A curated list of awesome IRC resources
Contents · Use · Authors · License & Credits
This is a list of tools, software & other resources related to the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) protocol.
"IRC: The one protocol that you can never resist" - Firrre
You use these to connect to IRC.
- Shout - responsive, self-hosted & support for multiple users (source, demo)
Web
- Komanda - designed for people who write code (beta) (source)
Linux
- Textual - very customizable, ZNC integration, iCloud sync ($4.99) (source)
OS X
- LimeChat - one window for multiple servers, keyboard shortcuts, fast & stable (source)
OS X
- HexChat - based on XChat, easy to use, spell check & multiple languages (source)
Windows
OS X
Linux
- Kiwi IRC - hand crafted with powerful features & text styling (source, demo)
Web
- CIRC - uses the chrome.sockets APIs to connect directly to IRC servers without needing a proxy (source)
Chrome
- nirc - simple (demo)
Web
- Quassel - distributed (clients can attach to and detach from a central core that stays permanently online (source)
Linux
OS X
Windows
- Yaaic - multi-server/channel support, SASL support, Smooth channel scrolling / swiping (source)
Android
- koko - minimalistic design, VIM-like shortcuts and built on electron
Windows
OS X
- 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)
Linux
Windows
OS X
- aIRChat - beautiful, modernized, browser-based
Web
- KVIrc - free, portable, based on Qt GUI toolkit (source)
Linux
OS X
Windows
More? Clients that include bouncers are found below.
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
OS X
Objective-C
- iOS App - official
- Grove - hosted IRC and so much more (+client) ($10-$125/month)
- Firrre - authorized connections to Free / Libre / Open Source driven IRC Networks (Free)
- ZNC - most popular. many different plugins (source)
- IRCAnywhere - built for teams and gives control + privacy to you (alpha) (source)
- TapChat - modern IRC (source)
- Android App - (source)
Java
- Android App - (source)
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)
- Atheme - legacy set of services designed for large networks with high scalability requirements (source)
- miniircd - very simple and limited
- ngIRCd - portable and lightweight for small or private networks (source)
- anope - designed for flexibility and ease of use (source)
- Hulk - intended for private business use or hobby work
Haskell
IRC users which provide services for humans, e.g. integrations or information.
- BotBot.me - makes IRC logs awesome (source)
- Web interface - (demo)
- Sopel - tonnes of ready made features, tutorial, fully documented (source)
Python
- phenny - simple, module creation guide (source)
Python
- IRCcat - simplifies messaging from shell scripts
Java
- 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
- Jenni -
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 (source)
C++
- CloudBot - simple, fast, expandable
Python
Helpful to write bots or integrate IRC with applications.
- node-irc
JavaScript
- Cinch - quickly create bots with minimal effort
Ruby
- 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
- Jerk - ridiculously simple to set-up and get going
JavaScript
Sends messages back and forth.
- slack-irc - Slack <-> IRC
JavaScript
- CamperVan - Campfire <-> IRC
Ruby
- BitlBee - XMPP, Jabber, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, ICQ, Twitter API, HipChat <-> IRC
C
- teleirc - Telegram <-> IRC
JavaScript
IRC channels.
- irc.netsplit.de Search - searches 563 different networks
- mibbit Search - searches networks listed here
- KiwiIRC Search - searches 318 different networks
- ##linux@freenode - Linux support and discussion channel (rules)
- #ubuntu@freenode - official ubuntu support channel (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)
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
- How to Setup a Secure Private IRC Channel
- BotBot's IRC Cheat Sheet - well-designed and with many well-answered questions
Items which don't fit into the other categories
- IRCv3 Working Group - a group of IRC client and server software authors working to enhance, improve, maintain and standardize the current IRC protocol (source)
- IRC LC - create a URL that points to a channel on a IRC network
The best ways to use this list are:
- by browing the contents
- by using command + 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
,OS X
,Windows
,Linux
,Chrome
etc.
With many thanks to the contributors. 👏
Contributions are welcome! Check out the Contributing Guidelines. 🙌
Unless otherwise stated:
- Copyright © 2016+ Craig Davison. Released under the CC0 1.0 License.