# weechat

> Terminal-based chat client with modular plugin architecture and multi-protocol support, primarily for IRC

Stars: 3.4k · Language: C · License: GPL-3.0 · Categories: Network

- Repository: https://github.com/weechat/weechat
- Website: https://weechat.org
- Page: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/weechat

## Overview

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.

![WeeChat terminal interface](https://media.trmn.sh/cached/e8025c309e8a6f62b343dc268cce0391e4484129a7ac515541651d39979a0261.png)

## Alternatives

- [irssi](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/irssi.md): Terminal-based IRC client with modular architecture and support for multiple chat protocols (C, 3.2k stars)
- [elinks](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/elinks.md): Text-based web browser with frame/table support, scripting, and extensive customization options (C, 643 stars)
- [ttyd](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/ttyd.md): Command-line tool that shares a terminal command over the web, served via libuv and rendered in the browser with WebGL2, with SSL and basic auth. (C, 12.6k stars)
- [Nmap](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/nmap.md): Network scanner for host discovery, port scanning, service and OS detection, with a scripting engine (NSE) for extra checks. (C, 13.9k stars)
- [wrk](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/wrk.md): HTTP benchmarking tool that generates high load using multithreaded design and event notification systems (C, 40.4k stars)

---

Canonical: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/weechat