Rewrite schema/README.md sentence by sentence
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Rewrite the description of the JSON Schema directory from scratch,
without tables, as a reader of the files needs it. Describe the
envelope as the server sends it: the reply name in `command` and the
number in `code`. Drop the federation section, which describes nothing
the server does. List where the schema files disagree with the server,
compared file by file with the HTTP API, so a reader is not misled; the
files themselves are unchanged.

Part of #190.

Model: fable-5-1 (writing); opus-5-5 (rework)
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# Message Schemas
# Message schemas
JSON Schema definitions (draft 2020-12) for the neoirc protocol. Messages use
**IRC command names and numeric reply codes** (RFC 1459/2812) encoded as JSON
over HTTP.
This directory holds JSON Schema files (draft 2020-12) for the messages that the
neoirc HTTP API carries. `message.json` describes the envelope every message
uses. `commands/` has files for some of the IRC commands. `numerics/` has files
for some of the numeric replies. `README.md` at the repository root documents
the protocol.
## Envelope
## The envelope
Every message is a JSON object with a `command` field. The format maps directly
to IRC wire format:
Every message is one JSON object. These are the fields it can have:
- `command`: the IRC command name, such as `PRIVMSG`, or the name of a numeric
reply, such as `RPL_WELCOME`. Always present.
- `code`: the number of a numeric reply, such as `1` for `RPL_WELCOME`. Absent
on other messages.
- `id`: the message's UUID, assigned by the server.
- `from`: the sender's nick, or the server name on a server message.
- `to`: the target, such as a channel name starting with `#` or a nick.
- `params`: other parameters, in order, as an array of strings. `KICK` events
and many numeric replies have it. The server ignores `params` sent by a
client.
- `body`: an array of strings. It is never a bare string. In a `PRIVMSG` or
`NOTICE`, each string is one line of text.
- `ts`: when the server stored the message, as an RFC 3339 time in UTC, such as
`2026-10-27T12:00:00.123Z`.
- `meta`: an object of extra data, such as a hashcash stamp in `meta.hashcash`.
A hashcash stamp is a short string that takes a computer some work to make. A
channel with mode `+H` needs one in every `PRIVMSG`. The server relays the
`meta` of a `PRIVMSG` or `NOTICE` unchanged. It drops the `meta` of every
other command.
A `PRIVMSG` as the IRC listener sends it, and as the HTTP API sends it without
`id`, `ts` and `meta`:
```
IRC: :nick PRIVMSG #channel :hello world
JSON: {"command": "PRIVMSG", "from": "nick", "to": "#channel", "body": ["hello world"]}
IRC: :server 353 nick = #channel :user1 @op1 +voice1
JSON: {"command": "353", "to": "nick", "params": ["=", "#channel"], "body": ["user1 @op1 +voice1"]}
Multiline: {"command": "PRIVMSG", "to": "#ch", "body": ["line 1", "line 2"]}
Structured: {"command": "PUBKEY", "body": {"alg": "ed25519", "key": "base64..."}}
IRC: :alice!alice@* PRIVMSG #general :hello world
JSON: {"command": "PRIVMSG", "from": "alice", "to": "#general", "body": ["hello world"]}
```
Common fields (see `message.json` for full schema):
A numeric reply has its name in `command` and its number in `code`. This `353`
reply lists the members of `#general`, again without `id`, `ts` and `meta`:
| Field | Type | Description |
| --------- | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| `id` | string (uuid) | Server-assigned message UUID |
| `command` | string | IRC command or 3-digit numeric code |
| `from` | string | Source nick or server name (IRC prefix) |
| `to` | string | Target: #channel or nick |
| `params` | string[] | Middle parameters (mainly for numerics) |
| `body` | array \| object | Structured body — never a raw string (see below) |
| `ts` | string | ISO 8601 timestamp (server-assigned, not in raw IRC) |
| `meta` | object | Extensible metadata (signatures, hashes, etc.) |
```
{"command": "RPL_NAMREPLY", "code": 353, "from": "neoirc", "to": "alice",
"params": ["=", "#general"], "body": ["@op1!op1@host1 alice!alice@host2"]}
```
**Structured bodies:** `body` is always an array of strings (for text) or an
object (for structured data like PUBKEY). Never a raw string. This enables:
A `body` with two strings is a two-line message:
- Multiline messages without escape sequences
- Deterministic canonicalization via RFC 8785 JCS for signing
- Structured data where needed
```
{"command": "PRIVMSG", "to": "#general", "body": ["line one", "line two"]}
```
## Commands
## Files
IRC commands used for client↔server and server↔server communication.
