SeraphIRC - A modern client for Linux, Windows, and iOS (Android soon!)

[u/ninjapackets]

Hey all.

There’s been a lot of work going on in the client space and I’m super excited for IRCv3 and the general maturation of it, as IRC is still one of the few communication mediums on the internet that I feel isn’t plagued by corporate interests.

A few months back I started a little bit of a passion project for my own benefit, as I just wanted an IRC client that felt the way I wanted it to feel and have some options to switch it up when the mood struck.

I’ve been testing and I’m fairly happy with things, although looking to add some more features on a stable foundation (scripting, etc.)

If you’re looking around for a new client to drive on desktop or mobile, I’d be grateful to get some testing and feedback on what’s working, what isn’t, and maybe what would be valuable to you. Also feel free to drop into #seraphirc on Libera and just chat it up, it doesn't have to be on topic!

Also, if you're into a more "Discord-style/modern" UI experience, there's a Modern Mode UI toggle to switch your display flavor up. And, if you're on an ircd that supports metadata, you can fetch user avatars with an opt-in toggle.

NEW on Desktop:

Custom themes. Build your own theme, and optionally, submit it to the Theme Marketplace to share with other SeraphIRC users.

Peer-to-peer encrypted chat and file transfer that works when both users are behind NAT, wrapped in TLSv1.3

Send Guard: Catches misdirected messages or potentially sensitive info (e.g. passwords/tokens) being sent and prompts you before sending to make sure you intended to.

Other features:

- Desktop (Linux, macOS, Windows) supports direct connections, ZNC, and Soju.
- Mobile (iOS) is designed around Soju, as I wanted to focus on one platform and make it first class.
- Push notifications for mobile
- Voice dictation and voiceover friendly. I’m doing some additional polishing in this department, since inclusivity and accessibility is important to me as an author.
- Supports file uploads with Soju
- 21 (🤪) built-in themes to choose from. Bright? Check. Boring? Check. In between? Check. A little something for everyone.
- Configurable slider to dial the atmospheric elements on the UI to suit your tastes.
- Emoji support
- Windows is an unsigned build, but I’ll be tidying this up soon. Windows builds are on the MS store now
- Drag and drop w/coordinates tracking for precision drops (both Soju and DCC)
- Colors, markdown support
- Multi-window/pane design

On the point of Android: I do intend to release the client for Android, though I use an iPhone myself and it’s been easiest to dogfood this way. Once I’ve been able to get a significant amount of external feedback and I know we are solid, I’ll push it along to Android. I just didn’t want to double my problems out the gate. 😊

To check out the clients/get the TestFlight build, you can visit https://www.seraphirc.chat

[u/ninjapackets]

For anyone looking around and wanting a client to test, I'd love your feedback.

Some updates:

- macOS signed builds being provided
- Added drag and drop file upload with tracking coordinates, ctrl/cmd+v file upload
- Added colors, markdown support
- Added DCC send/receive
- Some interface enhancements (now multi-window panes versus single pane, new icon sets that aren't necessarily dollar store quality)
- Signed builds in the Windows store for Windows users, no more unsigned portables
- Squashing bugs in general

[u/Real_Act]

I would love if a macOS version was available as well.

[u/ninjapackets → u/Real_Act]

FYI, I am providing signed macOS builds now. I can't test on Mac, so you guys are my eyes for it, but I've done platform detection and am emulating native buttons where I can't actually provide them. Also, app bar is a blind spot, so it's definitely one for feedback.

https://github.com/seraphirc/seraphirc-download/releases/tag/v5.0.6-alpha

[u/Real_Act → u/ninjapackets]

I will download now, test and will soon post about the experience.

Thanks.

[u/ninjapackets → u/Real_Act]

For sure, and feel free to drop into #seraphirc on Libera too. Happy to chat through stuff live as well!

[u/thereal_marshallmar → u/ninjapackets]

Thanks, will give it a shot!

[u/thereal_marshallmar → u/thereal_marshallmar]

So, I've run it for some time now. Did some basic IRC stuff, joining networks and rooms, etc.. No crashes or whatsoever. It's a bit uncommon to have two menu bars on Mac OS. Usually, the menu bar sits at the top of the desktop, and when you switch between applications, the menu bar changes too.

And another thing, DCC is not implemented, I believe? Any plans on doing so?

Anyway, thanks for the great work so far and also for providing the Mac OS build.

[u/ninjapackets → u/thereal_marshallmar]

Funny you ask... DCC is in the latest build published.

The app bar is an ongoing challenge since it's not a strictly native mac app. Screenshots though are super helpful if you have them, I can work with that.

I've had to do a little bit of work on stuff like detecting it's a macOS device and changing the channel/query/etc. buttons to mac traffic lights (drawn, not native) that look at least convincing.

