Irssi is a terminal-based IRC client designed for users who want extensive control over their chat environment. Its interface is built around multiple windows and configurable layouts, allowing conversations across different servers and channels to be managed efficiently.
Unlike several traditional IRC clients, Irssi was written from scratch rather than being derived from ircII. It provides a modular architecture with support for scripts and additional components, making it suitable for both straightforward IRC communication and more specialised workflows.
Irssi supports additional communication protocols through third-party modules, including SILC and ICB. Its scripting facilities are particularly useful for automating routine IRC tasks and extending the application’s behaviour.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Connect to multiple IRC servers and channels.
- Automatic logging of channels, private conversations and other windows.
- Customisable themes with true-colour support.
- Configurable keyboard shortcuts and window layouts.
- Perl scripting with support for additional modules.
- Automatic detection of pasted text.
- Irssi-proxy plugin for forwarding IRC connections.
- Configurable notifications and activity highlighting.
- Nickname completion and command history.
- Encrypted connections and SASL authentication.
- Support for character-set conversion.
- Upgrade the client while retaining active connections.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux and macOS.
Website: github.com/irssi/irssi
Support:
Developer: Valentin Batz, Wouter Coekaerts, Jochen Eisinger, Geert Hauwaerts, Jilles Tjoelker, Alexander Færøy, Jase Thew, dequis, Ailin Nemui, Giuseppe and contributors – Timo Sirainen (original code)
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
Irssi 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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