# Install bitlbee with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, zypper IRC to other chat networks gateway. Version 3.6 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:bitlbee ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bitlbee ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install bitlbee ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: irc/bitlbee/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add bitlbee ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitlbee from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install bitlbee ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: bitlbee from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install bitlbee ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: bitlbee from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#bitlbee ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: bitlbee from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install bitlbee ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: bitlbee from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bitlbee - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.6 - **Source summary:** IRC to other chat networks gateway - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - bitlbee (cli) - bitlbee (alias) ## Dependencies - gettext - glib - gnutls - libgcrypt - libgpg-error ## Build dependencies - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Service: declared - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 3.6 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.bitlbee.org/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage BitlBee is an IRC gateway to other chat networks. Instead of replacing an IRC client, it lets users connect to a BitlBee server from their existing IRC client and interact with IM accounts through a control channel and IRC-like conversations. ### Project history The official site describes BitlBee as bringing IM to IRC clients for people who already keep an IRC client running. The current README summarizes the project as an IRC-to-other-chat-networks gateway, with the main site, wiki, and bug tracker as official support surfaces. BitlBee historically supported networks such as Jabber/XMPP, MSN, OSCAR/AIM/ICQ, Yahoo, and Twitter; the user guide and wiki document account commands, the `&bitlbee` control channel, protocol-specific setup, and plugin or libpurple-based expansion. As proprietary IM networks changed or shut down, BitlBee's supported protocols changed with them. ### Adoption history BitlBee was adopted by IRC users who wanted one always-open terminal or GUI IRC client to cover both IRC and instant messaging. Public BitlBee servers also lowered the barrier for users who could not or did not want to run their own daemon. The package metadata in this batch shows BitlBee available through Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, and openSUSE, which is broad packaging for a niche chat gateway. The official README also says it is available in most distro package managers. ### How it is used A user connects an IRC client to BitlBee, joins the `&bitlbee` control channel, registers or identifies, adds accounts, and then chats with contacts as IRC users or queries. Account data is saved server-side, which is why the package has credential-bearing account files. Admins can run BitlBee as a daemon or inetd-style service, and users can alternatively connect to public servers. Plugins and libpurple support extend the gateway to networks beyond the built-in protocols. ### Why package nerds care BitlBee is a classic example of a Unix network shim: it preserves a beloved client interface, IRC, while translating newer or different chat protocols behind it. Packaging it means packaging both a daemon and a social workflow. It is also significant because its history tracks the churn of consumer messaging networks. Package maintainers have had to deal with protocol removals, plugin splits, libpurple integration, TLS dependencies, account storage, and security fixes as upstream networks changed. ### Timeline - 2000s: BitlBee establishes the IRC-to-IM gateway model for users who keep an IRC client running. - 2010s: The user guide documents the control channel, account commands, and protocols including Jabber, MSN, OSCAR, Yahoo, and Twitter. - 2017: BitlBee 3.5 adds protocol and enterprise-deployment improvements, according to the official news feed. - 2019: BitlBee 3.6 removes several obsolete built-in protocols and points users toward plugins for networks such as Skype, ICQ, Discord, and Mastodon. - 2025: The official site still shows current Git activity in the GitHub development tree. ### Related projects - IRC clients such as irssi, WeeChat, and HexChat are common front ends for BitlBee users. - XMPP/Jabber is one of BitlBee's central built-in protocol families. - libpurple provides optional access to many more chat protocols. - Third-party plugins cover networks such as Discord, Mastodon, Steam, Facebook, and others documented on the BitlBee wiki. ### Sources - - - - - - input.json source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal - formula declares a Homebrew service ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Credential files - Unix: /var/lib/bitlbee/*.accounts ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** bitlbee - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - bitlbee - 3.6-1.5: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bitlbee from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (default version) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Debian apt - bitlbee-common - 3.6-1.5: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bitlbee-common from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (common files/docs) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Debian apt - bitlbee-dev - 3.6-1.5: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bitlbee-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (dev files) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Debian apt - bitlbee-libpurple - 3.6-1.5: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bitlbee-libpurple from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (using libpurple) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Debian apt - bitlbee-plugin-otr - 3.6-1.5: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: bitlbee-plugin-otr from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (OTR plugin) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Nix - bitlbee: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: bitlbee from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - Ubuntu apt - bitlbee - 3.6-1.3build5: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bitlbee from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (default version) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Ubuntu apt - bitlbee-common - 3.6-1.3build5: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bitlbee-common from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (common files/docs) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Ubuntu apt - bitlbee-dev - 3.6-1.3build5: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bitlbee-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (dev files) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Ubuntu apt - bitlbee-libpurple - 3.6-1.3build5: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bitlbee-libpurple from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (using libpurple) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - Ubuntu apt - bitlbee-plugin-otr - 3.6-1.3build5: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: bitlbee-plugin-otr from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | IRC to other chat networks gateway (OTR plugin) | http://www.bitlbee.org/ - apk - bitlbee - 3.6-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitlbee from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | An IRC to other chat networks gateway | https://www.bitlbee.org/ - apk - bitlbee-dev - 3.6-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitlbee-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | An IRC to other chat networks gateway (development files) | https://www.bitlbee.org/ - apk - bitlbee-doc - 3.6-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitlbee-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | An IRC to other chat networks gateway (documentation) | https://www.bitlbee.org/ - apk - bitlbee-openrc - 3.6-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitlbee-openrc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | An IRC to other chat networks gateway (OpenRC init scripts) | https://www.bitlbee.org/ - apk - bitlbee-otr - 3.6-r4: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: bitlbee-otr from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | An IRC to other chat networks gateway | https://www.bitlbee.org/ ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gnutls](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gnutls/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libgcrypt](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libgcrypt/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [libgpg-error](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libgpg-error/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [catgirl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/catgirl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [center-im](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/center-im/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, instant-messaging, networking. - [epic5](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/epic5/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [icbirc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/icbirc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [ii](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ii/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [ircd-hybrid](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ircd-hybrid/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [ngircd](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ngircd/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [senpai](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/senpai/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [weechat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/weechat/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: chat, cli, error, gettext, gnutls. - [profanity](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/profanity/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: chat, cli, glib, libgcrypt, messaging. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bitlbee.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/bitlbee.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph