# Install ircii with Homebrew, apk, apt, MacPorts IRC and ICB client. Version 20260115 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install ircii. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:ircii ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install ircii ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install ircii ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: irc/ircii/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add ircii ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ircii from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install ircii ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: ircii from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:ircii - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Version:** 20260115 - **Source summary:** IRC and ICB client - **Homepage:** - **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00 ## Executables - irc (alias) - irc-20260115 (alias) - ircbug (alias) - ircflush (alias) ## Install behavior - Bottle: not available ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-08-03 - Package-manager version: 20260115 ## Project history and usage ircII is a source-distributed Unix IRC and ICB client maintained by the ircII project. It is important in package history because it represents the early terminal IRC client tradition from which several later Unix IRC clients took inspiration or code. ### Project history The project site describes ircII as an IRC and ICB client for most Unix platforms, distributed in source form and maintained by a group that incorporates fixes and features. Its release news shows date-stamped source releases continuing through the 2000s and 2010s, including changes for SSL IRC servers, UTF-8 handling, lastlog behavior, macOS fixes, sanitizer-derived bug fixes, and generated HTML help. The package's long-lived source archive style is part of its identity: the project publishes tarballs and a daily expanded source tree rather than presenting a modern forge as the primary source-control interface. ### Adoption history ircII appears in Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, MacPorts, Alpine, and other package indexes because it remains a compact terminal client for IRC users who prefer a classic Unix interface. IRC help material also documents ircII as a Unix-shell client and discusses EPIC and other clients in relation to ircII. ### How it is used Users run `irc` or versioned helper binaries from a terminal to connect to IRC or ICB services. The Debian manpage describes it as a full-screen termcap interface that exposes normal IRC functions plus additional options, which matches its package-manager role as a lightweight console chat client. ### Why package nerds care ircII is package-nerd material because it preserves an older Unix distribution model: source tarballs, termcap UI, generated help files, and small command-line companion programs. Its versioned executable names in package managers are a reminder that old IRC clients often need to coexist with scripts and user habits built over decades. ### Timeline - 2006: Project news lists public releases in July 2006. - 2011: Project news lists the 20110228 and 20111115 releases. - 2014: Releases added HTTP proxy and SSL IRC server support, followed by resize and display fixes. - 2017: A release focused on UTF-8, log, lastlog, resize, and macOS fixes. - 2019: Releases added lastlog restore support and early HTML help conversion. - 2021: A release included memory leak, crash, and sanitizer-derived fixes. - 2024: The project published 20240111 and 20240918 source releases. - 2026: The project published the 20260115 source release. ### Related projects - ircII is historically adjacent to other Unix IRC clients such as EPIC, BitchX, ScrollZ, Irssi, and WeeChat, and to ICB clients through its combined IRC/ICB support. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - ircii - 20240918-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: ircii from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Internet Relay Chat client | http://www.eterna.com.au/ircii/ - Ubuntu apt - ircii - 20210328-2build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: ircii from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Internet Relay Chat client | http://www.eterna.com.au/ircii/ - apk - ircii - 20260115-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ircii from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Universal IRC for Unix systems | http://www.eterna23.net/ircii/ - apk - ircii-doc - 20260115-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: ircii-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Universal IRC for Unix systems (documentation) | http://www.eterna23.net/ircii/ - MacPorts - ircii: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: irc/ircii/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ircii.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/ircii.yml) ## Sources - pkg.so package database - Geiger risk classifier - curated package history - pkgdb category and tag curation - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph