# Install icbirc with Homebrew

Proxy IRC client and ICB server. Version 2.2 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:icbirc
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install icbirc
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:icbirc
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 2.2
- **Source summary:** Proxy IRC client and ICB server
- **Homepage:** <https://www.benzedrine.ch/icbirc.html>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- icbirc (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 2.2
## 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

- <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/icbirc>
- <https://www.benzedrine.ch/icbirc-2.2.tar.gz>
- <https://www.benzedrine.ch/icbirc.html>


## Security Notes

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

- **Geiger risk:** blue / medium
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/icbirc.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/icbirc.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph