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A curated list of awesomeIRC resources.

A list of tools, software & other resources related to the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) protocol.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is an open source protocol that can be used for multi-user text based communication through channels.

• Clients
• Bouncers
  • Self-hosted
  • Hosted
• Daemons
• Services
• Bots
• Frameworks
  • Bridges
• Channels
  • Discovery
  • Platforms
  • Programming
• Networks
• Articles
• Guides
• Protocol
• Miscellaneous

You use these to connect to IRC.

• Komanda - Designed for people who write code (beta). (source)Linux
• Textual - Very customizable, ZNC integration, iCloud sync ($4.99). (source)macOS
• LimeChat - One window for multiple servers, keyboard shortcuts, fast & stable. (source)macOSiOS
• HexChat - Based on XChat, easy to use, spell check & multiple languages. (source)WindowsmacOSLinux
• Kiwi IRC - Powerful modern IRC messenger for the web. (source,demo)Web
• CIRC - Uses the chrome.sockets APIs to connect directly to IRC servers without needing a proxy. (source)Chrome
• Quassel - Distributed (clients can attach to and detach from a central core that stays permanently online. (source)LinuxmacOSWindows
• Yaaic - Multi-server/channel support, SASL support, Smooth channel scrolling / swiping. (source)Android
• relay.js - Focuses on making IRC less intimidating and easier to use. (demo)Web
• Circe - For use in Emacs, sane defaults.Emacs
• Smuxi - User-friendly, based on GNOME / GTK+. (source)LinuxWindowsmacOS
• KvIRC - Free, portable, based on Qt GUI toolkit. (source)LinuxmacOSWindows
• Konversation - User-friendly client built on the KDE Platform. (source)Linux
• sic -SimpleIRCclient - a terminal client in less than 250 lines of C.Linux
• Colloquy - AppleScript-enabled IRC client.macOS
• irssi - Terminal client, multi-protocol friendly for module authors, GPLv2.LinuxmacOSCygwinBSD
• Revolution IRC - Feature-full, actively maintained Android IRC client. (source)Android
• AdiIRC - Never has a client offered such granular settings for every aspect of the IRC experience. (features,screenshots)WindowsWINE
• IRC for Android™ Android/Chrome OS client for power users, with ZNC built-ins, notification logic, reliable DCC, keybinds for hardware keyboards, etc.AndroidChromeOS
• Iridium - Friendly IRC client built in Vala and GTK, designed for elementary OS. (source)Linux

More? Clients that include bouncers are foundbelow.

Useful for disconnecting and reconnecting without losing the chat session.

• IRCCloud - Group chat for teams, friends, and communities. stay connected, chat from anywhere, and never miss a message (+client) (£0-£3.50/month).
  • iOS App - Official.Objective-C
  • Android App - Official.Java
  • Nimbus - Standalone client.macOSObjective-C

• Convos - Always online web IRC client. (source,demo)PerlJavaScriptWeb
• ZNC - Most popular. many different plugins. (source)C++
• BIP IRC Proxy - Always online, lightweight and secure Open Source IRC proxying with backlogging. (source)C
• TheLounge - Responsive, self-hosted & support for multiple users. (source,demo)JavaScriptNode.jsWeb
• WeeChat - A fast, light and extensible chat client. (source)LinuxmacOSWindows
• soju - A user-friendly IRC bouncer.Go

Used for running your own IRC server or network.

• ircd.js - Server will allow clients to connect, join channels, change topics; basic stuff.
• InspIRCd - Modular, stable, written from scratch. (source)
• miniircd - Very simple and limited.
• ngIRCd - Portable and lightweight for small or private networks. (source)
• Oragono - Modern, experimental server that's portable and designed around specifications. (source)
• RobustIRC - IRC server without netsplits.

Used to provide user accounts and bots like NickServ/ChanServ to your network.

• Atheme - Designed for large networks with high scalability requirements. (source)
• anope - Designed for flexibility and ease of use. (source)

IRC users which provide services for humans, e.g. integrations or information.

