Penguin

Freenode is an IRC network devoted to FreeSoftware, OpenSource, and other sorts of peer-directed projects.

There are useful, clearly named channels on topics such as #cvs, #ipcop, #mysql, #nzlinux, #parrot, #perl, #perl6?, #pugs, #pekwm, #xml and countless others. Personed 24/7 by other FreeSoftware Geeks these are an invaluable asset. Some of the smaller, more specialised channels normally require that you ask your question and then lurk until someone knowledgable is at keyboard.

You can connect by pointing your IRC client at irc.freenode.net:6667