The Lounge

The Lounge is a web-based IRC client you host yourself, designed to keep IRC connections persistent on the server while users connect through a modern browser UI. It supports multiple IRC networks, multiple users, and works well for running always-on IRC sessions from any device.

Key Features

• Persistent IRC connections handled server-side (stays connected even when the browser closes)
• Multi-network and multi-channel support with an organized web interface
• Multi-user mode with authentication and per-user configurations
• IRCv3 capabilities support (where available) such as SASL authentication and modern server features
• Message history/backlog and scrollback in the web UI (based on server-side buffering)
• Theming support and a plugin/extension system for customization
• Responsive UI suitable for desktop and mobile browsers

Use Cases

• Provide a shared, always-on IRC web client for a team/community
• Access IRC from restrictive networks or devices without an installed IRC client
• Centralize long-running IRC sessions (bouncers-like workflow) with a modern UI

Limitations and Considerations

• Not a full IRC bouncer replacement for every workflow; feature depth depends on IRC server capabilities and configuration
• Requires running a Node.js service and managing user access/security like any web app

It is commonly used by IRC communities and teams that want a polished, persistent web interface without relying on third-party hosted IRC web clients. The Lounge balances a modern UX with traditional IRC concepts, and is extensible for advanced deployments.