ngircdFree, portable and lightweight Internet Relay Chat server

ngircd

ngircd is a free, portable, and lightweight Internet Relay Chat (IRC) server designed for small or private networks. Written in C and distributed under the GPL, it provides an easy-to-configure alternative to traditional IRC daemons with modern features like IPv6 support, SSL/TLS encryption, and user authentication via PAM.

Key Features

• Lightweight and Portable: Minimal resource requirements with support for numerous platforms including Linux, macOS, BSD, and Windows (via WSL/Cygwin)
• Security Options: Built-in SSL/TLS support for encrypted client-server and server-to-server links, plus PAM-based user authentication
• IPv6 Support: Full IPv6 protocol support for modern network environments
• User Cloaking: Privacy features to mask user IP addresses
• Channel and User Modes: Implements popular IRC modes for flexible server management
• Easy Configuration: Simple, well-organized configuration file design

Use Cases

• In-House Networks: Deploy IRC servers for internal team communication in organizations
• Private Communities: Host dedicated chat networks for gaming groups, development teams, or special interest communities
• Dynamic Environments: Reliable operation on servers with dynamic IP addresses requiring seamless reconnection

Who Is It For

ngircd is ideal for system administrators and developers seeking a straightforward, standards-compliant IRC server for small to medium-sized networks. It's particularly suited for those who value simplicity, portability, and minimal system overhead over feature complexity.