Skip to content

Relay

Modern web IRC client designed for self-hosting

OuchNet's official hard fork of The Lounge.

Website Docker #ouch on OuchNet

Looking for the network, not the client?

Relay is a web client for connecting to IRC. If you're looking for the OuchNet network itself — connection details, the server list, and network rules — see ouch.chat.

OuchNet network status OuchNet channel count OuchNet user count
Relay Terminal theme showing a green-on-black chat layout with inline media, reactions, and the member list.
Relay tux theme showing the Relay chat interface in a high-contrast black-and-gold style.
Relay Ion IRSSI theme showing IRCv3 chat activity, media previews, reactions, and the member list.
Relay Monokai theme showing inline media, reactions, and the member list in a warm olive-and-pink palette.

Highlights

  • Modern IRC experience. Push notifications, link previews, replies, reactions, typing indicators, unread activity, and message search bring IRC into the 21st century while keeping the classic chat experience intact.
  • Passphrase-based encryption. Protect channel and private messages from IRC network observers with shared keys, while keeping the familiar Relay chat experience. Learn about IRC encryption, including its server-side processing model.
  • Flexible message storage. SQLite is the default, while PostgreSQL is available for new deployments and existing installations that want an alternative message-history backend. See storage configuration.
  • Always connected. Remains connected to IRC servers while you are offline.
  • Cross-platform clients. Use the responsive web client, install it as a PWA, or use the standalone desktop app. See platform options.
  • Cross-platform deployment. Relay runs as a single Go binary or Docker container, making it easy to deploy across modern self-hosted environments.
  • Responsive interface. The client works smoothly on every desktop, smartphone and tablet.
  • Admin-friendly self-hosting. Built-in admin controls cover registration, uploads, themes, OIDC, Jitsi, partyline, and more without requiring constant config-file edits.
  • Synchronized experience. Always resume where you left off no matter what device.

Relay supports a broad range of IRCv3 capabilities and extensions for a richer, more compatible IRC experience. See IRCv3 support for details, or Modern IRC Docs for broader IRC protocol background.

New to Relay?

Start with Relay Features to see what Relay offers, then head to Installation to get a server running.

Planning ahead

The Roadmap lists projected features separately from the current Relay feature set. Roadmap entries are tentative and do not imply a release date.