ERC

This is an [[IRC]] client in [[Emacs]]. I'm using [[ZNC]] as an IRC bouncer, so some of this might only apply if you're using ZNC too.

Hiding alerts

(setq erc-hide-list '("JOIN" "PART" "QUIT"))

– https://emacs.stackexchange.com/questions/26997/erc-mode-how-to-hide-alerts-when-users-join-leave-a-channel

Setting default server

In spacemacs, they are set at the point of including the erc layer in your layers config.

(erc :variables
	erc-server-list
	'(("irc.example.com"
		:port "6770"
		:ssl t
		:nick "nick"
		:password "password")))

• https://emacs.stackexchange.com/a/36035
• https://www.spacemacs.org/layers/+chat/erc/README.html#default-servers

IMPORTANT NOTE: don't actually put your password in the config - https://www.spacemacs.org/layers/+chat/erc/README.html#security-note

machine <irc.server.url> login <yournick> password <yourpassword> port <portnumber>