Colloquy (software) facts for kids
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Colloquy 2.1 under Mac OS X 10.5.1, Mobile Colloquy 1.0.1 under iOS
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| Developer(s) | Timothy (xenon) |
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| Initial release | 2004 |
| Stable release | 2.4.3 (6011) (March 22, 2014) |
| Preview release | None |
| Written in | Objective-C |
| Operating system | macOS, iOS |
| Available in | English |
| Type | IRC client |
| License | Desktop: GPL Mobile: BSD license |
Colloquy is a special computer program that helps you chat online. It's an open-source program, which means its code is free for anyone to see and use. Colloquy works as an IRC client. An IRC client is like a chat room program where many people can talk together in real-time.
Colloquy was made for macOS computers (like Macs) and iOS devices (like iPhones and iPads). It also supports other chat systems like SILC, ICB, and XMPP.
One of the main goals for Colloquy was to make an online chat program that looked and felt like other apps on Apple computers. It has a user interface that follows Apple's design rules. You can also use classic chat commands like `/nick` to change your name or `/join` to enter a chat room.
An official app for iOS was also released. This mobile version lets you use all the chat commands. It even has a web browser built-in and can send you notifications.
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Cool Features of Colloquy
Colloquy has many useful features to make your online chats better.
Text Fun and Colors
You can change how your text looks in Colloquy. It lets you use different colors, just like some other chat programs. You can pick from colors like White, Black, Red, Blue, Green, and many more.
You can also make your text stand out. Colloquy lets you use bold, italic, and even underline your messages. This helps you highlight important words or show your feelings.
Smart Chat Display
Colloquy is smart about showing chat changes. When someone changes their chat name or sets a special rule, Colloquy shows it in easy-to-understand words. It doesn't show confusing technical codes.
Scripting and Customization
Colloquy supports different scripting languages. This means advanced users can write small programs to make Colloquy do special things. It works with languages like AppleScript, JavaScript, and Python.
Plugins and Custom Looks
Colloquy is built using Apple's WebKit engine. This is the same technology that powers web browsers like Safari.
Custom Chat Styles
Because it uses WebKit, Colloquy lets you change how your chat looks. These are called "styles" and they are like themes. They change the colors, fonts, and layout of your chat windows. You can even create your own styles using web technologies like HTML and CSS.
Helpful Plugins
Colloquy also supports many plugins. Plugins are small add-ons that give the program new abilities. They can help you customize Colloquy even more. Some plugins can even connect Colloquy with other parts of your Mac computer.
Web Interface Plugin
One cool plugin is the Colloquy Web Interface. This plugin lets you check on your chat sessions from another device. For example, you could use your iPhone's web browser to see your chats happening on your desktop computer.
See Also
- Comparison of Internet Relay Chat clients
- Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients
- Comparison of instant messaging protocols
