Use ii to log IRC (for scripting purposes)

Use ii to log IRC (for scripting purposes)

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║1 ..............Posted: 2025-09-29............... 1║
║2* Tags: sysadmin linux archival irc bash scripts *2║
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╚───────────────────────────────────────────────────────╝

I wanted to show the user the latest irc message via gopher so...

Install `ii`.

# Tiny logger script

```
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
```

then make file `~/.local/bin/ii-main-logger`

```
#!/bin/sh
set -eu

BASE="${II_DIR:-$HOME/irc}"
SRV="${IRC_SERVER:-127.0.0.1}" # your IRCd is localhost
PORT="${IRC_PORT:-6667}" # plaintext (no TLS wrapper needed)
NICK="${IRC_NICK:-digestlog}"
CHAN="${IRC_CHAN:-#main}"

mkdir -p "$BASE"

# start ii
ii -s "$SRV" -p "$PORT" -n "$NICK" -i "$BASE" &
pid=$!

# wait for the input FIFO to appear, then join channel
for i in $(seq 1 100); do
[ -p "$BASE/$SRV/in" ] && break
sleep 0.1
done
printf 'JOIN %s\r\n' "$CHAN" > "$BASE/$SRV/in"

# keep the process in the foreground so systemd can supervise it
wait "$pid"
```

then

```
chmod +x ~/.local/bin/ii-main-logger
```

create systemd `~/.config/systemd/user/ii-logger.service`

```
[Unit]
Description=ii logger for %E{IRC_CHAN:-#main} on %E{IRC_SERVER:-127.0.0.1}
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
Environment=II_DIR=%h/irc
Environment=IRC_SERVER=127.0.0.1
Environment=IRC_PORT=6667
Environment=IRC_NICK=digestlog
Environment=IRC_CHAN=#main
ExecStart=%h/.local/bin/ii-main-logger
Restart=always
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target
```

then

```
systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user enable --now ii-logger.service
```

sanity check:

```
ls -R ~/irc
tail -n3 ~/irc/127.0.0.1/#main/out
```

change nick/channel later (systemctl --user edit ii-logger.service and override
the Environment= lines, then):

```
systemctl --user daemon-reload
systemctl --user restart ii-logger.service
```

Also, logrotate so doesn't keep track everything forever:

```
sudo tee /etc/logrotate.d/ii-logger >/dev/null <<'ROT'
# Rotate ii channel logs under your home. Adjust the path if needed.
# Keeps 14 compressed rotations; trims when file >256k or daily, whichever first.
# copytruncate avoids needing to restart ii.
/home/*/irc/*/#*/out {
daily
size 256k
rotate 14
compress
delaycompress
copytruncate
missingok
notifempty
}
ROT

# test it (dry run shows what would rotate)
sudo logrotate -d /etc/logrotate.conf
```