weechat
Terminal-based chat client with modular plugin architecture and multi-protocol support, primarily for IRC
WeeChat is a terminal-based chat client that operates through a modular plugin architecture. The core client is lightweight with all protocols implemented as optional plugins, including the main IRC plugin which can be unloaded independently. The IRC implementation is RFC-compliant, supporting standards 1459, 2810, 2811, 2812, 2813, and 7194.
The client runs on multiple platforms including GNU/Linux, BSD variants, macOS, Windows (via Bash/Ubuntu or Cygwin), GNU/Hurd, and Haiku. WeeChat supports extensive customization through configuration options and can be extended with C plugins or scripts written in Perl, Python, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme, JavaScript, or PHP. A script repository is available with community-contributed extensions.
WeeChat is designed for users who prefer terminal-based interfaces for chat protocols, particularly IRC. The multi-protocol design allows for potential support of other chat systems through additional plugins, though IRC remains the primary focus. The client emphasizes performance with a lightweight core while providing comprehensive functionality through its plugin ecosystem.
