Submitted by “LIRC is basically a small server which can decode or transmit infra-red signals. This is a tutorial about how to set up the LIRC server and how to use it in order to control your system or specific LIRC-enabled applications with a remote control. Examples of simple or more complicated setups are also provided.”
I didn’t read the tutorial (because I already have lirc up and running) but KDE has a good front-end called kdelirc. Makes for controlling KDE apps and maybe some other apps with a remote really easy.