weechat/weechat
FreeThe extensible chat client.
FreeFree tier
About weechat/weechat
WeeChat (Wee Enhanced Environment for Chat) is a free, fast, and lightweight chat client designed for many operating systems. It features a modular architecture with a lightweight core and optional plugins, supporting multiple protocols via plugins — most notably IRC (compliant with RFCs 1459, 2810-2813, and 7194). The client is highly customizable and extensible through C plugins and scripts written in Perl, Python, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme, JavaScript, and PHP. WeeChat runs on GNU/Linux, *BSD, GNU/Hurd, Haiku, macOS, and Windows (via WSL and Cygwin). It is fully documented with translations into several languages, developed from scratch, and released under the GPLv3 license.
Key Features
Modular core with optional plugins that can be independently loaded/unloaded
Multi-platform support (GNU/Linux, *BSD, GNU/Hurd, Haiku, macOS, Windows via WSL/Cygwin)
Multi-protocol design with a standards-compliant IRC plugin (RFC 1459, 2810-2813, 7194)
Highly customizable with many options and extensible via C plugins and scripts (Perl, Python, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme, JavaScript, PHP)
Small, fast, and lightweight core
Comprehensive documentation translated into several languages
Free software released under GPLv3
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free and open source (GPLv3)
- Lightweight and fast, suitable for low-resource environments
- Extensible with multiple scripting languages (Perl, Python, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme, JS, PHP)
- Modular design allows disabling unused features
- Cross-platform: runs on Unix-like systems, macOS, and Windows
- Actively maintained and well-documented
Cons
- Terminal-based interface (no native GUI)
- Setup and configuration may have a learning curve for new users
- Protocol support beyond IRC depends on available plugins
- Primarily designed for text-based interaction, not multimedia
Best For
IRC communication with full standards complianceMulti-protocol chat via plugin extensionsCustom automation and scripting for chat workflowsLightweight terminal-based chat for system administrators and power users
FAQ
What is WeeChat?
WeeChat (Wee Enhanced Environment for Chat) is a free, fast, and lightweight chat client. It is modular and extensible with plugins/scripts, primarily used for IRC but supports other protocols via plugins.
Is WeeChat free?
Yes, WeeChat is free software released under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3).
What protocols does WeeChat support?
WeeChat is designed to support multiple protocols via plugins. The IRC plugin is standards-compliant with RFCs 1459, 2810-2813, and 7194. Other protocols can be added through plugins.
Can I extend WeeChat with scripts?
Yes, WeeChat can be extended with C plugins and scripts written in Perl, Python, Ruby, Lua, Tcl, Scheme, JavaScript, and PHP.
Which operating systems does WeeChat support?
WeeChat runs on GNU/Linux, *BSD, GNU/Hurd, Haiku, macOS, and Windows (via WSL and Cygwin).