finch
console-based multi-protocol chat client
TLDR
Launch finch
$ finch
Quit finch$ <Alt q>|<Ctrl c>
Show actions menu$ <Alt a>
Jump to n-th window$ <Alt [Number]>
Close current window$ <Alt c>
Start moving a window$ <Alt m>
Start resizing a window$ <Alt r>
SYNOPSIS
finch [options]
DESCRIPTION
finch is a console-based modular messaging client using the libpurple library (same as Pidgin). It supports multiple protocols including XMPP, IRC, and various proprietary services.
Text-based alternative to the Pidgin GUI client.
PARAMETERS
-c, --config dir
Use alternate configuration directory-d, --debug
Enable debug output-v, --version
Display version
CONFIGURATION
~/.purple/prefs.xml
Libpurple preferences shared with Pidgin.~/.purple/accounts.xml
Account credentials and connection settings.~/.gntrc
GNT (finch) UI keybindings and window behavior.
CAVEATS
Requires ncurses library. Uses same libpurple plugins as Pidgin. Account configuration shared with Pidgin if using same config directory.
