Introduction & Screenshot

pidgin.2.png

Pidgin is Ubuntu's default instant messaging (IM) client, at least through 11.10 , Oneiric Ocelot. It works for a wide range of protocols, including MSN Messenger, AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Jabber, IRC, IRQ and Gadu-Gadu.

Installation & Start Up

If using an older version, the user can install pidgin via Synaptic (System, Administration, Synaptic Package Manager) or via terminal: sudo apt-get install pidgin.

For more detailed information on installation and customization, refer to the Pidgin FAQ Page.

Configuring Pidgin for Ubuntu IRC

Pidgin can easily be set up to log on to the Ubuntu IRC support channels. Users must create a new account in Pidgin.

Logging on to Ubuntu IRC

Bugs

There seems to be some misconception among some Ubuntu users that the Pidgin bugtracker and the Pidgin mailing list were a general Ubuntu support forum, but this is not the case. pidgin.im is ONLY for Pidgin. If you have a question or problem that is not related to the instant messaging client called Pidgin, DO NOT ask there. Instead, install Pidgin on your computer and join one of the chatrooms listed here

Like all software, Pidgin has its share of bugs. However, you can help to improve Pidgin by reporting any bugs you may find. You can find all the currently reported bugs in the Pidgin bugtracker, which is located here.

To report a bug, you need to do the following:

  1. Go to http://developer.pidgin.im

  2. Click "register" and pick a username and password
  3. Back at http://developer.pidgin.im click "New Ticket"

  4. Describe the bug, and mark what type it is. There are several types:
    • defect are problems/bugs in Pidgin

    • enhancement is an idea for how to improve the functionality of Pidgin. This corresponds to the "Wishlist" priority on Launchpad

    • translation is for anything that has to do with a translation of Pidgin. E.g. typos in translations of Pidgin

    • plugin request is pretty self-explationary: Requests for additional functionality in Pidgin that aren't of "general" interest are often better off as plugins than parts of Pidgin itself

    • task is for anything that doesn't belong in any of the other categories

    • Skilled users can also report their own patches using the patches type, but the average user shouldn't need this

  5. In Ticket Properties you should select which part of Pidgin your ticket is about. If you don't understand this, just leave it as unclassified

  6. Now select the version of Pidgin you are using, and optionally write some keywords to make the ticket easier to find, and lastly click Submit ticket.

Most Recent Version

Several connection issues were resolved with the release of Pidgin 2.5.7. The most recent version of Pidgin can be obtained by adding the following repository to the sources.list. Unless the version is found in the official Ubuntu repositories, it is not supported and may not have undergone testing by Ubuntu maintainers.

External Links


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Pidgin (last edited 2012-03-02 22:34:47 by dyn-191-238)