Hi ngIRCd'ers! Our last "feature release" is over one year old, so the next release is quite overdue. But you can relax, here it is: ngIRCd Release 23! This release isn't the one with the most changes or the greatest new features in ngIRCd's history, but makes ngIRCd more compatible, more consistent, and adds some nice new functionality. Please see the ChangeLog for the whole story (online at <http://ngircd.barton.de/doc/ChangeLog> and included in the source distribution). The NEWS file lists the following new features since ngIRCd 22.1: • Use "NOTICE *" before registration instead of "NOTICE AUTH". "AUTH" is a valid nickname so sending notices to it is probably not a good idea. Use "*" as the target instead as done with numerics when the nick is not available. This mimics the behavior in Charybdis, IRCD-Hybrid, InspIRCd 2.2, Plexus 4, etc. Closes #217. The "NoticeAuth" configuration variable (ngircd.conf) has been renamed to "NoticeBeforeRegistration" accordingly, but the old name is still supported for compatibility reasons. • Implement new channel mode "N" (regular users can't change their nick name while on this channel). Closes #214. • Keep track of who placed bans, invites, and excepts. Idee and implementation by LucentW, Thanks! Closes #203. • Implement numeric RPL_LISTSTART(321). lightIRC and other clients expecting RPL_LISTSTART should now behave correctly. Idee and implementation by LucentW, Thanks! Closes #207. • Streamline the effect of "MorePrivacy" option: Update documentation in ngircd.conf(5); don't hide channels for IRC Ops on LIST and don't hide IP addresses/host names on WHOIS when "MorePrivacy" is in effect. This closes #198. • IRC operators now can kick anyone when "OperCanMode" is set. Idee and implementation by LucentW, Thanks! Closes #202. • Implement user mode "I": Hide channels on WHOIS: this mode prevents ngIRCd from showing channels on WHOIS (IRC Operators can always see the channel list). Idee and implementation by LucentW, Thanks! Closes #197. • INVITE command: Implement ERR_USERNOTONSERV(504) numeric and make sure that the target user is on the same server when inviting other users to local ("&") channels. Idea by Cahata, thanks! Closes #183. • MODE command: Always report channel creation time. Up to now when receiving a MODE command, ngIRCd only reported the channel creation time to clients that were members of the channel. This patch reports the channel creation time to all clients, regardless if they are joined to that channel or not. At least ircd-seven behaves like this. This closes #188. Reported by Cahata, thanks! You can find more information on our homepage at <http://ngircd.barton.de/> and its mirror <http://ngircd.mirror.3rz.org/>. The primary download locations are: • <http://ngircd.barton.de/pub/ngircd/> • <http://ngircd.mirror.3rz.org/pub/ngircd/> THANK YOU to all users, bug reporters, contributors, packagers, testers, and supporters: this release wouldn't have been possible without your work! Have fun! Alex