Aug 24, 2017 XChat Azure(was XChat Aqua) is an OS X native front-end of XChat, an IRC chat program that is especially popular in the Linux world. It allows you to join multiple IRC channels (chat rooms) at the same time, talk publicly or in private one-on-one conversations, etc. Even file transfers are possible. XChat Aqua/Azure is OS X native front-end of xchat2 written on Cocoa rather than GTK2. It is based on the Xchat 2 code base and therefore Open Source and Free Software. Textual 2.1.1 Available from Mac App Store for $4 (trial version disconnects you every 2 hours).

The word IRC stands for Internet Relay chat that has been heard by many but only a few know the actual meaning of the same. It is basically an application layer rule or protocol that enhances communication in the form of text. The communication process occurs in the form of text. Now, what IRC clients mean? IRC customers are PC programs that clients can introduce on their framework or electronic applications running either locally in the program or on outsider server. These customers talk with various visit servers to share messages with other clients. IRC is for the most part intended for gathering correspondence in dialog discussions, called channels, yet in addition permits one-on-one correspondence by means of private messages just as talk and information transfer, including record sharing.

Advantages of IRC

Even the smallest thing in the world have certain advantages. And the famous part of technology which is IRC also has them. So, Now, Let us have a look on few advantages:

1. Internet Relay Chat is decentralized: There is no single organization controlling IRC (as opposed to WhatsApp or Facebook chat or AIM, and so forth.) Therefore, anybody can set up their very own server and use it any way they like.
2. The channel paradigm with the IRC is very robust: permits for real-time conversation with up to various of people at a single second.
3. Privacy: The IRC messenger has access levels and high-level channel modes. Let us take an example, If you are a resident of India, you may be banned from the channel of Japan based on your specific IP address or you will require an invitation or a secret code to enter.
4. Meeting New People all over the globe: The one who owes an IRC Client will surely love to interact with many people at once. So IRC clients enable this feature.

Now let us see some best IRC clients available for Linux, Windows, and Mac.

1. Weechat

The first and the foremost IRC Client available in the list is Weechat. It runs very efficiently in various types of platforms like Windows, Linux, and Mac. If you are looking for a powerful and fast IRC Client, then you must surely check Weechat. The renown client comes as a “feather-light” (IRC) Chat Client which can be comfortably pulled as per your requirements. There are various uncountable Plugins and Scripts easily available for it. The plugins can also be loaded/unloaded dynamically with fewer difficulties in real-time (to the program). Customization capabilities are one of the abilities of Weechat to increase efficiency and decrease workload. Weechat is completely documented and also an active project.

Platforms: Windows, Linux, and Mac

2. XChat Azure

XChat Azure is another incredible, include rich, and simple to utilize IRC customer application on Mac OS X. It is considered as Best IRC Client for Mac. It gives a simple method to associate by means of the IRC arranges on Mac OS X gadgets. It’s absolutely a quality IRC customer application and the one that you should look at on the off chance that you utilize a Mac. The amazing thing is that it is free in cost. Connecting with multiple IRC servers and channels is no more an issue. Because of this feature, it is easy to have both general and private conversations easily. Additionally, there are many good extra features available such as full robust support, support for file transfers, and many useful keyboard shortcuts. Lastly, XChat Azure is a completely open source application.

Platforms: Mac

3. IceChat

IceChat is considered as one of the best IRC clients for windows. Why? Because of its exclusive features and as it is available only on Windows without any complications. The application proclaims itself as “The Chat Cool People Use.” And no doubt, it had made itself such successful that the tagline even attracts the majority of the population. It is very easy to use. The steps include just enter a nickname, choose an IRC server to connect to, and you are ready to chat with your friends. IceChat is exceedingly adaptable. It enables you to change everything, including visit text styles, foundation hues, worldwide application subjects, and nickname records. The other standard features you get via this IRC Client is VBS based scripting, multiple servers & channel support, etc.

Platforms: Windows.

4. Pidgin

Coming to the next IRC Client known as Pidgin which is one of the Best IRC clients for Linux. Pidgin is convenient to use and absolutely free chat client used by many people across the globe. You can very comfortably connect to famous chat networks like AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, IRC, XMPP, and many more chat networks all at a single second. Wanna hear the exclusive features? Okay! So here we go. Firstly, it supports multiple chat networks. Pidgin is an IRC Client which is highly extensible with the use of plugins. You can also integrate the client with a system tray on GNOME and KDE. Lastly, everyone likes if there is the presence of active development. And the amazing Pidgin is a free software with continuous development.

