Question 1

What is The Lounge?

Accepted Answer

The Lounge is a self-hosted, always-on web client for IRC. It runs on your server and stays permanently connected to your IRC networks, holding your channels open and buffering the conversation, while you connect to it through a browser. That means you keep your scrollback and history and can reach the same session from any device, even after closing the browser. This install runs it on port 9020.

Question 2

How is it different from a normal IRC client?

Accepted Answer

A normal IRC client only receives messages while it is running and connected, so closing it drops you out of your channels and you miss anything said until you return. The Lounge stays connected on the server side around the clock, so your channels and history persist. It effectively combines an IRC bouncer, which keeps the connection alive, with a polished web client, in a single self-hosted tool.

Question 3

Which port does it use and how do I log in?

Accepted Answer

The Lounge is published on host port 9020, mapped from the container's internal port 9000. It runs in private multi-user mode, so you first create a user with docker exec -it thelounge thelounge add admin and set a password, then open http://your-server:9020 and sign in. Front it with a reverse proxy and TLS rather than exposing 9020 directly.

Question 4

Can I add more than one user?

Accepted Answer

Yes — The Lounge runs in multi-user mode, so a single instance can serve several people, each with their own account, IRC networks, and history. You create each user with the same thelounge add command, giving them a name and password. That makes one deployment a shared IRC front-end for a whole team or group of friends, while keeping each person's session separate.

Question 5

Does it work with Slack or Discord?

Accepted Answer

No — The Lounge is strictly an IRC client and connects only to IRC networks, including one you host yourself with a server like Ergo. It does not connect to Slack, Discord, or Matrix. If your communities are on those platforms rather than IRC, The Lounge is not the tool for reaching them; it is specifically for people whose chat lives on IRC and who want to stay in it persistently.

🟠 Setup The Lounge — Always-On Web IRC Client

📦 Resources & Setup Scripts

Quick Install:

Tutorial Steps

1 Download the Script

2 Make it Executable

3 Run the Installer

4 Create Your User Account

Ports Used

Overview

Why Use It

When You Need It

Who Should Use It

Real Use Cases

Main Features

How to Use After Installation

Security Best Practices

Ports and Firewall Notes

Backup and Maintenance

Common Mistakes

Troubleshooting

Alternatives

When Not to Use It

PrismaTechWork Professional Help

Frequently Asked Questions