Glowing Bear

Glowing Bear is a web client for the WeeChat IRC client. It connects directly from your browser to a WeeChat instance through the WeeChat relay plugin, providing a modern UI without requiring a separate backend service.

Key Features

• Connects to WeeChat using the relay plugin over WebSockets
• Runs entirely in the browser (static web app) with a responsive interface for desktop and mobile
• Rich message rendering with optional inline previews/embeds for common media types
• Works as an installable/app-like experience (for example as a Chrome app or added to a mobile home screen)
• Supports securing the relay connection using TLS when configured on the WeeChat/relay side

Use Cases

• Access your always-on WeeChat session remotely from any modern browser
• Provide a user-friendly UI for WeeChat on mobile devices
• Run WeeChat on a server while using a lightweight web interface locally or remotely

Limitations and Considerations

• Requires an existing WeeChat instance (WeeChat 0.4.2+), with the relay plugin configured and reachable
• If the relay is exposed without TLS, traffic is sent in cleartext; secure relay configuration is strongly recommended

Glowing Bear is a good fit for users who prefer WeeChat’s robustness but want a modern, portable interface. Because it is a static web frontend, deployment is simple and updates are straightforward, while WeeChat remains responsible for the IRC connection and state.