Platforms: Linux

5. HexChat

HexChat is completely based on the phenomena of XChat Azure with some changes along with it. But as XChat is not completely free, this software is completely for both Windows and Unix-like system. Since XChat is open source, it is no doubt legal to copy them. The HexChat client is much scriptable with Lua, Python, and Perl. There are various languages which the Best IRC client supports. The software is also one of the fully open source which is in active development. So as the days pass, the users start to wish for new updates and this IRC client provides them. HexChat can also connect various networks at a single second with auto connect, join, and identify the feature. Lastly, if the grammar was an issue. Then don’t worry, the HexChat has the feature of Spellcheck, Proxies, SASL, DCC support and many more.

Platforms: Windows, Linux, and Mac

6. Quassel IRC

Coming to the next IRC Client called as Quassel IRC and considered as one of the best IRC client. Quassel IRC is an advanced, cross-stage, disseminated IRC customer, implying that one or more clients can append to and segregate from a centralized system – much like the famous mix of screen and a content-based IRC customer, for example, WeeChat, however graphical. Notwithstanding this remarkable element, the Quassel IRC try to bring a pleasurable, comfortable chatting experience at every single significant stage. It is basically a distributed IRC Chat Client based on the Qt4 framework. Quassel IRC is majorly distributed under the GPL and is absolutely free to download IRC Client. Lastly, the app is also open source IRC client application.

Platforms: Windows, Linux, and Mac

7. ADIIRC

The seventh IRC client is ADIIRC which is no doubt first in many hearts. As said everyone likes continuous development so this free IRC client is surely frequently updated, so you get added features in its every new release. A much of solid features make it one of the Best free IRC clientsavailable throughout the technology world. ADIIRC is genuinely simple to utilize IRC Client. A portion of its prominent highlights incorporates double segment UI, numerous server associations, record exchanges, intermediary and SSL support, full message logging, MTS themes, spellchecker, monitor panels, IRCv3 compatible, and much more. You can get themes, scripts, plugins, and translations in addition to its original features. There are Nicklist, Treebar, Windows icons on the main screen leading for your ease.

Platforms: Windows, Linux, and Mac

8. mIRC

mIRC is an IRC client which is only meant for windows. Still, it is one of the oldest and most established IRC clients on the internet. The Best IRC client can work with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. It is a little application that takes insignificant seconds to download and introduce. When opened, you will see a speedy advertisement and afterward you should enter a nickname and email address along with your chat server information. Once these steps are followed, you can conveniently start chatting with your friends. mIRC also comes with few servers present in it already installed if the user just wants to browse. The application along with the feature of chat has various other features like file transfers, notifications, scripts and more. The advertisements are an issue and you can easily remove them by paying a few dollars.

Platforms: Windows

9. Textual

The ninth app in the list known as Textual is basically meant for Mac purpose only. It is one of the famous and leading applications for interacting with IRC chat rooms on Mac OS X. And as this app is just downloaded for mac purpose only, there is no compatibility issue with it. Textual has an amazingly planned multi-section UI having dull and light variations which makes it an unadulterated visual pleasure on Retina gadgets. Textual has been studded with a staggering scope of highlights which makes it appropriate for any dimension of IRC client. There are essential choices like Native Notification Center, Native Fullscreen bolsters, numerous console easy routes, and various other fundamental highlights that make it a quality IRC Client.

Platforms: Mac

Wrapping Up!

As we have seen now various best IRC Clients available throughout the technology world. It comes the time when we need to conclude the things. Everyone loves to chat and we don’t like to chat in such an IRC Client app which won’t give a better interface. So IRC Client should have a better interface, easy to use and most importantly it should not be limited for its features. The features should match your requirements. So it is your function to note down your requirements. And then just try to match them with the features of every IRC client. If the features and requirements match, then no doubt, it is one of the Best IRC clientmade for you. So ending with it, Keep Chatting and sharing!

HexChat is an Internet Relay Chatclient, forked from XChat. It has a choice of a tabbed document interface or tree interface, support for multiple servers, and numerous configuration options. Both command-line and graphical versions were available.

The client is available for Unix-like systems; derivatives with native support for macOS's Aqua interface are also available (see below).

XChat's main source code tree has not received any patches since 2013.^[4] In the past, some Linux distributions, such as Fedora, maintained their own versions to fix bugs, keep the program working and able to build, and to resolve security issues.^[5]

XChat's fork HexChat, formerly the Windows-specific X-Chat WDK, is installed by default on Linux Mint, and is still maintained, as of August 2018.^[6][7]

Features[edit]

The Internet Relay Chat client offers a graphical user interface surrounding the basic chat window. It includes all basic functionality found in most other IRC clients, including nick completion,^[8] connecting to multiple servers,^[9] secure connections,^[10]Client-to-client protocol, Direct Client-to-Client file transfers and chats, and a plugin system for various programming languages (including at least C or C++, Perl, Python, Tcl, Ruby,^[11]Lua,^[12]CLISP, D, and DMDScript^[13]). Plugins allow extending the features and customization of the functionality of XChat.

