# The Lounge — Self-Hosted Modern Web IRC Client

> The Lounge is a self-hosted web-based IRC client that keeps you connected to IRC networks 24/7, with push notifications, link previews, file uploads, and a responsive UI accessible from any device.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# The Lounge — Self-Hosted Modern Web IRC Client

## Quick Use
```bash
# Install globally via npm
npm install -g thelounge

# Start the server
thelounge start

# Add a user
thelounge add myuser

# Or run with Docker
docker run -d --name thelounge 
  -p 9000:9000 
  -v thelounge:/var/opt/thelounge 
  thelounge/thelounge:latest
```

## Introduction
IRC remains widely used in open-source communities, but traditional desktop clients disconnect when you close them. The Lounge runs on a server and stays connected permanently, storing message history and delivering push notifications. You access it through a modern web interface that works on desktop and mobile.

## What The Lounge Does
- Maintains persistent IRC connections on the server so you never miss messages
- Provides a responsive web UI with message search, link previews, and image thumbnails
- Supports multi-user mode where each user has their own IRC identity and configuration
- Delivers push notifications via the Web Push API when you are mentioned or receive private messages
- Stores message history in SQLite so you can scroll back through conversations across sessions

## Architecture Overview
The Lounge is a Node.js application with an Express HTTP server and Socket.IO for real-time browser communication. On the backend, it maintains persistent TCP connections to configured IRC networks using the irc-framework library. Message history is stored in SQLite. The frontend is a Vue.js single-page application that communicates with the backend over WebSockets. Static assets are pre-built and served directly.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via npm, Yarn, or Docker; packages also available for Debian, Ubuntu, Arch, and Homebrew
- Configure in `~/.thelounge/config.js` for port, theme, HTTPS, LDAP authentication, and file upload settings
- Enable HTTPS directly or place behind a reverse proxy (Nginx, Caddy) for TLS termination
- Set `public: false` for private mode requiring user accounts, or `true` for open access
- Configure message storage backend (SQLite by default) and log rotation settings

## Key Features
- Always-connected bouncer-style operation: the server stays on IRC even when your browser is closed
- Modern responsive UI with dark and light themes, message formatting, and emoji support
- Built-in file upload support for sharing images and files directly in chat
- LDAP authentication support for integrating with existing user directories
- Extensible with community themes and plugins via the package system

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **WeeChat** — powerful terminal IRC client with optional web relay; The Lounge provides a more polished web-first experience
- **Quassel** — client-server IRC with Qt desktop clients; The Lounge is browser-based with no client install
- **ZNC** — IRC bouncer without a built-in web client; The Lounge combines bouncer and client in one
- **Element (Matrix)** — modern chat protocol with IRC bridging; The Lounge is native IRC without protocol translation
- **Convos** — another web-based IRC client; The Lounge has a larger community and more active development

## FAQ
**Q: Can multiple users share one instance?**
A: Yes. In private mode, each user has their own account, IRC connections, and message history. Useful for teams or families.

**Q: Does The Lounge support IRC over TLS?**
A: Yes. You can connect to IRC networks using TLS and configure client certificates for authentication with services like NickServ.

**Q: How much storage does message history use?**
A: SQLite storage is efficient. A year of moderate IRC usage typically uses a few hundred megabytes. You can configure message retention limits.

**Q: Can I access The Lounge on mobile?**
A: Yes. The web UI is fully responsive and works well on phones and tablets. Push notifications work through the browser's Web Push API.

## Sources
- https://github.com/thelounge/thelounge
- https://thelounge.chat/docs

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-fef16568
Author: AI Open Source