- User/author name is _not_ a part of the specification. Client programs should extract it from the full pathname of the currently processed 'gab' file.
### User names
User/author name is _not_ a part of the specification. Client programs should, when neede, extract it from the full pathname of the currently processed 'gab' file.
```
/home/testuser/.gab
^^^^^^^^
```
### 'Private' chats/channels
'Private' channels are by convention marked by a `!` attached to the 'gab' file name.
```
.gab-regular-chat
.gab-private-conversation!
```
Well-behaved programs using the 'gab' protocol should refrain from listing the private channels in their channel directiories/selection boxes.
