Convos is the simplest web-based IRC client with a persistent bouncer that keeps you always online, designed for IRC enthusiasts and self-hosters.

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🚀 Overview

Convos is a multiuser IRC client that runs entirely in your web browser, featuring a server-side persistent bouncer that logs all activity and keeps connections alive even when you close your browser or switch devices. It's fully responsive, working seamlessly on desktops, tablets, and phones.

This project solves the limitations of traditional desktop IRC clients, which aren't mobile-friendly, don't persist connections across sessions, and require complex setups. Convos makes IRC accessible and modern with features like WebRTC video chat, inline media, and custom themes, all while being completely self-hosted for privacy.

It's built for IRC power users, developers, sysadmins, and anyone wanting a lightweight, always-on chat solution without relying on external services. The creators developed it to bring the IRC experience into the 21st century, emphasizing simplicity, extensibility via plugins, and easy self-hosting.

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✨ Key Features

• Always online bouncer: Persistent server-side connections with full activity logging in your personal archive, so you never miss messages.
• WebRTC video chat: Start video calls with one or multiple participants directly in the chat.
• Custom themes and rich media: Personalize with color themes; emojis, images, and media display inline for a lively experience.
• Easy self-hosting: Install in minutes via script or Docker; no complex configs or external dependencies needed.
• Plugin system: Extend with bots, LDAP auth, custom CMS, and more.

Optional: Experimental support for other protocols beyond IRC.

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🛠 Tech Stack

• Frontend: Svelte, Vite, JavaScript, SCSS
• Backend: Perl, Mojolicious
• Database: File-based (JSON for settings, per-user logs)
• Auth: Custom / Plugins (e.g., LDAP)
• Hosting: Self-hosted, Docker (ghcr.io/convos-chat/convos)

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👥 Who Is This For?

This project is useful for:

• Developers and IRC enthusiasts who want a modern, browser-based client
• Self-hosters seeking private, always-on chat without SaaS
• Teams or communities using IRC for collaboration

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📸 Screenshots / Demo

• Live demo: https://convos.chat/#instant-demo
• GitHub: https://github.com/convos-chat/convos

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🔥 Project Status

• 🟡 Maintained

Last updated: 2025-02-07

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❓ FAQ

Is this project free?

Yes — Open Source (Free to use, self-host, and modify under Artistic-2.0 license.)

Is the source code available?

Yes — https://github.com/convos-chat/convos

Can I contribute?

Yes, submit issues or pull requests on GitHub, or join the discussion in #convos on libera.chat. Plugins and improvements are welcome.

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📬 Contact & Links

• Website: https://convos.chat
• GitHub: https://github.com/convos-chat/convos
• Twitter/X: N/A
• Email: Via GitHub issues or #convos@libera.chat
• IRC: #convos on libera.chat

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