goodbotuse
ubotu is a an automated bot in the ubuntu support IRC channels on freenode.
ubotu is a very useful resource for frequently asked questions or advice on known issues or configurations.
ubotu is most commonly invoked with an exclimation mark and the query keyword.
For example "!nvidia" will query ubotu on the key word in nvidia. This example will return the following to the main channel conversation.
To install the Ati/NVidia drivers for your video card, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto
There are many keywords that can be searched for using ubotu.
the ubuntu support channels are a fast moving channel, with many questions and requests for help. Constant use of the querying ubotu by multiple users makes the ubuntu support channels even harder to follow and can disrupt the flow of the channel, thus making support hard for both the people requesting support and the people trying to assist in support.
A method of keeping the ubuntu support channels readable and easy to follow, while still retaining ubotu's valuable knowledge base is to redirect the output of ubotu's resposes to an alternative to the main channel.
The suggested method is to re-direct the ubotus output to a private messsage for one users viewing, thus not dissrupting the main support channel.
for example: instead of the "!nvidia" query to ubotu try querying ubotu with "!nvidia > steve"
This redirection will force ubotu to send a private message to the user steve containing the respose to the !nvidia query, rather than the main channel that disrupts the flow of conversation.
The key is the > symbol that shows the rediection.
You can use the redirection to send ubotu's output to yourself or another use in the channel by replacing the username steve with either your own irc nick name or the intended users nick name.