51 lines
2 KiB
Markdown
51 lines
2 KiB
Markdown
## Is Orbit free?
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Yes — it's **free software under AGPL-3.0**. You can use,
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modify, and self-host it. If you run a **modified** version as a network service, you must publish
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your source.
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## Do I need to create an account?
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No. Pick a nick and start chatting. Accounts (SASL / registration) are optional and only needed to
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reserve a nick, host images, or get push notifications while closed.
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## What servers does it work with?
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Any **IRCv3** server with a WebSocket listener — InspIRCd, Ergo, and others. The more capabilities
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the server supports, the more features light up. See [IRCv3 capabilities](/docs/ircv3/).
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## Can I use it for my own network?
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Absolutely — that's the point. Re-point it at your server and rebrand it entirely from one
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[`config.json`](/docs/config/), no rebuild. See [Branding & themes](/docs/branding/).
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## Does it work on mobile?
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Yes. Orbit is an installable **PWA** with a mobile-first layout, offline shell, and push
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notifications.
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## Are my passwords safe?
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Orbit connects over TLS, and it **masks** services passwords in the message log. If you accidentally
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type `IDENTIFY nick pass` without a leading slash, it intercepts it, sends it privately, and warns
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you — it's never broadcast to the channel.
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## How do notifications work?
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In-tab alerts and sounds work everywhere. **Push** notifications while the tab is closed use the
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`draft/webpush` capability (VAPID) and require being logged into an account.
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## Can I self-host it?
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Yes — it's a static build behind any web server. The project even runs its own git server with
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[push-to-deploy](/docs/push-to-deploy/). Start with the [Quick start](/docs/quick-start/).
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## How do I report a bug or contribute?
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Issues and code live on [Codeberg](https://codeberg.org/reversefr/orbit). You can also clone it
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straight from `https://orbit.tchatou.fr/orbit.git`.
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## Why IRC in 2026?
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Because it's **open, federated, and yours** — no platform lock-in, no ads, no data harvesting. Orbit
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gives that protocol a modern, friendly face.
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