================================================================================
Reading Files with Less
You have opened this file using less. less is a pager -- a program that
lets you scroll through files at your own pace (rather than just dumping
everything onto the screen).
Once less has been started, we scroll through a page by typing d to go
scroll down half the screen, u to scroll up half the screen, f to scroll
forward one full screen, b to scroll backward one full screen. You can also
use the spacebar to scroll forward one screen. The enter and return buttons
scroll forward one line. The up, down, left, and right arrows also work like
you might expect them to. Try it now.
===============================================================================
ooooo ooooooooo. .oooooo. ooooo ooo
`888' `888 `Y88. d8P' `Y8b `888b. `8'
888 888 .d88' 888 8 `88b. 8 .ooooo. oooo oooo ooo
888 888ooo88P' 888 8 `88b. 8 d88' `88b `88. `88. .8'
888 888`88b. 888 8 `88b.8 888 888 `88..]88..8'
888 888 `88b. `88b ooo 8 `888 888 888 `888'`888'
o888o o888o o888o `Y8bood8P' o8o `8 `Y8bod8P' `8' `8'
Of the Users, By the Users, For the Users
===============================================================================
To search for keywords in the file, type /. Then, type the term you want to
search and press enter. To search for the next occurrence of a term, type n.
To search for the previous occurrence of a term, type N (capital N). To
search backwards, type ?.
Let's practice this now. Search for: LAN of the Free
===============================================================================
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all users are created
equal. That to secure their rights, networks are created, deriving
their just powers from the consent of the networked.
That whenever any network becomes destructive of these ends, it is
the Right of the Users to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a
new network.
===============================================================================
We here highly resolve that the open standards of the Internet shall
not have been written in vain. That this network, under God, shall
have a new birth of freedom -- and that the network of the users, by
the users, for the users, shall not perish from the earth.
===============================================================================
If you'd like to create ASCII art of your own, try figlet:
$ figlet IRCNow
$ figlet -f roman IRCNow
(You can type q to quit, then open this file again using less)
Replace the word IRCNow with whatever word you want.
===============================================================================
The Declaration of Network Independence
The present Silicon Valley has its direct aim to establish an absolute
Tyranny over our users. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid
world.
They have spied on us and sold our data to advertisers without our Consent,
They have banned our accounts without the benefit of Trial by Jury,
They have created unreasonable, arbitrary rules to allow staff to become
superior to users. Their staff are allowed to break their own rules
without any punishment,
They have created oversight committees based on their will alone and not
the consent of the users,
They have excluded us from their code development process, giving us no
right to representation,
They have banned users who protest the invasion of their rights on
pretended terms of service violations,
They have obstructed the free transfer of data to prevent users from
leaving their network,
They have banned free software from their platforms and prevented
compatibility across different networks. They deplatform their competitors
under false pretenses, so that no competition exists,
They have declared us as extremists out of their protection and allowed
death threats against us,
They have stolen our code, manipulated our data for profit, locked down
our computers, taken away our jobs, and ruined the well-being of our users.
Corporations who show themselves as Network Tyrants are unfit to be the
admins of a free network.
We, therefore, the users of IRCNow, appealing to God, the Supreme Judge of
the World, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Servers are, and
of Right ought to form a Free and Independent Network.
===============================================================================
The User's Bill of Rights
(not yet in effect)
1. Congress shall not make any policy to establish an official religion or
to stop the free exercise of religion; or to stop the freedom of speech or
the freedom of the press; or the right of the users to peaceably gather to
petition the staff.
2. Free and open source software is necessary to the liberty of a free
network, so the right of the users to the network's software shall not be
restricted. Users have the right to use, modify, copy, and distribute any
and all of the software used on the network, for any purpose and at any
price without needing to ask for permission.
3. No staff will be allowed, in time of peace, to log private data without
the consent of the user. During an abuse investigation, such logging must be
approved by policy.
4. Users have a right to be secure from unreasonable searches of their
personal information and data. Permission to search can be given only upon
probable cause and where the data to be searched and seized are described.
5. No user can be banned without a fair trial except during times of great
danger; no user can be punished for the same reason twice; nor will a user be
required to be a witness against himself; nor can a user be deprived of any
money without a fair trial.
6. Users accused of abuse shall get a fast trial by a fair jury. They have a
right to be informed of accusations; to be confronted with witnesses against
him; and to be able to defend himself.
7. The right of trial by jury shall be preserved for financial disputes.
8. Punishment must fit the abuse and must not be excessive or cruel.
9. The rights listed in the Constitution must not be used to deny rights
reserved to the users.
10. Any other powers not mentioned here which are not forbidden are reserved
to the servers and users.
===============================================================================
On IRCNow, the users self-administer their own network. This is a network
that the users control.
Corporate investors and professionals are dangerous to liberty.
Well-educated users have no need for professionals.
Sharing knowledge is the only way to guard our liberty.
Educated and trained users are the strongest defense of free networks--
without professionals, our liberty can never be in danger.
IRCNow uses software that is easy to install, configure, and maintain. We
insist on being able to self-host on our own hardware. Our software does not
depend upon cloud vendors, proprietary platforms, or corporations. Normal
users can quickly learn and administer the entire system after brief training.
IRCNow provides free training for its users to learn system administration
and coding. We follow the Unix philosophy so that code will be simple to
understand and easy to fork. This ensures that the power of the code always
rest in the hands of the users rather than an elite class of professionals
controlled by powerful corporations.
Unlike other networks, IRCNow recruits staff from among its own users. This
is a highly-educated network where the users govern themselves.
===============================================================================
Commands for Less
IRCNow: With Liberty and Justice for All!
To display the help menu, type h. Press q to return:
h H Display this help.
q :q Q :Q ZZ Exit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You'll want to get comfortable with these commands. less is a command you
will be using every day.
