| LeafChat | |
| Screenshot Size: | 200px |
| Author: | Samuel Marshall |
| Developer: | leafdigital |
| Latest Release Version: | 2.5 |
| Programming Language: | Java[1] |
| Operating System: | Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux |
| Platform: | Cross-platform |
| Size: | 5.5 MB |
| Language: | English Japanese |
| Genre: | IRC client |
| License: | GPL-3.0-or-later |
| Website: | (English) (Japanese) |
LeafChat is a free IRC client for Microsoft Windows and Unix-like operating systems, licensed under the GNU GPL-3.0-or-later. A donation is requested.[2]
Each channel is inside a tab which can be easily selected between while chatting. Most networks' servers are supported for connection; multiple networks can be connected to simultaneously.[3] Users can add their own scripts and command shortcuts, and the software detects net splits.[2]
TUCOWS circa 2004 showed LeafChat with a popularity of about 1/4, but a rating of four (of five) stars.[4] Beginning in 2004, IRCReviews gave the software five stars (of five), as an Editors's Choice, describing it as "powerful, good looking, and scriptable."[2] [5] In a 2010 review of version 2, LeafChat was described as "very well done", with a "killer" scripting API which was "convenient and easy", though the reviewer found some user-interface defaults "annoying", and ruled out using LeafChat due to perceived variable count limitations.[1] In a 2011 summary of four popular IRC clients, Techbuzz India described LeafChat as "one of the best" open-source clients with a "clean and simple" interface, and noted its ability to connect to multiple servers simultaneously.[6] The Simple Genetic Algorithm project at SourceForge suggested LeafChat (due to its zero cost) for its online IRC live developer support, and thoroughly outlined its setup.[7]