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Yes—HexChat is discontinued as an upstream-maintained project. Its final release, version 2.16.2, was published on February 9, 2024. Existing copies may still work, and the source remains available, but neither fact means HexChat is receiving ongoing development or security maintenance. A HexChat fork called Zoitechat has appeared in Debian’s packaging discussion, but the available evidence does not establish it as a universal, drop-in successor.
What happened to HexChat?
HexChat was a graphical Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client based on XChat. Its lineage included XChat-WDK, a Windows-oriented successor to freakschat; the project adopted the HexChat name in 2012 and served Windows and Unix-like desktop users. It offered features familiar to long-time IRC users, including multiple network connections, tabs, automatic channel joining and identification, scripting, proxy support, DCC, and spell-checking. The project’s naming announcement and its feature overview document that history.
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On February 9, 2024, maintainer Patrick “TingPing” Griffis announced version 2.16.2 as the final release. He said HexChat had been largely unmaintained for years, no replacement maintainer had stepped forward, and forks were welcome. That is the clearest answer to whether the original project is “dead”: upstream development ended. The source code remains available, but readers should not expect the original project to review bugs, update dependencies, or provide planned security maintenance.
HexChat was open source, and its code can still be inspected, built, modified, and forked. Open source describes access and licensing; it does not guarantee that anyone is actively maintaining the software. The distinction matters when deciding whether to keep using a client or install an old download.
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Does the final release still work?
“Final release” does not mean an installed copy stopped launching or connecting on February 9, 2024. If HexChat works with your operating system, libraries, and IRC network today, it may continue to do so. But the project’s announcement makes no promise about future compatibility or fixes.
Over time, usability can be affected by operating-system changes, GTK and other dependencies, TLS and certificate handling, network authentication requirements, or protocol changes. Unfixed defects may also matter, especially if you use the client on public networks or handle sensitive conversations. A package still offered by a distribution or an installer still available online is not proof of current upstream support.
If you already use HexChat, you do not necessarily need to uninstall it immediately. Confirm your installed version, back up your configuration and logs, and test the networks you rely on. Check TLS and SASL authentication, and verify any scripts or DCC workflows. In parallel, identify a maintained client that fits your needs so you are not forced to migrate when a dependency or network change breaks your setup.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIs a HexChat fork replacing it?
There is evidence of fork activity, but not enough to call one project the universally recognized successor. A Debian discussion in 2026 describes Zoitechat as a HexChat fork that switched to GTK3 and entered Debian Testing. Debian’s handling also illustrates a practical consequence of upstream discontinuation: distributions may reconsider an unmaintained package and evaluate a fork as a transition path.
That packaging activity is a useful signal, not a guarantee that Zoitechat is a feature-complete HexChat replacement. It does not establish availability on Windows or macOS, compatibility with every HexChat plugin, equivalent stability, or endorsement by the original team. Before migrating, check the fork’s current releases, supported platforms, issue handling, and configuration and plugin compatibility. A fork is an independent project unless ownership or endorsement has been formally established.
The original maintainer’s invitation to fork was permission to continue the code, not a promise that a successor would emerge. A durable successor needs more than a new name: it needs current dependencies, maintainers, testing, security reporting, release artifacts, platform packaging, documentation, and a migration path for users and scripts.
What about Linux Mint and Jargonaut?
Linux Mint’s post-HexChat response included work on Jargonaut, an XApp associated with the Mint ecosystem. It is relevant to Mint users, but it should not automatically be described as a universal, feature-for-feature HexChat replacement. The available coverage does not establish that it is available across all distributions and platforms or that it reproduces HexChat’s full workflow. The reporting on Jargonaut’s connection to HexChat’s discontinuation provides context; check current project and distribution information before choosing it.
Choosing an alternative by how you use IRC
There is no single best replacement for every HexChat user. Start with the parts of HexChat you rely on—not just whether another client can join a channel.
| Your priority | Options to investigate | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A graphical desktop client | Halloy, Quassel, Konversation, Polari, KVIrc, or Smuxi | Supported platforms, current packaging, TLS and SASL support, interface, logging, and scripting. Quassel is notable for its persistent core-and-client design. |
| A terminal or remote-shell workflow | WeeChat or irssi | These are terminal clients, not visual drop-ins. They may suit remote servers, scripting, and long-running sessions, but require comfort with a text interface. |
| Occasional access in a browser | Kiwi IRC, gamja, or another web client | Consider who operates the service, what connection and privacy controls it offers, and whether it retains settings or messages. Browser access may mean less local control and fewer desktop-client features. |
| Windows and a proprietary client | mIRC | It is a known Windows option, but proprietary. Check its current licensing terms and feature fit before adopting it. |
| A Mint-oriented option | Jargonaut | Verify present availability and the specific HexChat features you need; do not assume cross-platform or plugin compatibility. |
IRChelp’s cross-platform client directory and the awesome-irc list provide broader option lists. Treat directories as starting points, then verify a project’s current maintenance and platform support directly.
For any candidate, check the protocol features your network requires: TLS, SASL, NickServ identification, and relevant IRCv3 extensions. Also check client certificates if your network requires them, along with automatic channel joining, proxies, and DCC if you depend on those. Support varies by client; do not assume a fork or alternative handles every HexChat feature the same way.
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If your main reason for switching is that you want to stay connected while your desktop sleeps or shuts down, the issue is session persistence, not HexChat’s maintenance status. Consider a bouncer such as ZNC or soju, a persistent Quassel core, or a terminal client running in tmux or screen on an always-on server. These approaches keep the IRC connection on a separate machine or persistent service; they require their own setup and security decisions.
Migration checklist for HexChat users
- Back up first. Copy your HexChat configuration and logs to a safe location before changing clients. Keep an untouched rollback copy.
- List your networks and channels. Record server addresses, ports, channels, automatic joins, per-network commands, and any proxy settings.
- Record authentication safely. Note whether each network uses SASL, NickServ identification, or another method. Treat passwords and tokens as secrets; do not put them in an unsecured plain-text migration note.
- Inventory customizations. Identify Python, Perl, and Lua scripts, themes, notifications, and any plugin-dependent workflow. Confirm that the new client supports them before relying on it.
- Test the connection details. Check TLS, certificates, SASL, and any required IRCv3 features on each important network. If you use DCC or file transfers, test those separately.
- Run the new client alongside HexChat. Where your network permits, verify that channels, logs, alerts, and reconnect behavior work before removing the old client. Avoid logging in as the same nickname from two clients if the network or your account setup makes that problematic.
- Choose a rollback point. Keep the backed-up configuration and a note of your previous setup until you are satisfied that the replacement covers your essential tasks.
Is IRC itself dead?
No conclusion about IRC as a protocol follows from the end of one client. IRC networks, other desktop and terminal clients, web clients, and bouncer software remain part of the ecosystem. The loss of HexChat does mean that users attached to its particular graphical workflow may need to adapt, but it is not evidence that all IRC access has ended. The client directories above show the range of alternatives; check individual projects for current activity rather than assuming every listed option is actively maintained.
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