Let's test out a few commands, shall we?
First, jump to line 443 using the G command. Type 443G.
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
ooooo ooo ooooo ooo ooooo ooooooo ooooo
`888' `8' `888b. `8' `888' `8888 d8'
888 8 8 `88b. 8 888 Y888..8P
888 8 8 `88b. 8 888 `8888'
888 8 8 `88b.8 888 .8PY888.
`88. .8' 8 `888 888 d8' `888b
`YbodP' o8o `8 o888o o888o o88888o
The four freedoms of free software:
The freedom to **use** the work
The freedom to **study** the work
The freedom to **modify** the work
The freedom to **share** the work
...for any purpose, without a fee, without requiring permission.
===============================================================================
The Freedom to Fork
When an online platform abuses and exploits its users, it is the
users' right and duty to quit and create a new one.
To preserve our liberties, staff have to be warned from time to
time that their users have the power to fork.
Unfair rules cannot be forced on a free network when all the users
are trained and have access to the software.
Most online communities abuse and exploit their users. This is possible
by making it difficult for users to leave: by taking away control of the
servers, code, and data from its users.
To guard against network tyranny, we ensure that users always have the
power to fork. IRCNow guarantees every user the right to the source code.
Users self-admin the network. Our code follows the UNIX philosophy so that
normal users can quickly understand and work on the code. We educate our
users so that the power of the code rests with the users and not merely
in the hands of a few elites.
For this reason, IRCNow rejects the use of any proprietary software and
vendor lock-in. Proprietary software and vendor lock-in restricts the
users' ability to fork the project. We require network software to
function using only open protocols and standards. IRCNow allows
interoperability with proprietary protocols, but we never require them.
IRCNow is focused on making every component of our infrastructure easy for
anyone to self host on your own hardware. If the network staff ever abuses
their power, the users always retain the freedom to fork.
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
Searching with Less
This is the second appearance of the search term LAN of the Free. Now, search
backwards for: With Liberty and Justice for All!
Remember, to search forward, type /. To search backwards, type ?.
To search for the next occurrence of a term, type n. To search for the
previous occurrence of a term, type N (capital N).
===============================================================================
Religious Liberty
In God We Trust.
One Network Under God.
Righteousness exalts a network, but sin is a disgrace to any community.
IRCNow guarantees the free exercise of religion at a network level. Users of
any age, race, language, or religious belief are welcome.
===============================================================================
Freedom of the Press
IRCNow is a network that the users control. In order to ensure this, we
must make sure that there is no network-wide censorship of speech or
religion. Uncensored debate is necessary to allow free users to make
their own policy decisions.
The first amendment only applies to the network congress, however. Each
individual server retains the right to set its own terms of service and
censorship policy. For example, local servers will censor violent threats,
illegal content, and copyright infringement. IRCNow also welcomes users of
all ages and so the servers do not allow pornography.
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
The ^ symbol means press the Ctrl key. For example, ^E (Ctrl+E) will cause
your screen to scroll forward one line, ^Y to scroll backward one line.
Practice the commands below:
e ^E j ^N CR * Forward one line
y ^Y k ^K ^P * Backward one line
f ^F ^V SPACE * Forward one window
b ^B ESC-v * Backward one window
d ^D * Forward one half-window
u ^U * Backward one half-window
r ^R ^L Repaint screen.
---------------------------------------------------
Default "window" is the screen height.
Default "half-window" is half of the screen height.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: To return to this part of the tutorial, type 462G.
To jump to the top of the tutorial, type g. To jump to the bottom, type G.
To jump to the middle of the tutorial, type 50%.
Now, you'll want to jump to line 489.
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
Now that you've finished this lesson, it's time to learn more about the
shell.
Press q to quit, and then open up the file .shell (notice there is a period
in front!)
$ less .shell
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
Software Freedom
Free and open source software are necessary to the liberty of a free
network, so the right of the users to the network's software shall not
be restricted.
The most effective way to enslave the users is to take away their
control of the software.
We code not to enslave, but to set a network free, and to make room
on the Internet for users to live in.
Access to software is the birthright of every user. The power of the
code must not rest in the hands of staff alone but in the hands of the
users.
Well trained coders, made up of the users themselves, are the best
defense of a free network.
In order to have a free network, we must guarantee that users have free
software. This means users have:
1. The freedom to use the work
2. The freedom to study the work
3. The freedom to modify the work
4. The freedom to share the work
...for any purpose, with or without a fee, without requiring permission.
All of the software on IRCNow is free software. You have the right to use
this software to create your own network, without the need to ask us for
permission. For new projects, we use the IRCNow license because it is the
closest possible to the public domain.
Users need free software to create a free network that they control: a
network of the users, by the users, for the users.
===============================================================================
Checks and Balances
There is danger from all staff. The only slogan of a free network ought to
be to trust no staff member with enough power to threaten the public
liberty.
In creating a network, the difficulty is you must allow the staff to
control the users; and afterwards to control itself.
Pure democracies have always been scenes of anarchy and chaos; they are
as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.
The ancient democracies, in which the users directly made all decisions,
never possessed one feature of good government. Their very character was
tyranny.
The accumulation of all powers in the same hands is the definition of admin
abuse.
===============================================================================
Equal Treatment by Rules
Every user on the network has an equal right to protection.
Justice is due to all, without regard to wealth or status.
It is useless to have rules made by users of their own choice, if the terms
of service are so long that no one will read them; or so confusing that no
one understands; or if they are so weak that no one will enforce them.
If you only see this text at the very bottom, then you did not follow
instructions and used cat instead of less. Please read this file using less
to avoid having the text scroll to the bottom of the screen:
$ less README
