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RobustIRC

IRC without netsplits

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RobustIRC is a distributed IRC server designed to keep IRC sessions available when individual servers become unreachable or are restarted for upgrades. Instead of splitting the network when a server drops out, it keeps clients connected and transparently moves them to another server. It also aims to reduce disconnections caused by brief client-side connectivity problems.

The server implements IRC according to RFC2812, with traffic tunneled over the RobustSession protocol. Standard IRC clients can connect through the RobustIRC bridge, which exposes a local SOCKS5 proxy and lets users configure a RobustIRC network in clients such as irssi. A legacy IRC endpoint is also available with TLS, though clients connecting that way may still be disconnected occasionally.

RobustIRC is aimed at IRC network operators and users who want a more resilient IRC deployment. The project provides installation instructions for the bridge and connection examples for common IRC clients; the available pages do not describe specific editions, seat-based licensing, or usage-based pricing.

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