https://github.com/amiantos/lurker
Lurker is a beautiful self-hosted modern IRC client with a retro flair, most easily described as "your personal IRCCloud, with Weechat looks".
https://github.com/amiantos/lurker
express irc irc-client irc-framework self-hosted vue
Last synced: 16 days ago
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Lurker is a beautiful self-hosted modern IRC client with a retro flair, most easily described as "your personal IRCCloud, with Weechat looks".
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/amiantos/lurker
- Owner: amiantos
- License: mpl-2.0
- Created: 2026-05-07T06:56:39.000Z (about 1 month ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-05-28T05:16:44.000Z (20 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-05-28T05:22:41.703Z (20 days ago)
- Topics: express, irc, irc-client, irc-framework, self-hosted, vue
- Language: TypeScript
- Homepage: https://lurker.chat
- Size: 4.79 MB
- Stars: 4
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 1
- Open Issues: 19
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
Lurker
[](https://github.com/amiantos/lurker/actions/workflows/test.yml)
[](https://github.com/amiantos/lurker/pkgs/container/lurker)
[](https://codecov.io/github/amiantos/lurker)
[](https://scorecard.dev/viewer/?uri=github.com/amiantos/lurker)
[](LICENSE)
[](https://web.libera.chat/#lurker)
Lurker is a self-hosted modern IRC client with a retro flair, most easily described as "your personal [IRCCloud](https://www.irccloud.com), with [Weechat](https://weechat.org) looks".
Lurker runs as an always-on server that stays connected to IRC on your behalf, keeps full message history, and lets you reattach from any browser — desktop or mobile — picking up exactly where you left off. Open it on as many devices and tabs as you like; read state, settings, and history stay in sync everywhere; when all clients are disconnected, auto-away sets your status, and web push notifications inform you of highlights. Oh, and the icon rules.
# Features
- **Always-on and multi-user.** Each invited user connects to their own set of IRC networks, and Lurker stays connected when they're away.
- **Full history and search.** Every message is stored _and_ searchable. Auto-away triggers after your last client disconnects, and smart push notifications fire on highlights.
- **IRC with Modern Convienences.** Peer presence, automatic nick regain, join/part summarization, tab nickname completion, message drafts, saved messages, user notes, and a searchable channel browser w/ cache.
- **Image uploads.** Paste, drag, or pick an image; Lurker optimizes it, uploads it to [x0.at](https://x0.at) or [catbox.moe](https://catbox.moe), inserts the link into your message, and keeps a history of all your uploads.
- **Customizable UI.** The beautiful retro terminal-style interface has 40+ settings to customize it how you want, and you can freely pin and rearrange channels and DMs.
- **Installable.** Lurker is a PWA — install it as a native-feeling app on your phone, Mac, or PC straight from the browser.
# Screenshot (as macOS PWA)
# Rave Reviews
- ` amiantos: holy shit, you made something better than irccloud`
- ` great, now that amiantos's chat client is catching up to IRC cloud, I think I can switch to it as my daily driver`
- ` amiantos makes cool shit`
- ` lurker is really nice. this is streets ahead of irccloud in terms of design and ease of use.`
# Stack
- **Server** — TypeScript on Node (run via `tsx`), Express, `irc-framework`, `ws`, `better-sqlite3`, `sharp`, `web-push`
- **Client** — TypeScript, Vue 3, Vite, Pinia, `vue-router`
- **Tooling** — Vitest, oxlint, oxfmt
# Installation
## Install (Docker — Recommended)
```bash
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/amiantos/lurker/main/docker-compose.yml
docker compose up -d
```
Then open and create your admin account. Username + password is the default; passkeys are optional. See [SELF_HOSTING.md](docs/SELF_HOSTING.md) for the full guide — reverse proxy + HTTPS, enabling passkeys, push notifications, updating, and backups.
## Deploy on DigitalOcean
Stand up a public, HTTPS-enabled Lurker on a fresh droplet from a single pasted script — no SSH required, with passkeys, web push, and TLS all configured for you. Step-by-step instructions are in **[docs/digitalocean.md](docs/digitalocean.md)**.
## Manual Install (without Docker)
```bash
npm run install:all
npm run client:build
npm start
```
The server listens on port 8010 by default and stores everything in `./data/`. Override with the envvars documented in [`.env.example`](.env.example).
## Development
```bash
npm run install:all
cp .env.example .env # defaults assume the local hostname documented in the file
npm run dev
```
# Documentation
- **[Self-hosting guide](docs/SELF_HOSTING.md)** — reverse proxy + HTTPS, passkeys, web push, updating, backups, and troubleshooting.
- **[Deploy on DigitalOcean](docs/digitalocean.md)** — the one-shot droplet walkthrough.
- **[MCP & HTTP API](docs/MCP.md)** — drive Lurker from agents, scripts, or other external tools.
# Community
- Chat in **#lurker** on [Libera.Chat](https://libera.chat).
- Discuss Lurker and read my devlog over on [The Eye of Providence](https://discuss.bradroot.me/tags/c/projects/13/lurker/39).
- Say hi — I'm **amiantos** on Libera.Chat and [MansionNET](https://inthemansion.com).
# License
Mozilla Public License 2.0 — see [LICENSE](LICENSE).