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Modern IRC client · iPhone & iPad

IRCpug

A native, multi-network IRC client that brings modern history, security, and bouncer workflows to iPhone and iPad.

  • Swift
  • SwiftUI
  • IRCv3
  • Network.framework
Release pending
IRCpug Chats screen showing conversations across Libera Chat and OFTC in dark mode

The product

Built around the job.

IRCpug brings a system-native workspace to a protocol with decades of history. Connect to multiple IRC networks over TCP, TLS, STARTTLS, or WebSockets; authenticate with modern SASL mechanisms; keep channel and query history searchable on device; and use current IRCv3 features including message history, replies, reactions, read markers, multiline messages, and metadata. Bouncer integration, proxy routing, notification rules, moderation tools, file transfers, command help, and deep per-network controls support serious IRC use without hiding the protocol underneath.

Role
Product design & engineering
Release
Pending
Status
In development

Problem & decisions

The difficult part is the behavior.

IRC combines long-lived stateful connections, untrusted server input, decades of protocol behavior, and strict mobile background limits. Modern conveniences cannot blur the boundaries that keep credentials, history, and network actions predictable.

  1. 01

    Preserve protocol truth

    Capability negotiation, connection state, raw traffic, read markers, and destination-specific failures stay inspectable instead of being hidden behind a generic chat surface.

  2. 02

    Fail closed around secrets

    Credentials live in Keychain, insecure fallbacks require explicit choices, and stale connection work cannot send after disconnect, reconnect, or profile removal.

  3. 03

    Make history useful locally

    A durable SQLite archive powers offline restore, search, mentions, read state, and export while bouncer history is merged without duplicating live messages.

  • IRCv3 + bouncers
  • On-device history
  • Release pending

Privacy by design

Your data stays yours.

No accounts, advertising, analytics, or tracking. History stays on device, secrets use Keychain, and IRC traffic goes only to services you configure.

Read the full privacy details

IRCpug has no accounts, advertising, analytics, or tracking SDKs.

Your IRC data

Network profiles, preferences, message history, read state, and optional text logs are stored on your device. Passwords, OAuth tokens, FiSH keys, proxy credentials, channel keys, and imported client identities use the iOS Keychain.

Connections you configure

IRCpug connects only to IRC servers, bouncers, proxies, OAuth providers, upload hosts, and file-transfer peers that you configure or explicitly use. Those services receive the data required to perform the requested connection or action and remain subject to their own privacy policies.

Optional push delivery

If you configure WebPush through a compatible bouncer and relay, the relay retains the APNs device token and subscription metadata needed for delivery. IRC message payloads remain encrypted through the relay and are decrypted on device; deferred encrypted payloads expire after a short period.

Product tour

Open any screenshot to view the original at full size.

IRCpug Chats screen showing conversations across Libera Chat and OFTC in dark mode Keep every network in one place IRCpug channel conversation with timestamps, colored nicknames, reactions, replies, and the message composer Talk without the clutter IRCpug Mentions screen collecting highlighted messages from multiple channels Never miss a mention IRCpug history search showing an on-device result for the query privacy Search saved history offline IRCpug Privacy settings for network icons, inline images, and automatic remote-content loading Choose when remote content loads IRCpug File Transfers sheet explaining DCC security and connection behavior Handle file transfers explicitly IRCpug Channel Avatar sheet with a custom channel image and on-device storage controls Give every chat its own identity IRCpug Appearance settings for color scheme, transcript theme, and text size Make IRC feel like yours

Capabilities

What it handles.

Each capability earns its place by removing effort, reducing ambiguity, or making the product safer to rely on.

  • Native multi-network workspaces for server messages, channels, queries, mentions, invitations, and transfers

  • Direct TCP, implicit TLS, STARTTLS, and WebSocket connections with automatic reconnect and IPv4/IPv6 controls

  • SASL PLAIN, EXTERNAL, OAUTHBEARER, and SCRAM authentication with credentials and client identities kept in Keychain

  • SQLite/WAL history with offline restore, paging, full-text search, mentions, read state, logging, and conversation export

  • IRCv3 capabilities including CHATHISTORY, replies, reactions, redaction, multiline messages, metadata, and read markers

  • ZNC playback and soju integration for bouncer networks, history recovery, FILEHOST uploads, and optional WebPush

  • WHOIS, channel lists, notify lists, invitations, moderation shortcuts, highlight rules, ignores, and flood protection

  • Typed FILEHOST uploads and explicit inbound DCC transfers with progress, cancellation, and clear security warnings

Product support

Something not behaving?

Include the product version, operating system version, shortest steps to reproduce, and any exact error text. Redact tokens, private URLs, calendar content, and other personal data.

Email support