It was originally written by Robey Pointer in December 1993 to help manage and protect the EFnet channel #gayteen; one Eggdrop bot version was named Valis.[8][9][10]
The bot is written in the C programming language and features interfaces for C modules and Tcl scripts that allow users to further enhance the functionality of the bot.[6][10][15]
A large number of Tcl scripts are available to expand the bot's functionality, most of them written by Eggdrop users.[6][16][17]
Scripts are available to add and extend support for: online games, stats, user and channel management, information storage and lookup, greeting channel members, tracking last seen times, botnet management, anti-spam, file serving and distribution (usually via the DCC protocol), IRC services (similar to ChanServ and NickServ), and much more.[citation needed]
Eggdrop includes built-in support for sharing user information and channel bans. However, a script is required to simultaneously control multiple bots and for bots to coordinate channel management and modes.[citation needed]
The bot also features a "botnet", which allows multiple bots to be linked together to share data and act in a coordinated fashion.[10][13][15][18][19] The botnet supports a "party line", which is accessible via DCC CHAT and Telnet. People can communicate within the botnet on various channels in an equivalent to a miniature IRC. Channel 0, the default, is referred to as the "party line".[13][20]
Popularity
Over the years Eggdrop has become one of the most popular bots run by IRC users.[13][21][22]
^ abBejtlich, Richard (November 2005). Extrusion Detection: Security Monitoring for Internal Intrusions. Professional Series. Addison-Wesley. p. 308. ISBN978-0-321-34996-5.
^Leonard, Andrew (April 1996). "Wired 4.04: Bots Are Hot!". Wired Magazine. Condé Nast Publications. p. 5. Retrieved 2008-12-26. There are bots that greet newcomers to channels with information about the channel. Valis, the gaybot at #gayteen, is such a bot.