Commands, in `commands/`:
| Command | File | RFC | Description |
| --------- | ----------------------- | ----------- | -------------------------- |
| `PRIVMSG` | `commands/PRIVMSG.json` | 1459 §4.4.1 | Message to channel or user |
| `NOTICE` | `commands/NOTICE.json` | 1459 §4.4.2 | Notice (no auto-reply) |
| `JOIN` | `commands/JOIN.json` | 1459 §4.2.1 | Join a channel |
| `PART` | `commands/PART.json` | 1459 §4.2.2 | Leave a channel |
| `QUIT` | `commands/QUIT.json` | 1459 §4.1.6 | User disconnected |
| `NICK` | `commands/NICK.json` | 1459 §4.1.2 | Change nickname |
| `TOPIC` | `commands/TOPIC.json` | 1459 §4.2.4 | Get/set channel topic |
| `MODE` | `commands/MODE.json` | 1459 §4.2.3 | Set channel/user modes |
| `KICK` | `commands/KICK.json` | 1459 §4.2.8 | Kick user from channel |
| `PING` | `commands/PING.json` | 1459 §4.6.2 | Keepalive |
| `PONG` | `commands/PONG.json` | 1459 §4.6.3 | Keepalive response |
| `PUBKEY` | `commands/PUBKEY.json` | (extension) | Announce/relay signing key |
- `PRIVMSG.json`: a message to a channel or a user.
- `NOTICE.json`: a notice. A client must not answer a notice automatically.
- `JOIN.json`: a user joined a channel.
- `PART.json`: a user left a channel.
- `QUIT.json`: a user left the server.
- `NICK.json`: a user changed nick.
- `TOPIC.json`: a channel topic was set.
- `MODE.json`: a channel mode was changed.
- `KICK.json`: a channel operator removed a user from a channel.
- `PING.json`: a check that the server still answers.
- `PONG.json`: the answer to a `PING`.
- `PUBKEY.json`: an announcement of a user's public signing key. The server has
no such command. It answers a `PUBKEY` with `ERR_UNKNOWNCOMMAND` (421).
## Numeric Replies
Numeric replies, in `numerics/`:
Three-digit codes for server responses, per IRC convention.
- `001.json`: `RPL_WELCOME`, which welcomes a new user.
- `002.json`: `RPL_YOURHOST`, the server's name and version.
- `003.json`: `RPL_CREATED`, the date the server started.
- `004.json`: `RPL_MYINFO`, the server's version and its lists of modes.
- `322.json`: `RPL_LIST`, one channel in the answer to `LIST`.
- `323.json`: `RPL_LISTEND`, the end of the answer to `LIST`.
- `332.json`: `RPL_TOPIC`, a channel's topic.
- `353.json`: `RPL_NAMREPLY`, a channel's members.
- `366.json`: `RPL_ENDOFNAMES`, the end of the member list.
- `372.json`: `RPL_MOTD`, one line of the message of the day.
- `375.json`: `RPL_MOTDSTART`, the start of the message of the day.
- `376.json`: `RPL_ENDOFMOTD`, the end of the message of the day.
- `401.json`: `ERR_NOSUCHNICK`, the nick does not exist.
- `403.json`: `ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL`, the channel does not exist.
- `433.json`: `ERR_NICKNAMEINUSE`, the nick is taken.
- `442.json`: `ERR_NOTONCHANNEL`, the user is not on that channel.
- `482.json`: `ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED`, the user is not a channel operator.
### Success / Informational (0xx–3xx)
## Where the files differ from the server
| Code | Name | File | Description |
| ----- | -------------- | ------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| `001` | RPL_WELCOME | `numerics/001.json` | Welcome after session creation |
| `002` | RPL_YOURHOST | `numerics/002.json` | Server host info |
| `003` | RPL_CREATED | `numerics/003.json` | Server creation date |
| `004` | RPL_MYINFO | `numerics/004.json` | Server info and modes |
| `322` | RPL_LIST | `numerics/322.json` | Channel list entry |
| `323` | RPL_LISTEND | `numerics/323.json` | End of channel list |
| `332` | RPL_TOPIC | `numerics/332.json` | Channel topic |
| `353` | RPL_NAMREPLY | `numerics/353.json` | Channel member list |
| `366` | RPL_ENDOFNAMES | `numerics/366.json` | End of NAMES list |
| `372` | RPL_MOTD | `numerics/372.json` | MOTD line |
| `375` | RPL_MOTDSTART | `numerics/375.json` | Start of MOTD |
| `376` | RPL_ENDOFMOTD | `numerics/376.json` | End of MOTD |
Where a schema file and the server disagree, the server is right:
### Errors (4xx)
- `message.json` and the numeric files put the three-digit code in `command` and
have no `code` field. The server puts the reply's name in `command` and its
number in `code`.