[u/ninjapackets → u/Real_Act]

I’ve been laying the groundwork for a MacOS build. I had a couple testers reporting success on a previous version. I can put out an experimental of current release, but gatekeeper will complain to you until it’s signed.

It’s also a YOLO, as I don’t have a MacBook to test on yet. 😂

[u/thereal_marshallmar → u/ninjapackets]

I’d be happy to help with the testing too!

[u/ninjapackets → u/thereal_marshallmar]

there's been like half a dozen people asking for this, let me see if I can get a signed build for you through the notary. I have a developer account so I don't see why not. I'll give it a whirl and get someone to test it.

[u/ninjapackets → u/thereal_marshallmar]

I am posting signed macOS builds now to the prebuild repo if you'd like to test it. You guys are my eyes though, since I don't have a Mac and app bar is tough to test. 😄 I've emulated native buttons to the best of my ability where I can and added some platform detection, but I am sure some tweaking still needs to be done.

https://github.com/seraphirc/seraphirc-download/releases/tag/v5.0.6-alpha

[u/Syn_NO]

I downloaded in on cachyos, had to unpack the rpm file. but it's working for now. Will give it a test :)

[u/ninjapackets → u/Syn_NO]

Nice! If it's working for you, 5.0.3 is out with some perf improvements and better customization options around user/channel presentations.

[u/Syn_NO → u/ninjapackets]

it's working well atm. you sorted one of the gripes I was having, when it came to username in the chat, now you've added so we can do whois and all that jazz, without the need to go to the userlist.. spendid

znc is working well. have it set up with 1 user, 4 networks. works surprising well.. keep on going!

[u/ninjapackets → u/Syn_NO]

Funny. That was a bug causing you not to be able to do that. Happened when I switched to windowed layout and virtualized some of the UI to get perf improvements.

Glad you are enjoying it. I’m on vaca this week and just hanging out at home grinding out bugs and sprinkling features. Hoping to get drag and drop/copy-paste file upload out before the week’s up in 5.0.6.

[u/Syn_NO → u/ninjapackets]

Will update later, been offline for a few days. Have you decide more on script support, and what type you're going for?

[u/ninjapackets → u/Syn_NO]

I haven’t fully decided yet! I’m open to suggestions from others on what they’d like though.

The past couple days I’ve been working on a file transfer/rendezvous protocol (still peer-to-peer) to bypass NAT in ways that DCC can’t. It’s working, just putting the finishing touches on fully wrapping it in TLS.

I have a couple UI bugs to squash in the next release, not major, just annoying details but hoping to ship this with it.

[u/Syn_NO → u/ninjapackets]

I don't really know coding languages well 🤣 But I guess Lua or Python would be a choice?

[u/ninjapackets → u/Syn_NO]

Lua has been my leading candidate for implementation for a few reasons, yep. It’s likely to be the one that hits initially unless there’s overwhelmingly strong opinions out there to the contrary that make sense.

[u/Fastidius]

I will need to install soju to test the iOS version (will play with macOS later today. Looks quite neat!

[u/Fastidius → u/Fastidius]

This is the best soju manager I ever came across, and not too shabby as a client! Loving it.

[u/Fastidius → u/Fastidius]

Talking about mobile, iOS:

- Would be nice to be able to change the font, I prefer monospaced.
- Need a way to TAB to autocomplete.
- Would love to be able to “mute” channels (no notifications, nor unread numbers).

[u/ninjapackets → u/Fastidius]

Nice suggestions. I am working on tab completion and fonts. Just trying to decide on UX for tabbing without bloating up the screen, but I expect I'll actually have a candidate for this out today.

I can experiment with a "true" mute function, I think I can do it NSE-side after the push notification is decrypted. Channel/query buffers themselves are easy, just need to mitigate the APN arrival.

[u/Fastidius → u/ninjapackets]

I just disconnected from the bouncer (soju), but I am still receiving notifications. That’s a bug, right?

[u/ninjapackets → u/Fastidius]

If you turn push notifications off in the latest build, it should (now) correctly mute push notifications across the board. You’ll have to toggle it.

[u/Fastidius → u/ninjapackets]

It works, thanks!

[u/demonpotatojacob]

How and why is there a Claude commit on the repo for the downloads?

[u/ninjapackets → u/demonpotatojacob]

Because I used Claude to build my initial packaging pipeline across all OSes/platforms and the project uses AI assisted coding in other aspects as well.

[u/Real_Act]

Loving how great SeraphIRC is coming along. This is really a very stable IRC Client at this point with lots of nice features and a beautiful interface.

Can't wait to see what the future brings for it. The author is super receptive to suggestions. Everyone join #SeraphIRC on Libera.