# Install epic5 with Homebrew, apk, MacPorts, Nix, apt Enhanced, programmable IRC client. Version 3.0.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:epic5 ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install epic5 ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install epic5 ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: irc/epic5/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add epic5 ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: epic5 from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#epic5 ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ep/epic5/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install epic5 ``` Evidence: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: epic5 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:epic5 - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 3.0.3 - **Source summary:** Enhanced, programmable IRC client - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-3-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-22T14:03:15-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - epic5 (cli) - epic5-2157 (cli) - epic5 (alias) - epic5-2157 (alias) ## Dependencies - openssl@3 ## Uses from macOS - libxcrypt - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 3.0.3 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-22 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.epicsol.org/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage EPIC5 is the current fifth-generation branch of EPIC, the Enhanced Programmable IRC-II Client. Its own site describes EPIC as an ircII fork more than 30 years old, aimed at old-school IRC users, scripters, and people who want an ircII-like client that can be extended heavily through configuration and scripts. ### Project history EPIC grew out of ircII culture, where terminal IRC clients were not just chat programs but programmable environments. The EPIC site presents EPIC4 and EPIC5 as two current generations that are not generally interchangeable, with users choosing the branch their scripts require. The EPIC news archive records active EPIC5 releases in the 2010s, including EPIC5 1.1.8 and 1.1.10 in April 2014 and EPIC5 2.0 on February 13, 2016. The site later marked 30 years of EPIC with EPIC4 3.0 and EPIC5 3.0 releases. ### Adoption history EPIC5 has the adoption pattern of a long-lived terminal IRC tool: it is distributed as source by the upstream project and appears as binary packages in multiple operating-system package collections. The official getting page notes that most operating-system distributions have EPIC4 and EPIC5 packages available. ### How it is used Users run EPIC5 as a terminal IRC client and often customize it through EPIC scripts. The official site links separate material for scripts, scripting, installation, and EPIC5 help, reflecting a workflow built around interactive IRC use plus local automation. ### Why package nerds care For package maintainers, EPIC5 is a preservation piece from the ircII lineage: small, source-distributed, terminal-native, scriptable, and still relevant to users maintaining old IRC workflows or EPIC script collections. ### Timeline - 1990s: EPIC begins as an ircII fork, according to the project's 30-year history note. - 2014: EPIC5 1.1.8 and 1.1.10 releases are announced. - 2016: EPIC5 2.0 is released. - 2020s: The project marks 30 years with EPIC5 3.0. ### Related projects - EPIC4 is the other maintained EPIC generation and is documented alongside EPIC5. - ircII is the original IRC client lineage from which EPIC forked. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. - **Geiger risk:** blue / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** epic5 - **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 - Nix - epic5: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/ep/epic5/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - epic5 - 2.1.6-1ubuntu1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: epic5 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | epic irc client, version 5 | http://www.epicsol.org/ - apk - epic5 - 3.0.3-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: epic5 from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Enhanced Programmable ircII Client, version 5 | https://epicsol.org/ - apk - epic5-doc - 3.0.3-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: epic5-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Enhanced Programmable ircII Client, version 5 (documentation) | https://epicsol.org/ - apk - epic5-lite - 3.0.3-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: epic5-lite from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Enhanced Programmable ircII Client, version 5 (dependency-lite variant) | https://epicsol.org/ - apk - epic5-script - 3.0.3-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: epic5-script from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Enhanced Programmable ircII Client, version 5 (bundled scripts) | https://epicsol.org/ - MacPorts - epic5: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: irc/epic5/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## 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. - [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [catgirl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/catgirl/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [irssi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/irssi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking, scripting. - [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. - [sic](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sic/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, irc, networking, terminal-client. - [xaric](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/xaric/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [znc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/znc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: chat, cli, irc, networking. - [tiny](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tiny/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, irc, networking, terminal-client. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/epic5.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/epic5.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - 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