Xchat Azure Login

The default view for the client window is referred to as 'tree view', but can be configured for a tabbed interface instead. Tabs change color as text arrives, other users enter or leave channels, or another user addresses the user's nickname. The interface can display clickable operator ('op') commands and others, and allows customization of fonts, event sounds, timestamps, and logging.^[14] XChat implements all standard IRC commands (e.g. /NICK or /JOIN), as well as DCC chatting (/CHAT), which allows chat to continue if the IRC server is disconnected.^[14]

The client runs on Unix-like operating systems,^[6][15] and many GNU/Linux distributions include packages in their repositories.^[16]

Licensing[edit]

The main body of XChat code is licensed under the GNU General Public License. However, on August 23, 2004, the official build for Windows had become shareware, and had to be purchased after a 30-day trial period. Previous builds for Windows were removed from the official site.^[17] The authors stated that the shareware fee is required due to the excessive amount of time it took to make it compile under Windows.^[18] This created controversy as Peter Železný did not have the copyright to all of the code which he was claiming to re-license, as well as linking proprietary shareware enforcement code against GPL-licensed code, making the Windows version of XChat a violation of copyright law and the GPL.^[19]

However, since the Unix version of XChat's code is free software under the GPL, several free non-official builds for Windows are being maintained.^[20]

Xchat Azure Account

Derivative software[edit]

• Silverex's Windows build based on XChat 2.8.6 (discontinued)
• XChat Aqua or XChat Azure for macOS
• lurc, an IRC client based on XChat 1.0
• HexChat (formerly XChat-WDK), cross-platform fork which adds various features

Xchat For Windows

Reception[edit]

XChat has been described as popular,^[21][22][23] buildable for a variety of platforms. In its heyday it was rated one of the best IRC clients for Linux.^[24]IRC Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools goes into depth explaining its setup, configuration, and advanced features under Unix^[21] and macOS.^[25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^https://blog.tingping.se/about/
2. ^https://hexchat.readthedocs.io/en/latest/changelog.html
3. ^'News'. XChat.org. September 18, 1999. Archived from the original on 1999-09-21.
4. ^XChat Subversion repository history, showing few commits other than to plug-in code since 2010
5. ^'Package xchat'. apps.fedoraproject.org. Retrieved 2016-09-18.^{[permanent dead link]}
6. ^ ^abHexChat News
7. ^Announcement of HexChat Posted on 06 Jul, 2012
8. ^Whaples, Thomas (2004). 'Hack #2: XChat'. In Mutton, Paul (ed.). IRC Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools. O'Reilly Media. p. 63. ISBN978-0596-00687-7.
9. ^IRC Hacks, p. 90.
10. ^IRC Hacks, p. 93.
11. ^Xchat-Ruby Plugin Website. ruby.sourceforge.net
12. ^xchat Lua plugin^{[permanent dead link]}. ankh-morp.org. https://archive.today/20120630205600/http://ankh-morp.org/code/xchat-lua/ 30 Jun 2012
13. ^xcdscript home pageArchived May 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. ludost.net.
14. ^ ^abArnote, Paul (September 2009). 'Internet Relay Chat: The Forgotten Chat Frontier'Archived 2012-07-29 at the Wayback Machine. PCLinuxOS Magazine.
15. ^'FAQ'. xchat.org.
16. ^'Shareware background'. hexchat.github.io.
17. ^Preston, Allan K. (June 2006). 'XChat for Windows(review of release by Silverex)'. IRCReviews.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
18. ^XChat for WindowsArchived 2004-08-25 at the Wayback Machine. xchat.org. 'Q. Why can't XChat for Windows be free? A. [...] Building XChat for Windows is a difficult process, it requires quite some skill and expertise to accomplish. It takes time, and is by no means automated. [...]'
19. ^'xchat.org :: View topic - About Windows release licensing'. 2007-02-16. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
20. ^Build Lineup^{[permanent dead link]}. xchatdata.net.
21. ^ ^abIRC Hacks, p. 3
22. ^Hudson, Andrew; Hudson, Paul; Helmke, Matthew; Troy, Ryan (2009). 'Internet Relay Chat'. Ubuntu Unleashed 2010 Edition: Covering 9.10 and 10.4. Sams Publishing/Pearson Education. p. 124. ISBN978-0672331091.
23. ^'IRCHelp.org'.
24. ^'Five Best IRC Clients for Linux'. Archived from the original on 2015-03-02. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
25. ^IRC Hacks, p. 11.

External links[edit]

• Official website
• #xchat^connect on freenode
• #xchat^{[permanent dead link]} on EFnet
• Toxin XChat Themes Installer^{[permanent dead link]}

Xchat Azure