OS

Free software, multi-platform

WeeChat is a fast, light and extensible chat client, with a text-based user interface.

WeeChat is:

  • modular: a lightweight core with optional plugins
  • multi-protocols architecture (mainly IRC)
  • multi-platforms: Linux, Unix, BSD, GNU Hurd, Haiku, macOS and Windows (WSL and Cygwin).
  • extensible with C, Python, Perl, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme, Javascript and PHP
  • fully documented and translated into several languages
  • a free program released under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3
  • an active project with a large community for scripts.


Light and extensible

WeeChat is designed to be light and extensible: a lightweight core with optional plugins.
Plugins and scripts can be dynamically loaded and unloaded at any time.

Almost everything is a plugin, for example:

  • Internet Relay Chat (IRC) protocol
  • API for script languages (Python, Perl, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme, Javascript, PHP)
  • IRC proxy and remote interface (relay)
  • Scripts manager
  • Alias, aspell, charset, logger, etc.

Plugins

Scripts

The future is now!

WeeChat brings a lot of innovative features, which makes it different from other console/terminal based chat clients.

Look by yourself (the list is not exhaustive):

  • 256 colors
  • Mouse support
  • Customizable bars
  • 8 script languages
  • Horizontal/vertical split
  • Dynamic filtering of lines
  • Incremental text search
  • FIFO pipe
  • Spell checking
  • Scripts manager
  • Remote interfaces
  • Upgrade without quitting


Full-featured IRC plugin

IRC plugin implements the protocol as described in the RFCs 1459 and 2812.

It comes with many built-in features, such as:

  • Multi-servers
  • IPv6, SSL, proxy
  • SASL authentication
  • Nicklist
  • Color for nicks
  • Color for away nicks
  • Smart filter
  • Anti-flood
  • Commands redirection
  • Custom CTCP replies
  • Lag indicator
  • DCC (file/chat)

IRC

Android

Remote interfaces

External interfaces (graphical or text) can connect to a running WeeChat.
They communicate with WeeChat using the relay protocol.

A list of interfaces is available on this page.


Documentation and support

WeeChat is translated into several languages and has a comprehensive documentation, also translated.

  • You are new to WeeChat? Read the quickstart and user's guide.
  • Got a trivial question? The FAQ is waiting for you!
  • You want to write a script for WeeChat? Look at scripting guide and plugin API reference.
  • Your native tongue is C? Then take a look at the developer's guide and contribute!

There is an excellent support for users. Try it if you have any questions!

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