hexchat

hexchat [OPTION]... [SERVERPORT]

-h, --help
    Display help and exit

-v, --version
    Output version information

-u NAME, --user=NAME
    Set default nickname

-n NAME, --nick=NAME
    Alias for --user (sets nickname)

-s SERVER, --server=SERVER
    Connect to specified server

-p PASS, --password=PASS
    Send password to server

-j CHANNEL, --join=CHANNEL
    Auto-join specified channel

-k KEY, --key=KEY
    Send channel key (+k)

-S, --noauto
    Disable auto-connect to servers

-P PATH, --plugin=PATH
    Load plugin from path

-U NAME, --unload=NAME
    Unload plugin by name

-d [FILE], --debug[=FILE]
    Enable debug logging to file

--cfgdir=DIR
    Use custom config directory

--plugindir=DIR
    Set plugin search directory

--reset
    Reset configuration to defaults

--cmd=CMD
    Execute command on startup

HexChat is a feature-rich, customizable IRC client forked from XChat. It provides a tabbed graphical interface for chatting on Internet Relay Chat networks. Key features include multi-server support, plugin architecture (Perl, Python, Lua), DCC chat/file transfers, SSL/TLS encryption, proxy support, spell-checking, and theming. Users can configure notifications, auto-join channels, and customize keybindings. The hexchat command launches the application, optionally specifying servers, nicknames, or channels for immediate connection. Ideal for power users and newcomers alike, it runs on Linux, Unix-like systems, Windows, and macOS. Configuration is stored in ~/.config/hexchat, with extensive scripting for automation.

Requires graphical environment (X11/Wayland); no console mode. Plugins may need separate installation. Config resets with --reset are irreversible without backups.

Use server/port like irc.libera.chat/6697 for SSL.

Supports hexchat-pl Perl, Python3, Lua. List via /plugin command in app.

~/.config/hexchat (XDG); portable mode via --cfgdir.

Forked from XChat in 2011 as SliTaz Chat, renamed HexChat in 2012. Developed by Bernd 'berndhahnefeld' Hahnefeld and community after XChat's lead dev ceased active maintenance. Reached version 2.16.x in 2020s; actively maintained on GitHub with GTK3 support.

xchat(1), irssi(1), weechat(1), epic5(1)