To join the IRC through a desktop client, you can follow the following example:
I have used XChat for Ubuntu in this example but the process should be similar for other clients too.
1) After installing the client, choose a nick and other name choices which will be displayed when you post chat messages.
2) Choose OFTC as the network. PublicLab channel is hosted on OFTC network.
[](http://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/004/528/original/1.png)
3) Under _Join this channel_ enter: '#publiclab'
[](http://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/004/529/original/2.png)
The next screen should be the publiclab live IRC.
People unfamiliar with using Desktop client can participate in IRC at http://publiclab.org/chat