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Install & configure Eggdrop

Intermediate · about 25 min read

Eggdrop is the classic IRC bot platform. This guide summarises the official Eggheads install flow for a current 1.10.x release. Full documentation: docs.eggheads.org.

You can also download source archives from Download Eggdrop on IRCPlus or from eggheads.org.

On this page
  1. Prerequisites
  2. Download, compile, install
  3. Configuration
  4. IRCPlus Config Maker
  5. First start and autostart

1. Prerequisites

On Debian/Ubuntu-style systems install Tcl and OpenSSL development packages:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install tcl tcl-dev openssl libssl-dev build-essential

Eggdrop will not compile without Tcl. SSL libraries are strongly recommended for TLS to IRC and botnets.

2. Download, compile and install

Commands below follow the Eggheads “super-short” setup (adjust the version number if needed):

cd ~
wget https://geteggdrop.com -O eggdrop-1.10.2.tar.gz
# or: wget from ftp.eggheads.org / use a file from IRCPlus Downloads

tar zxvf eggdrop-1.10.2.tar.gz
cd eggdrop-1.10.2

./configure
make config          # or: make iconfig  to choose modules
make
make install DEST=~/eggdrop

Notes from the official install docs:

  • ./configure detects your system and finds Tcl
  • make config enables the default modules; make iconfig lets you pick modules interactively
  • make install DEST=... should use a full path if ~ fails on your shell — run pwd to see your home path
  • Optional: make sslcert DEST=~/eggdrop (or make sslsilent) to generate botnet TLS certificates

3. Configuration

After install, work inside the bot directory (for example ~/eggdrop):

cd ~/eggdrop
cp eggdrop.conf MyBot.conf
# or start from eggdrop-basic.conf for fewer options
nano MyBot.conf

Set at least:

  • set nick / alternate nick
  • IRC servers and ports (prefer TLS)
  • Channels to join
  • set owner to your bot account name
  • Listen port for the partyline (avoid clashes with other bots on the same host)

Comment lines with #. Keep the sample line above your edit so you can compare later.

4. IRCPlus Eggdrop Config Maker

Generate a starter config on this site Open the Eggdrop Config Maker, fill in network, nicks, owner and ports, then copy the generated config into your bot directory (for example MyBot.conf). Review every setting, add your real server list and channels, then start the bot as below.

You can still download TCL scripts from Eggdrop TCL Scripts and load them with source scripts/name.tcl in the config after you understand what they do.

5. First start and autostart

Create the userfile on the first run with -m:

cd ~/eggdrop
./eggdrop -m MyBot.conf

Later starts omit -m:

./eggdrop MyBot.conf

Optional: make the config executable so you can start with ./MyBot.conf (the first line of the config must point at the eggdrop binary — see the sample header).

Keep the bot online with crontab or systemd using the helper script shipped with Eggdrop:

./scripts/autobotchk MyBot.conf
# or systemd:
./scripts/autobotchk MyBot.conf -systemd

If something fails

  • Read the bot logfile in the install directory
  • Confirm Tcl dev packages are installed
  • Check that the IRC server allows your host and that the nick is not held by services
  • Official help: Setting Up Eggdrop and Installing Eggdrop
Related on IRCPlus Download Eggdrop · Config Maker · TCL scripts · UnrealIRCd guide