Starting with version 3.71 xawtv + friends do not need a ~/.lircrc
config file any more.  There is a new config mechanism to map input
events (lirc, joystick, keyboard) into xawtv commands which is called
"eventmap".  Check the xawtvrc manpage ([eventmap] section) for
details.  There also is an default configuration now, so lirc support
should simply work out-of-the-box.

If there is no ~/.lircrc config file present, xawtv will generate
lirc-key-* events for every key pressed on the IR remote.

If ~/.lircrc is present, xawtv will still use it.  As strings for
"config" are the usual xawtv commands (the traditional way to
configure lirc support, see "man xawtv-remote") and the keyword
"eventmap" allowed.  Specifying "eventmap" will make xawtv simply
generate lirc-key-* events.

The main difference between using no config file at all and one with
"config = eventmap" is that the later allows you to filter the
keypresses depending on the current mode.  The simpliest way to make
xawtv use the default eventmap configuration, but respond to key
presses in xawtv mode only looks like this:

begin xawtv
	begin
		prog = xawtv
		config = eventmap
	end
end xawtv

You probably need this if you are going to control multiple
applications with your IR remote, check out the lirc documentation for
details.

Have fun,

  Gerd