LocalChat is a lightweight IRC-like chat application that allows local users to communicate. It can be used as a replacement for write, e.g., for collaborative remote administration tasks.

Features:

• Multi user chatting.
• Multi channel support.
• Join and leave notifications.
• Own messages highlighting.
• History retention, visible when a user joins the conversation.
• Configurable nickname by setting the ${USER} environment variable.

Install dependencies and clone the source code:

apt install splitvt
git clone https://github.com/jfjlaros/localchat.git

Start the application with the following commands:

cd localchat
./localchat

Or, if you want to join an other channel, e.g., "mychannel":

./localchat mychannel

The interface contains two windows. In the top window, we see the conversation, in the bottom window, we can write a message to add to the conversation.

The application can be closed by pressing Ctrl+C.

A backup of a conversation can be made by copying its log file, e.g.:

cp /tmp/.localchat/main ~/localchat.main.log