ii is a minimalist IRC client from the suckless software project. Rather than providing a conventional chat interface, it exposes IRC communication through files and directories, allowing users to interact with servers using standard command-line tools.
The application creates a directory structure representing the connected IRC server, its channels and individual conversations. Each directory contains input and output files, with a named pipe used for sending commands and messages.
This design makes ii particularly useful for scripting and automation. Shell commands can send messages, monitor incoming activity or process conversation logs without requiring a separate graphical or terminal interface.
ii deliberately avoids the complexity of traditional IRC clients, leaving message presentation and more sophisticated interactions to external programs.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Minimal filesystem-based IRC client.
- Represents IRC servers, channels and conversations as directories.
- Uses named pipes (FIFOs) for sending commands and messages.
- Stores incoming messages in ordinary text files.
- Works with standard Unix command-line utilities.
- Supports shell scripting for IRC automation.
- Create channel directories automatically when joining conversations.
- Communicate with individual users through separate input and output files.
- Small C implementation with minimal dependencies.
- Simple design suitable for terminal-based workflows.
Website: git.suckless.org/ii
Support:
Developer: Hiltjo Posthuma, Anselm R. Garbe, Nico Golde
License: MIT/X Consortium License
ii is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Console IRC Clients | |
|---|---|
| WeeChat | Lightweight, extensible IRC client with extensive scripting support |
| Irssi | Highly configurable terminal IRC client with themes and scripting |
| glirc | Advanced client maintaining a model of the IRC connection state |
| tiny | Rust IRC client with mention tracking and configurable notifications |
| ERC | Powerful, modular, and extensible IRC client for Emacs |
| ircII | Long-established IRC client with multi-server and scripting support |
| ScrollZ | Advanced ircII-based IRC client |
| ircc | A single C file which implements a usable IRC client |
| senpai | Modern IRC client designed for bouncers and message history |
| rcirc | Lightweight Emacs IRC client with channel tracking and customisation. |
| EPIC | Based on ircII, EPIC excels at scripting |
| catgirl | Lightweight, security-focused terminal IRC client |
| zuse | Minimal IRC client written in Go using Bubble Tea |
| rirc | Minimalistic IRC client |
| kirc | Tiny IRC client |
| Swirc | Console based ICB and IRC client |
| Xaric | Traditional ircII-derived IRC client with extensive functionality |
| insomnia | tmux-based text interface for the hii IRC client |
| ii | Minimalist FIFO and filesystem-based IRC client |
| hii | tmux-based text interface for the hii IRC client |
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