macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install icbirclocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 14315
Install icbirc with Homebrew
Proxy IRC client and ICB server. Version 2.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
overview
Package summary
Proxy IRC client and ICB server
Project links
Commands and aliases
- icbirc
history
Project history and usage
icbirc is Daniel Hartmeier's proxy that lets IRC clients connect to ICB servers by translating commands and messages between the two chat protocols. It is a tiny compatibility bridge for an obscure but historically interesting chat network.
Project history
The author page embeds the OpenBSD-style man page, states that the first version was written in 2003, and publishes source tarballs rather than a source-control repository. The page's history section records later maintenance releases in 2015, 2016, and 2024, largely incorporating OpenBSD ports-tree patches.
Adoption history
The man page and source page document testing with XChat, ircII, BitchX, mIRC, and irssi, which captures the project's practical adoption goal: keep familiar IRC clients usable with an ICB server. Homebrew packaging preserves that bridge for users who still need the proxy.
How it is used
A typical invocation is `icbirc -s default.icb.net`, after which an IRC client connects to the proxy. Supported IRC commands include login, listing, joining, messaging, topic, kick, mode handoff, quit, and a `RAWICB` escape hatch for custom ICB commands.
Why package nerds care
icbirc is the kind of package that makes broad package indexes culturally useful: it preserves access to a minor protocol and a specific chat-history ecosystem, while also documenting the practical differences between IRC channels and ICB groups.
Timeline
- 2003: First version of icbirc written.
- 2015: Versions 1.9 and 2.0 incorporated connection and OpenBSD port fixes.
- 2016: Version 2.1 added OpenBSD pledge support and IRC error-message behavior changes.
- 2024: Version 2.2 included additional OpenBSD ports-tree patches.
Related projects
- Related projects and protocols include ICB, IRC, OpenBSD ports, XChat, ircII, BitchX, mIRC, irssi, and the RFC 1459/2811/2812 IRC specifications cited by the man page.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: blue
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.
Risk classifier
blue risk · medium confidence · tool
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
Signals
- text:client,server
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
icbirc | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-08-03
manager version2.2
manager updated
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:icbirc |
|---|---|
| Version | 2.2 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://www.benzedrine.ch/icbirc.html |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation