protocol. Lots of ...
  64. [64]
    Is Irc.freenode.net down? Live status and problems past 24 hours
    Is Irc.freenode.net down? It's not just you! irc.freenode.net is down. Last updated: Oct 19, 2025, 5:05 AM (1 second ago). Favorite streaming sites blocked?