Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a text-based chat system. It enables discussions among any number of participants in so-called conversation channels and conversations between only two partners. Any participant may open a new conversation channel, and a single computer user can also take part in several such simultaneous channels.
Several IRC clients are actively developed that you can use on a Linux desktop, and in this article, we shall look at some of them.
WeeChat
WeeChat is a free and open-source Internet Relay Chat client that is designed to be light and fast. It is based on command-line and is a cross-platform chat client that runs on Unix, Linux, BSD, GNU Hurd, Windows, and Mac OS.
Install WeeChat in Linux
$ sudo apt install weechat [On Debian/Ubuntu & Mint] $ sudo yum install weechat [On CentOS/RHEL 7] $ sudo dnf install weechat [On CentOS/RHEL 8 & Fedora] $ sudo yay -S weechat [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install weechat [On OpenSUSE Linux] $ sudo pkg install weechat [On FreeBSD]
Pidgin
Pidgin is an easy-to-use, free, cross-platform chat client that enables users to connect to several chat networks simultaneously. Pidgin is more than just an IRC client. You can think of it as an all-in-one program for Internet messaging.
Install Pidgin in Linux
$ sudo apt install pidgin [On Debian/Ubuntu & Mint] $ sudo yum install pidgin [On CentOS/RHEL 7] $ sudo dnf install pidgin [On CentOS/RHEL 8 & Fedora] $ sudo yay -S pidgin [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install pidgin [On OpenSUSE Linux] $ sudo pkg install pidgin [On FreeBSD]
XChat
XChat is a graphical Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client for chat room and instant messaging use. It supports multiple channels, has various plugins, and has versions for the major operating systems for both Linux and Windows.
HexChat
HexChat is an Internet Relay Chat client that forked from XChat. Originally called XChat-WDK, HexChat is based on XChat. It chooses a tabbed document interface or tree interface, support for multiple servers, and numerous configuration options. Both command-line and graphical versions were available and used on Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, OS X, and Windows.
Install HexChat in Linux
$ sudo apt install hexchat [On Debian/Ubuntu & Mint] $ sudo yum install hexchat [On CentOS/RHEL 7] $ sudo dnf install hexchat [On CentOS/RHEL 8 & Fedora] $ sudo yay -S hexchat [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install hexchat [On OpenSUSE Linux] $ sudo pkg install hexchat [On FreeBSD]
Irssi
Irssi is an IRC client program for Linux, FreeBSD, macOS and Microsoft Windows. It was initially written by Timo Sirainen, and released under the terms of the GNU. Enable Unix-like operating systems and supports SILC and ICB protocols through plugins.
Install Irssi in Linux
$ sudo apt install irssi [On Debian/Ubuntu & Mint] $ sudo yum install irssi [On CentOS/RHEL 7] $ sudo dnf install irssi [On CentOS/RHEL 8 & Fedora] $ sudo yay -S irssi [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install irssi [On OpenSUSE Linux] $ sudo pkg install irssi [On FreeBSD]
Konversation
Konversation is an Internet Relay Chat client built on the KDE Platform and is free software released under the terms of the GNU GPL-2.0-or-later. Konversation is currently maintained in the KDE Extragear Network module, which means that it has its release cycle independent of the central KDE applications. And run on GNOME and other Linux desktops.
Install Konversation in Linux
$ sudo apt install konversation [On Debian/Ubuntu & Mint] $ sudo yum install konversation [On CentOS/RHEL 7] $ sudo dnf install konversation [On CentOS/RHEL 8 & Fedora] $ sudo yay -S konversation [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install konversation [On OpenSUSE Linux] $ sudo pkg install konversation [On FreeBSD]
Quassel IRC
Quassel IRC, or Quassel, is a graphical, distributed, cross-platform IRC client introduced in 2008. It is released under the GNU General Public License version 2, or version 3, for GNU and Unix-like operating systems, macOS, and Microsoft Windows. It has also been ported to OS/2 Warp due to its cross-platform nature.
Install Quassel in Linux
$ sudo apt install quassel [On Debian/Ubuntu & Mint] $ sudo yum install quassel [On CentOS/RHEL 7] $ sudo dnf install quassel [On CentOS/RHEL 8 & Fedora] $ sudo yay -S quassel [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install quassel [On OpenSUSE Linux] $ sudo pkg install quassel [On FreeBSD]
Element – Secure Collaboration and Messaging
Element is a free and open-source All-in-one software instant messaging app that supports end-to-end encryption, group chats, video conferencing, voice calls, and sharing of files between users while working remotely.
Install Element on Debian, Ubuntu & Mint
$ sudo apt install -y wget apt-transport-https $ sudo wget -O /usr/share/keyrings/riot-im-archive-keyring.gpg https://packages.riot.im/debian/riot-im-archive-keyring.gpg $ echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/riot-im-archive-keyring.gpg] https://packages.riot.im/debian/ default main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/riot-im.list $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install element-desktop
Session Message
Session Message is a new encrypted secure private messenger application that offers a completely anonymous account without any number or email required. All your chat messages are route privately using online routing protocols that keep your messages secret, secure and private.
