Bitlbee

Bitlbee
is a "console-based IRC to IM chatting gateway". It allows the user to interact with popular chat networks such as XMPP/Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger, the Twitter microblogging network (plus all other Twitter API compatible services like identi.ca and status.net), and social networking chat networks like Facebook and StudiVZ within their IRC client.
The users' buddies appear as normal IRC users in a channel and conversations use the private message facility of IRC.
Installation
Install
the
bitlbee
AUR
package.
Configuration
Various settings can be set using the
/etc/bitlbee/bitlbee.conf
configuration file. The
default
configuration file is well commented and each setting has relevant explanations.
Daemon
It is recommended to run the Bitlbee daemon without root permission. Uncomment the following line so Bitlbee can run as the "bitlbee" user, which was created when the package was installed.
User = bitlbee
For daemon mode uncomment the following lines.
DaemonInterface = 0.0.0.0
DaemonPort = 6667
To only allow connections from localhost set the listen interface (
DaemonInterface
) to loopback.
DaemonInterface = 127.0.0.1
Ensure that the configuration directory is writeable with the user you configured:
# chown -R bitlbee:bitlbee /var/lib/bitlbee
By default the bitlbee service doesn't kill child processes when stopping/restarting, to avoid disconnecting clients. This is desirable for public servers but less desirable in private installations where the client is left running on an old version after a upgrade.
To properly terminate bitlbee processes,
edit
the unit:
bitlbee.service
[Service]
KillMode=control-group
Then
enable/start
the
bitlbee.service
unit.
Note that just starting the server does not log you into any of your chat accounts.
Usage
Once Bitlbee is running connect to
localhost
using an IRC client. The control channel,
&bitlbee
, should already show you some basic information (if not, join it now). You can always type
help
to get help.
While in the control channel, enter:
help quickstart
and follow the instructions.
Your friend might be requesting authorization to add you back, so just reply according to the control channel prompts.
To initiate a chat, simply open a new IRC private window:
/msg friend hello!
OTR
For OTR support you must have
libotr
installed. Upon account registration, bitlbee will generate your OTR keys, and it will use them transparently whenever you are negotiating with an OTR-capable contact.
External services
Telegram
To make
Telegram
work with bitlbee, you need a version compiled with
libpurple
AUR
support –
bitlbee-libpurple
AUR
for example, although there are patched or development versions also available.
Next, install
telegram-tdlib-purple-git
AUR
and
restart
bitlbee.service
.
In the control channel,
&bitlbee
, type the following commands:
11:45:03 <@user> account add telegram <phone_number_with_region_prefix> <anything>
11:45:03 <@root> Account successfully added
11:45:06 <@user> account telegram on
After connecting a separate chat window will open, asking for the SMS code – enter it and Telegram will work with your setup.
Twitter
In the control channel,
&bitlbee
, type the following commands:
11:45:03 <@user> account add twitter <handle>
11:45:03 <@root> Account successfully added
11:45:06 <@user> account on
11:45:06 <@root> Trying to get all accounts connected...
11:45:06 <@root> twitter - Logging in: Requesting OAuth request token
In a private channel,
twitter_handle
, you will receive:
11:45:07 <twitter_handle> To finish OAuth authentication, please visit http://api.twitter.com/oauth/authorize?oauth_token=xxxxxxxxx and respond with the resulting PIN code.
Click the link and authorize the BitlBee app on Twitter. You should now see:
11:59:54 <@root> twitter - Logging in: Connecting to Twitter
11:59:55 <@root> twitter - Logging in: Logged in
Discord
Install the package
bitlbee-discord-git
AUR
.
In the control channel,
&bitlbee
, type the following commands:
<user> account add discord <email> <password>
<root> Account successfully added with tag discord
<user> account discord on
<root> discord - Logging in: Logged in
See also
Screen Irssi Bitlbee
Bitlbee Wiki
Introduction to Bitlbee
by Bradley Marshall
Quickstart Guide
by Elizabeth Krumbach
HOWTO: Connect to Twitter
on the BitlBee wiki
HOWTO: Connect to Facebook
on the Bitlbee Wiki