About the Network

You've reached freenode, a service of Peer-Directed Projects Center (PDPC). freenode provides discussion facilities for the Free and Open Source Software communities, for not-for-profit organizations and for related communities and organizations. In 1998, the network had about 200 users and less than 20 channels. Ten years down the line the network currently peaks at just under 56,000 users, freenode provides facilities to a variety of groups and organizations.

Thanks to the massive support both from individual donors and our corporate sponsor Canonical Ltd (you know, the company behind Ubuntu, who generously donated a whooping £1700.00!) we are delighted to confirm that the 2008/2009 fundraiser was a SUCCESS! We'd like to extend our thanks to all those who contributed to last years fundraiser, and all who have supported us in the past, and we hope that you will continue to give generously for 2009/2010 -- details of this years fundraiser will be available soon!

There previously was a pie-chart on the left, indicating fundraising status, we felt that with the generous donation from Canonical and the Ubuntu logo resembling a pie-chart, it was only fitting that our new graph should be made up of said logo! Again, thank you all for the continued support!

Peer-Directed Projects Center is a not-for-profit organisation, limited by guarantee and incorporated in England and Wales. Your donations help keep us running.

If you're interested in looking around the network, please find a server and come see us, or have a look at our network policies and project news and philosophy.

freenode is run entirely by volunteers hailing from the wider FOSS communities which we serve. Our combined network staff and development base is made up of around 30 dedicated men and women. We can all be found in #freenode on the network, staff are all voiced and happy to help, or just have a chat with you about what we do and why we do it!

Call for Testers: We are currently in the process of testing our next-generation irc daemon, ircd-seven. The test network is currently running on testnet.freenode.net, port 9002 for normal connections or 9003 for SSL connections. This is a new server, sharing no code with the current software and all aspects of it need thorough testing. You can find us in #freenode on the testnet if interested in helping out! In addition to testers, we are also looking to expand our development team(s), if interested please do get in touch!

Welcome to freenode!