• Sopel - Tonnes of ready made features, tutorial, fully documented. (source)Python
• Limnoria - Robust, user friendly, developer friendly.Python
• Twitch Plays - Takes input from the chat and presses the corresponding key.Python
• Skybot - Main goals are simplicity and power.Python
• talkbackbot - Responds to configured trigger phrases with quotes from notable women. (source)Python
• lazybot - User-friendly and powerful.Clojure
• IRC-BF -Brainfuck
• geordi - Compiles and runs C++ code snippets.C++
• CloudBot - Simple, fast, expandable.Python
• yossarian-bot - Large default plugin set, Cinch-based.Ruby
• helga - Pluggable chat bot supporting multiple protocols.Python
• EveIRC - Extendable chat/channel/server-managenent service-providing bot. Using theCinch Framework.Ruby
• BitBot - Modular, event-driven bot featuring a REST API, individual user settings and much more.bitbot.devPython

Helpful to write bots or integrate IRC with applications.

• node-ircJavaScript
• goirc - Event-based, stateful, lacking documentation.Go
• Hubot IRC Adapter - The IRC adapter for hubot.JavaScript
• go-ircevent - Event-based.Go
• pyaib - Easy to use framework for writing bots.Python
• slate-irc - Plugin system, simple api, arbitrary input stream, debug support.JavaScript
• PircBotX - Event based IRC Library with a straightforward API (updated fork ofPircBot).Java
• IRC::Client -Perl6 based extendable IRC client framework.
• irccd - Flexible IRC bot customizable with Javascript.C++.

Sends messages back and forth.

• discord-irc - Discord ↔ IRC.JavaScript
• slack-irc - Slack ↔ IRC.JavaScript
• irc-slack - Slack ↔ IRC.Go
• BitlBee - XMPP, Jabber, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, ICQ, Twitter API, HipChat ↔ IRC.C
• teleirc - Telegram ↔ IRC.JavaScript
• toxirc - Tox ↔ IRC.C
• skyweb2irc - Skype (webclient API) ↔ IRC.Javascript
• matterbridge - IRC ↔ Mattermost ↔ Discord ↔ XMPP ↔ Gitter ↔ Slack ↔ Discord ↔ Telegram ↔ ...Go

IRC channels.

• netsplit.de Search - Searches 563 different networks.
• mibbit Search - Searches networks listedhere.
• KiwiIRC Search - Searches 318 different networks.

• ##linux@freenode - Linux support and discussion channel. (rules)
• #ubuntu@freenode - Official ubuntu support channel. (rules)

• #python@freenode - Good place for short python questions. (rules)

A collection of IRC servers is known as a network.

• freenode - The largest network, for free and open source software communities. (rules)
• Snoonet - Community of redditors and subreddits. (rules)
• OFTC - Community for free and open source software communities.

Articles and blog posts about IRC.

• Please don't use Slack for FOSS projects - Drew DeVault's Blog.
• IRC Networks Under Systematic Attack From Governments - QuakeNet.
• IRC is dead, long live IRC - Royal Pingdom.
• IRC Has Lost 60% Of Its Users Since 2003, But Life As A Robot Is Just Beginning - Alex Williams (TechCrunch).

How-to's, documentation and books.

• #irchelp - A vast amount of reasonably up-to-date information.

Information and resources about the IRC protocol itself.

• IRCv3 Working Group - A group of IRC software authors working to enhance, improve, maintain and standardize the IRC protocol. (source)
• Modern IRC Documents - An attempt to write an update to the original IRC protocol. documentation (source)
• IRC Definition Files - Lists of numerics, modes, ISUPPORT tokens and other protocol details. (source)
• grawity's IRC docs - Collection of misc IRC protocol documentation.
• Protocol Statistics - Statistics around the server software in use on networks today. (source)
• IRC Parser Tests - A CC0 set of test suites, to ensure IRC message parsers are consistent.
• DareNET Archives - IRC Archives for old hard to find IRC related software.

Items that belong on the list but defy classification.

• IRC LC - Create a URL that points to a channel on a IRC network.

The best ways to use this list are:

• by browsing thecontents
• by usingcommand +F to search the contents

This list also uses tags to help when searching the contents:

• Language -Python,Java,C++,Go,JavaScript,Ruby,C etc.
• Platform -Web,macOS,Windows,Linux,Chrome etc.

Craig Davison

...andcontributors.

Contributions are welcome!

Unless otherwise stated:

• Copyright © 2016+Craig Davison. Licensed underCC0 1.0.