IRC/WikiLounge

From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki

WikiLounge is a modern, always-on IRC web client and bouncer built specifically for the Wikimedia community. Hosted securely on Wikimedia Cloud Services (WMCS), it provides volunteers with a seamless, mobile-friendly way to chat on the Libera.Chat network without dropping connections or missing messages when offline.

WikiLounge is powered by the open-source The Lounge software. It was deployed and is currently maintained by ZI Jony as a tool to improve the communication experience for Wikimedia volunteers.

Because it acts as a bouncer, WikiLounge keeps your IRC presence active 24/7. When you log back in via your web browser or mobile device, you can read the channel history you missed while you were away.

WikiLounge is a Wikimedia-hosted community space. By logging into and using this service, you agree to adhere to the Wikimedia Universal Code of Conduct (UCoC) .

Any harassment, abuse, or violation of the UCoC on this platform may result in the revocation of your WikiLounge account and could be reported to the appropriate Wikimedia bodies.

For security and server capacity reasons, WikiLounge is an invite-only platform. The system automatically enforces the following requirements before allowing you to request an account:

• Global Edits: You must have at least 500 edits globally across Wikimedia projects.
• Contact Method: You must have the "Email this user" feature enabled on your Meta-Wiki account. The automated system uses this to deliver your initial credentials.
• IRC Cloak: You must possess a registered and active Wikimedia IRC Cloak (e.g., wikipedia/, wikimedia/, wikidata/, etc.). The portal security gate will automatically block requests with unrecognized or non-Wikimedia cloaks.

If you meet the requirements above, you can request an account directly through the automated portal:

1. Go to the WikiLounge Public Portal and click "Log in with Meta-Wiki".
2. Once authenticated, the system will verify your global edit count and email settings.
3. If eligible, fill out the "Request a WikiLounge Account" form with your desired WikiLounge username, IRC nickname, and cloak.
4. Await Credentials: Once an administrator approves your request, the system will automatically provision your server space and email you a temporary password via MediaWiki.

Once you have received your temporary credentials via email:

1. Go to https://chat.wmcloud.org in your web browser (desktop or mobile).
2. Enter your username and temporary password to log in.
3. Go to Settings > Account (the gear icon in the bottom left).
4. Scroll down to the password section and change your temporary password to a secure, permanent one.
5. Enjoy your persistent IRC connection!

To ensure server resources are allocated efficiently, WikiLounge actively monitors account activity:

• 150-Day Warning: If you do not connect to the chat client for 150 days, you will receive an automated warning via email and on your Meta-Wiki talk page.
• 180-Day Suspension: After 180 days of continuous inactivity, your server access will be temporarily suspended and disconnected from the IRC network. Your data remains safe, and you can request reactivation via the Public Portal.
• Wikibreaks: If you plan to be away for an extended period, log into the WikiLounge Public Portal and use the Declare Wikibreak tool. This allows you to set a return date, freezing your inactivity timer and protecting your account from auto-suspension.

Because WikiLounge is integrated with Wikimedia OAuth, you can securely manage your account and request help directly from your dashboard:

• Forgot Password: If you get locked out of your chat client, log into the WikiLounge Public Portal using your Meta-Wiki account. Use the "Change Server Password" tool to instantly overwrite your password.
• Update Details: You can use the portal to update your IRC nickname, update your cloak, request an account rename, or download an archive of your chat history logs.
• Support Tickets: If you experience connection issues or need admin assistance, use the "Contact Admin Support" tool to open a VRT-style ticket. You will receive an email alert when an admin replies, but all conversations take place securely inside the WikiLounge portal. Admins may also proactively open tickets for you if there is an issue with your account.

While standard account management and user support are handled via the Public Portal's built-in Support Ticketing system, you can use the #WikiLounge project on Wikimedia Phabricator for broader issues.

Please file a task for:

• Bugs & Technical Issues: If the server is down, the EJS web portal is broken, or you encounter system-wide errors.
• Feature Requests: Suggestions for new portal features, tools, or server configurations.
• Advanced Account Issues: If you changed your main Wikimedia username globally and need your WikiLounge account synced manually, or if you encounter issues the automated portal cannot fix.

WikiLounge is hosted on Wikimedia Cloud VPS. By using this service, you acknowledge the following data handling practices:

• Message Logging: To provide the "catch-up" feature, WikiLounge logs your private messages and channel history to the secure WMCS server disk. These logs are private to your account.
• IP Masking: Your personal IP address is hidden from the public IRC network. Libera.Chat will only see the Wikimedia Cloud IPv6 address assigned to the server.
• Passwords: Your WikiLounge login password is cryptographically hashed. However, your Libera.Chat network password (NickServ) is stored locally on the server to allow the bouncer to auto-connect you.
• Disclaimer: This is a volunteer-run service hosted on Wikimedia infrastructure but is not an officially governed WMF product. Use it at your own risk.

Because the operators of this WikiLounge instance do not have the same level of access or confidentiality obligations as Stewards, CheckUsers and Oversighters, users with CU/OS-level access should carefully consider whether this service is appropriate for their work.

As with any TheLounge installation, server administrators and WMCS Sysadmins have access to data stored or processed by the service, including:

• Private messages and channel messages.
• The list of IRC networks and servers connected by users.
• Authentication credentials provided to the service (including Libera.Chat passwords).
• Files and images uploaded through the web interface.

Users handling non-public, Stewards, CheckUser, Oversight, or NDA-restricted information should evaluate the trust model before using the service and are strongly advised to avoid using it for sensitive workflows.

To maximize transparency and accountability, WikiLounge features a strict Auditor role within its administrative dashboard. This read-only role allows for complete visibility into the system's operations. Auditors can review:

• Live TheLounge Server Logs (the last 500 lines).
• Dashboard Action Logs (tracking both admin operations and self-service Public Portal requests).
• Terminal Command Logs.

Global rights holders, including Stewards, CheckUsers, Oversighters, Ombuds, U4C members, System Administrators, and WMF Staff, are highly encouraged and welcome to request the Auditor role for full transparency and verification of the tool's management.

• WikiLounge Public Portal (Account requests, support tickets, settings, and active user directory)
• WikiLounge Web Chat (The main IRC client)

Retrieved from "https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=IRC/WikiLounge&oldid=30764138"

Categories:

• IRC
• Wikimedia Social Suite