Ergo

Ergo is an open-source IRC server written in Go. It combines the functions of an IRC daemon, a services framework, and a bouncer into a single application, allowing for integrated account management and history storage. By merging these components, the software eliminates the need for separate service bots or external bouncer software to maintain presence and state.

The software is deployed as a server daemon and can be run as a standalone binary, via Docker, or built from source. It uses a YAML configuration file that supports rehashing, which allows administrators to update server settings and TLS certificates at runtime without restarting the process. This makes it suitable for environments where uptime is critical and configuration changes must be applied on the fly.

Key features

• Integrated NickServ, ChanServ, and HostServ for account and channel management
• Bouncer functionality for storing history and supporting multiple clients per nickname
• Native TLS/SSL support including client certificates
• SASL authentication for secure user logins
• Unified ban system targeting IPs, networks, masks, and accounts
• Support for IRCv3 specifications and RFC 8265 for UTF-8 names
• Extensible privilege system for IRC operators
• Support for running as a Tor hidden service

Ergo is designed for users and administrators who require a modern IRC environment with built-in persistence. It utilizes bcrypt for password storage and provides an internal tool for generating encrypted strings to be used in the configuration. The architecture supports multiple languages and includes automated client connection limits to maintain server stability. It also supports ident lookups for usernames and provides a flexible logging system inspired by InspIRCd, which can be directed to stderr or a specific file.

This application serves as a comprehensive solution for hosting an IRC network with integrated services and modern protocol support.