Eggdrop is a robot or bot program that works in conjunction with the chat manager. Thanks to the presence of the eggdrop bot, it is possible to perform such functions as maintaining a list of users, set time frames for removing inactive users from the listing, and also maintain a list of users who have been banned for some reason. This program is written in C programming language, and is considered to be an open source program.
One of the main functions of the eggdrop is to protect the integrity of the chat activity. In fact, it is an Internet Relay chat program that was developed to function within a UNIX or Linux environment. The eggdrop sits quietly in the background and does not move into action unless some type of outside attempt at intervention into the chat takes place. For example, it is the eggdrop, acting as an IRC bot, that prevents persons from logging into the chat if they do not have recognized login credentials.
There is a little more to the eggdrop than monitoring the login credentials and maintaining lists of authorized and banned users. The eggdrop can also prevent channel flooding by placing limitations on the number of users that can be active in the chat at any given point in time, as well as rejecting any attempt at entry using illegal credentials. Actually, it is possible to install multiple eggdrops on a given system and have them coordinate various processing and protection functions, creating a small network within the larger network that is sometimes referred to as a botnet.
Before installing an eggdrop, it is important to make sure the IRC network currently running will allow the installation of bot programs. Once this is verified, it is necessary to install Tool Command Language or TCL before attempting to run an eggdrop. Once the TCL is in place, it is possible to compile and run the eggdrop or the series of eggdrops in the botnet application.
Originally created in 1993 by Robey Pointer, eggdrop is still in common usage today. Over the years, the bot has been refined, and remains an effective tool with all the major IRC networks. Because the eggdrop is an open source program, it is freely distributed and widely used around the globe.