- `message.json` allows an object as `body`. The server reads only arrays of
strings. A `PRIVMSG` with an object gets `ERR_NOTEXTTOSEND` (412).
- `message.json` says `to` is a channel or a nick. A `WALLOPS` message has `*`
there.
- `message.json` allows `meta` on every message. The server keeps `meta` only on
a `PRIVMSG` or `NOTICE`.
- `message.json` describes signature fields in `meta`. The server never checks a
signature.
- `message.json` does not describe `meta.hashcash`. The server reads it in a
`PRIVMSG` to a channel with mode `+H`.
- `JOIN.json` has no `body`. A client's `JOIN` can carry the channel key in
`body`. When a user joins, the server's `JOIN` event repeats the channel name
there.
- `JOIN.json` allows a channel name of any length. The server allows at most 63
characters after the `#`. It answers a longer name with `ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL`
(403).
- `KICK.json` puts the kicked nick in `params`. The server reads a client's
`KICK` from `body`: the nick, then an optional reason.
- `MODE.json` puts the mode change in `params`. The server uses `body` instead.
A client sends the change and any value as separate strings, such as `"+o"`
and `"bob"`. The server's `MODE` event has one string such as `"+o bob"`, or
the change and its value as two strings, such as `"+k"` and `"secret"`.
- `NOTICE.json` allows `*` as `to`. The server answers that with
`ERR_NOSUCHNICK` (401).
- `NOTICE.json` has an example notice from the server to `*`. The server sends
no such notice.
- `PING.json` and `PONG.json` describe a token that the `PONG` repeats. The
server ignores the `body` of a `PING`. It answers the HTTP request itself with
`{"command": "PONG", "from": "<server name>"}`.
- `PING.json` and `PONG.json` also describe messages between servers. The server
does not connect to other IRC servers.
- `PUBKEY.json` describes a command the server does not have.
- `QUIT.json` says only the server sends `QUIT`. A client can send it too, to
end its session. The client's `QUIT` can carry a reason in `body`.
- `TOPIC.json` says a `TOPIC` without a `body` queries the topic. Over the HTTP
API a `TOPIC` without a `body` gets `ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS` (461).
- `TOPIC.json` says an empty array clears the topic. The server answers `[]`
with `ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS` (461). A `body` of `[""]` clears the topic.
- `003.json` describes the server's creation date. The server sends the date it
last started.
- `004.json` has example mode lists. The server sends an empty string as the
user modes and `ikmnostl` as the channel modes.
- `322.json` says `LIST` gets one reply per channel. The server leaves out each
secret channel that the user is not on.
- `353.json` says `body` lists nicks. Over the HTTP API the server lists
`nick!user@host` in place of each nick, such as `@op1!op1@host1`.
- `353.json` says the first parameter marks a channel as public, private or
secret. The server always sends `=`, the mark for a public channel.
- `376.json` gives the text as `End of /MOTD command`. The server adds a full
stop.
- `401.json` gives the text as `No such nick/channel`. For a `PRIVMSG` or
`NOTICE` to an unknown nick, the server sends `No such nick`.
- `433.json` has an example with `*` as `to`. Over the HTTP API the server sends
`433` only in answer to a `NICK`, with the user's nick as `to`.
| Code | Name | File | Description |
| ----- | -------------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------- |
| `401` | ERR_NOSUCHNICK | `numerics/401.json` | No such nick/channel |
| `403` | ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL | `numerics/403.json` | No such channel |
| `433` | ERR_NICKNAMEINUSE | `numerics/433.json` | Nickname already in use |
| `442` | ERR_NOTONCHANNEL | `numerics/442.json` | Not on that channel |
| `482` | ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED | `numerics/482.json` | Not channel operator |
## Federation (S2S)
Server-to-server messages use the same command format. Federated servers relay
messages with an additional `origin` field in `meta` to track the source server.
The PING/PONG commands serve as inter-server keepalives. State sync after link
establishment uses a burst of JOIN, NICK, TOPIC, and MODE commands.
The server also accepts some messages that the files do not allow, such as a
channel name without its `#`.