The Lounge — Self-Hosted Modern Web IRC Client

Introduction

The Lounge is a self-hosted web IRC client that keeps you connected to IRC networks around the clock. It runs as a Node.js server, storing your session so you never miss messages, and serves a responsive web UI accessible from any browser or device.

What The Lounge Does

• Connects to any IRC network and stays online 24/7 as a bouncer
• Serves a responsive web interface with desktop and mobile push notifications
• Stores chat history in a searchable per-user log (SQLite or file-based)
• Supports file uploads with built-in image previews and link metadata expansion
• Manages multiple users with individual IRC network configurations

Architecture Overview

The Lounge is a Node.js application using Express for the HTTP layer and Socket.IO for real-time communication with the browser. Each user's IRC connections are managed server-side, persisting across browser sessions. The frontend is built with Vue.js and supports theming. Message storage uses SQLite by default, with configurable retention.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install globally via npm or use the official Docker image
• Configure ~/.thelounge/config.js for bind address, port, HTTPS, and file upload limits
• Add users with thelounge add <username> (password is set interactively)
• Run behind Nginx or Caddy with WebSocket proxy for HTTPS termination
• Enable LDAP authentication for team deployments via a plugin

Key Features

• Always-on IRC bouncer with message history sync across devices
• Push notifications via the Web Push API on mobile and desktop
• Inline link previews with Open Graph metadata and image thumbnails
• Multi-user support with per-user network and channel configuration
• Customizable themes and a compact mode for power users

Comparison with Similar Tools

• WeeChat + Glowing Bear — Terminal IRC client with optional web frontend; more complex setup
• Quassel — Split-architecture IRC client with Qt desktop app; no built-in web UI
• Convos — Perl-based web IRC client; simpler but fewer features
• Kiwi IRC — Web IRC client often used as a gateway; less focus on bouncer functionality
• ZNC + web client — Dedicated IRC bouncer with separate web frontend; more modular but more parts to manage

FAQ

Q: Does The Lounge work as an IRC bouncer? A: Yes. It maintains persistent connections to IRC networks and replays missed messages when you reconnect your browser.

Q: Can I use it in public mode without user accounts? A: Yes. Set public: true in the config to allow anonymous users with ephemeral sessions (no message persistence).

Q: How do I enable HTTPS? A: Either configure TLS certificates directly in The Lounge config or terminate HTTPS at your reverse proxy.

Q: Does it support IRC features like SASL and client certificates? A: Yes. Per-network settings support SASL PLAIN, EXTERNAL, and client TLS certificates for authentication with IRC networks.

Sources

• https://github.com/thelounge/thelounge
• https://thelounge.chat