[GNU ELPA] Erc version 5.6.1

Version 5.6.1 of package Erc has just been released in GNU ELPA.
You can now find it in M-x list-packages RET.

Erc describes itself as:

  ===================================
  An Emacs Internet Relay Chat client
  ===================================

More at https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/erc.html

## Summary:

  ERC is a powerful, modular, and extensible IRC client for Emacs.
  For more information, visit the ERC page at
  <https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/erc.html>.

  Configuration:

  Use M-x customize-group RET erc RET to get an overview
  of all the variables you can tweak.

  Usage:

  To connect to an IRC server, do

  M-x erc RET

  or

  M-x erc-tls RET

  to connect over TLS (encrypted).  Once you are connected to a
  server, you can use C-h m or have a look at the ERC menu.

## Recent NEWS:

ERC NEWS

Copyright (C) 2006-2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
See the end of the file for license conditions.

Please send ERC bug reports to '[email protected]',
and Cc the '[email protected]' mailing list as well.
If possible, use 'M-x erc-bug' or 'M-x report-emacs-bug'.

This file is about changes in ERC, the powerful, modular, and
extensible IRC (Internet Relay Chat) client distributed with
GNU Emacs since Emacs version 22.1.


* Changes in ERC 5.6.1

** Option 'erc-truncate-padding-size' controls truncation frequency.
In fast-moving channels and in queries with long-winded bots, the
'truncate' module has historically been asked to work overtime, mostly
on account of a rather stingy buffering threshold of 512 characters.
Now configurable, its default has been relaxed eightfold to 4096.

** Option 'erc-modules' no longer autoloaded.
This cornerstone of ERC's configuration system was autoloaded globally
in 5.6 to allow users the freedom of running 'customize-option' without
first having to load the package.  Unfortunately, this also had the side
effect of arranging for ERC to load on startup whenever someone
customized the variable.

** New option determines 'keep-place-indicator's influence on 'truncate'.
Option 'erc-keep-place-indicator-truncation' manages the tension between
truncation and place keeping, prioritizing one or the other.

** Stray key binding removed from 'erc-fill-wrap-mode-map'.
The command 'erc-fill-wrap-cycle-visual-movement' was mistakenly given
the key binding "C-c a" in an inadvertent holdover from development.  It
has been removed.

** The 'fill-wrap' module no longer depends on 'scrolltobottom'.
This change also affects the option 'erc-fill-function' when it's set to
'erc-fill-wrap'.

** Updated defaults for the 'track' module's face-list options.
The default values of options 'erc-track-faces-priority-list' and
'erc-track-faces-normal-list' have both gained a face for buttonized
speaker names, with the latter option also gaining 'erc-notice-face'.
This was done to provide a more frequent and practical indication of
channel activity in keeping with the module's original design.

** Command 'erc-track-clear' resets the mode-line activity indicator.
Clear ERC's mode-line area with a single stroke, effectively marking all
ERC buffers as having been read.

** An arguably less distracting 'erc-nicks-track-faces' variant.
Setting this option to t tells the 'track' module to have the mode-line
indicator stick with the most recent speaker's face, even when they're
monologuing, instead of alternating between it and the highest ranked
'erc-track-faces-normal-list' member in a given message.

** Module 'querypoll' has left 'goodies' and moved in with 'notify'.
The 'querypoll' module was initially placed in 'erc-goodies' even though
a far more sensible home existed in 'erc-notify'.  Given the similarity
of concerns and the newer module's "experimental" status, the migration
was deemed worth any potential disruption, despite this being a point
release.  ERC appreciates your understanding in this matter.

** Option 'erc-server-reconnect-function' has a new default.
ERC 5.6 added 'erc-server-delayed-check-reconnect', whose "probing"
strategy worked better for most users.  While compatibility concerns
prevented it from becoming the new 'erc-server-reconnect-function'
outright, a new solution has emerged that defers to it when sensible.

** Entry-point command 'erc-tls' once again considers option 'erc-port'.
In its zeal to enforce a preference for TLS connections, ERC 5.5 went a
bit far in disregarding the useful user option 'erc-port'.  When called
from Lisp code without a ':port' keyword, 'erc-tls' once again respects
the option.

** Changes in the library API.

*** Reliable library access for ban lists.
Say goodbye to continually running "/BANLIST" for programmatic
purposes.  Modules can instead use the function 'erc-sync-banlist' to
guarantee that the variable 'erc-channel-banlist' remains synced for
the remainder of an IRC session.
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