ircl

Simple IRC client with customized tab completion.

This is a work in progress. The goal is the simplest possible IRC client with a small set of features that make using it fast and easy.

Stuck with HipChat? See Using ircl with HipChat.

Files of note:

${HOME}/.ircllog - transcript of all traffic in ircl

${HOME}/.irclusers - supplemental list of names for tab completion (one per line)

Dependencies

1. A C compiler
2. The GNU Readline library and header files. Most BSD and Linux distributions include this, but for example Mac OSX does not.

Features

• tab completion of commands, nicks, channels and custom names from .irclusers.
• simple, colorized display
• maintains complete log of all activity
• quiet output: intelligently mutes join/part/mode messages unless the nick is recently active.
• simple, small codebase, small memory requirements

Usage

From the command line:

usage: ircl [-h host] [-p port] [-s] [-l log file] [-n nick] [-k password] [-v]

  -s Enable SSL
  -v Verbose

The following commands (each beginning with the usual "/") are supported:

        g away   - AWAY <msg>
        h help   - display this message
        j join   - JOIN <channel>
        p part   - PART [<channel>]
        l last   - replay last messages from <channel>
        m msg    - PRIVMSG <channel or nick> <msg>
        a me     - ACTION <msg>
        s switch - change channel to <channel> or list channels and return to default
        w who    - WHO [<channel>]
        W whoa   - WHO *
        Q quit   - quit

Upon successful login, you enter the ircl% channel, which is a command-only channel.

• To join a room, use the /j command.
• To send a message to a user or channel, just start typing the name and hit TAB. Then enter the message.
• To direct all outgoing messages to a particular user or channel, use /s to switch the default channel.

Screen Snapshot

Getting Help

Stop by #ircl on irc.foonetic.net and ask your question!

Future plans

• replace libreadline with editline/libedit/linenoise
• improved internal management of nicks, tab-completion and message history
• command scripting
• who knows? Lodge an issue if you have ideas!