diff --git a/autolaunch.sh b/autolaunch.sh
index ee51d31..4c64364 100644
--- a/autolaunch.sh
+++ b/autolaunch.sh
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ read -s -p "git password ?" pass
 mkdir build
 while true
 do
-	git pull https://$user:$pass@epicsparrow.com/Anselme/sparrowbot.git
+	git pull https://'$user':'$pass'@epicsparrow.com/Anselme/sparrowbot.git
 	cd build
 	qmake-qt5 ../SparrowBot.pro
 	make
-	./SparrowBot -nogui
+	./SparrowBot -nogui nick=SparrowBot chan=epicsparrow server=irc.freenode.net port=6667
 	cd ..
 done
diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index 102a32b..08566fb 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -5,21 +5,45 @@
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
+    bool nogui = false;
+    QString server = "irc.freenode.net";
+    int port = 6667;
+    QString nick = "SparrowBotDebug";
+    QString chan = "epicsparrow";
+
+    // parsing arguments
+    for(int i=1; i<argc; ++i)
+    {
+        QString str = QString(argv[i]);
+        if(str.compare("-nogui") == 0)
+            nogui = true;
+        else if(str.contains('='))
+        {
+            QStringList argList = str.split('=');
+            QString key = argList.at(0);
+            if(key.compare("server"))
+                server = argList.at(1);
+            else if(key.compare("port"))
+                port = argList.at(1).toInt();
+            else if(key.compare("nick"))
+                nick = argList.at(1);
+            else if(key.compare("chan"))
+                chan = argList.at(1);
+        }
+    }
+
     // create the socket
     SocketIRC sock;
-    sock.setServer("irc.freenode.net");
-    sock.setPort(6667);
+    sock.setServer(server);
+    sock.setPort(port);
 
     // create the bot
-    SparrowBot* bot = new SparrowBot("SparrowBotDebug", "epicsparrow");
+    SparrowBot* bot = new SparrowBot(nick, chan);
 
     // connect the bot to the socket
     QObject::connect(&sock, SIGNAL(receivedMsg(QString)), bot, SLOT(receiveMsg(QString)));
     QObject::connect(bot, SIGNAL(sendMsg(QString)), &sock, SLOT(sendMsg(QString)));
 
-    // parsing arguments
-    bool nogui = argc > 1 && QString(argv[1]).compare("-nogui") == 0;
-
     // set up UI
     if(!nogui)
     {
diff --git a/socketirc.cpp b/socketirc.cpp
index b3a6550..1e2dca6 100644
--- a/socketirc.cpp
+++ b/socketirc.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ SocketIRC::SocketIRC() : server("irc.freenode.net"), port(6667), isConnected(fal
     connect(&sock, SIGNAL(disconnected()), this, SLOT(onDisconnect()));
 }
 
-void SocketIRC::setServer(std::string server_)
+void SocketIRC::setServer(QString server_)
 {
     server = server_;
 }
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void SocketIRC::connectToServer(QCoreApplication* app_)
 {
     app = app_;
 
-    sock.connectToHost(QString(server.c_str()), quint16(port));
+    sock.connectToHost(server, quint16(port));
     if(!sock.waitForConnected(3000))
     {
         std::cerr << "failed to connect : " << sock.errorString().toStdString() << std::endl;
diff --git a/socketirc.h b/socketirc.h
index fbe6f55..b09ef5c 100644
--- a/socketirc.h
+++ b/socketirc.h
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@ class SocketIRC : public QObject
 public:
 
     SocketIRC();
-    void setServer(std::string server_);
+    void setServer(QString server_);
     void setPort(int port_);
     void connectToServer(QCoreApplication* app_);
 
 private:
 
     QCoreApplication* app;
-    std::string server;
+    QString server;
     int port;
     QTcpSocket sock;
     bool isConnected;