Trout Mask is a simple chat application with features such as icons, news, user level permissions, and private messaging. It is not intended to be a file transfer system, and most likely never will be. There are probably much better chat applications out there. But what the heck. This one is carbonized.
First thing is to launch the application.
So far so good. Give yourself a default nickname and icon. Next, find yourself a Trout Server. There will be a tracker application soon to help you find Trout servers. Enter in the address of the trout server, and any login name or password you may have been given.