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bitlbee/bitlbee

Free

An IRC to other chat networks gateway :bee:

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About bitlbee/bitlbee

BitlBee is an open-source IRC gateway that enables users to connect to various instant messaging and chat networks—such as Jabber (XMPP), Twitter, and others—through a standard IRC client. It acts as a bridge, translating IRC messages into the native protocols of supported networks and vice versa. BitlBee can be self-hosted on a server or accessed via public servers like im.bitlbee.org. It uses the libpurple library for protocol support and is licensed under GPLv2. The project provides a main website (bitlbee.org), a bug tracker, and a wiki, with installation packages available for most Linux distributions.

Key Features

IRC gateway bridging multiple chat networks (Jabber, Twitter, etc.) through a single IRC client
Multi-protocol support via libpurple (includes AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, etc.)
Self-hosted installation or use of public servers (e.g., im.bitlbee.org)
Open source under GPLv2, with source available on GitHub
Lightweight and configurable IRC server that runs alongside other chat protocols
Support for OTR encryption and optional LDAP/PAM authentication
Active community with dedicated IRC channel (#BitlBee on OFTC) and bug tracker

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Open source and free to use with no licensing costs
  • Allows unification of multiple chat networks under one IRC client interface
  • Can be self-hosted, giving full control over data and privacy
  • Public servers available for quick use without installation
  • Long-standing project with an active community and regular maintenance (though releases are infrequent)
  • Supports a wide range of protocols via libpurple
Cons
  • Requires a compatible IRC client; not a standalone graphical application
  • Last stable release (3.5.1) was in May 2017, which may indicate slow development pace
  • Some protocol plugins (e.g., Twitter) may be deprecated or require additional setup
  • Setup and configuration require technical knowledge (e.g., compiling from source, editing config files)

Best For

Using a single IRC client to manage multiple instant messaging accounts (Jabber, Twitter, etc.)Bridging IRC with modern messaging networks for team communicationSelf-hosting a private chat gateway for personal or organizational useAccessing chat networks through a lightweight, terminal-based interface

FAQ

What is BitlBee?
BitlBee is an open-source IRC gateway that allows users to connect to various chat networks (like Jabber, Twitter, etc.) from a standard IRC client.
How do I install BitlBee?
BitlBee is available in the package managers of most Linux distributions. For Debian/Ubuntu systems, a nightly APT repository is provided at https://code.bitlbee.org/debian/. You can also compile from source with dependencies like glib 2.32+, gnutls, and Python.
Is BitlBee free?
Yes, BitlBee is free and open-source software licensed under GPLv2.
Can I use BitlBee without installing it?
Yes, you can use a public BitlBee server such as im.bitlbee.org without installing the software yourself.
Which chat networks does BitlBee support?
BitlBee supports multiple protocols through libpurple, including Jabber (XMPP), Twitter, AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, and others. Specific protocol support may vary.