WebSocket IRC client for WordPress with real-time messaging, private chats, and desktop notifications. # Badwolf Web IRC Client - Version 5.2.0

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badwolf72

<p>A modern, feature-rich WebSocket IRC client for WordPress. Connect your website visitors to your IRC server with real-time chat, private messaging, desktop notifications, and a beautiful tabbed interface.</p>
<h3>Version 5.2.0 – What’s New</h3>
<h3>🔧 WordPress 6.9 Compatibility</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>FIXED</strong>: Plugin now works perfectly with WordPress 6.9</li>
<li><strong>FIXED</strong>: Script loading issues with block themes and Full Site Editing (FSE)</li>
<li><strong>FIXED</strong>: Configuration passing to JavaScript</li>
</ul>
<h3>🔌 WebSocket Improvements</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>FIXED</strong>: Connection stability issues</li>
<li><strong>FIXED</strong>: Binary WebSocket data handling</li>
<li><strong>ADDED</strong>: IRC subprotocol support for UnrealIRCd</li>
</ul>
<h3>⚙️ User Experience</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>ADDED</strong>: Settings link in plugin list for easy access</li>
<li><strong>IMPROVED</strong>: Error handling and logging</li>
<li><strong>IMPROVED</strong>: Connection reliability</li>
</ul>
<h3>Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>✅ Real-time IRC chat via secure WebSocket (wss://)</li>
<li>✅ Private messaging between users</li>
<li>✅ Desktop notifications for mentions and PMs</li>
<li>✅ Multiple channel support with tabbed interface</li>
<li>✅ User list with right-click context menus</li>
<li>✅ Command history (use arrow keys)</li>
<li>✅ Auto-reconnection with smart retry logic</li>
<li>✅ Customizable themes (light/dark)</li>
<li>✅ Mobile-responsive design</li>
<li>✅ IRC commands support (/nick, /join, /part, /msg, /me)</li>
<li>✅ Tab completion for nicknames</li>
<li>✅ Unread message badges</li>
<li>✅ Message history (500 messages per channel)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Requirements</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>WordPress</strong>: 5.0 or higher (tested up to 6.9)</li>
<li><strong>PHP</strong>: 7.4 or higher</li>
<li><strong>IRC Server</strong>: UnrealIRCd 6.x with WebSocket support (recommended)</li>
<li><strong>SSL Certificate</strong>: Valid SSL/TLS certificate for secure WebSocket (wss://)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Configuration</h3>
<h3>WordPress Settings</h3>
<p>Navigate to <strong>Settings <span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-exclude-emoji">→</span> Badwolf Web IRC Client</strong> and configure:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>WebSocket URL</strong>: Your IRC server WebSocket URL (e.g., <code>wss://irc.example.com:7443</code>)</li>
<li><strong>Default Channel</strong>: IRC channel to join (e.g., <code>#general</code>)</li>
<li><strong>Nickname Prefix</strong>: Prefix for auto-generated nicknames (e.g., <code>guest</code>)</li>
<li><strong>Real Name</strong>: Default real name for users</li>
<li><strong>Theme</strong>: Light or Dark theme</li>
<li><strong>Auto Connect</strong>: Automatically connect when page loads</li>
</ul>
<h3>UnrealIRCd Server Configuration</h3>
<p>Your UnrealIRCd server must have WebSocket support enabled:</p>
<pre><code>`conf
</code></pre>
<p>Load WebSocket module</p>
<p>loadmodule “websocket”;</p>
<p>Configure WebSocket listener</p>
<p>listen {<br />
    ip *;<br />
    port 7443;<br />
    options {<br />
        tls;<br />
        websocket;<br />
    }<br />
    tls-options {<br />
        certificate “/path/to/fullchain.pem”;<br />
        key “/path/to/privkey.pem”;<br />
        options {<br />
            no-client-certificate;<br />
        }<br />
    }<br />
}<br />
    `</p>
<h3>SSL Certificate Setup (Let’s Encrypt)</h3>
<pre><code>`bash
</code></pre>
<p>Install certbot if not already installed</p>
<p>sudo apt-get install certbot</p>
<p>Get certificate for your IRC domain</p>
<p>sudo certbot certonly –standalone -d irc.yourdomain.com</p>
<p>Copy certificates to UnrealIRCd</p>
<p>sudo cp /etc/letsencrypt/live/irc.yourdomain.com/fullchain.pem /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/<br />
sudo cp /etc/letsencrypt/live/irc.yourdomain.com/privkey.pem /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/</p>
<p>Set correct permissions</p>
<p>sudo chown unrealircd:unrealircd /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/*.pem<br />
sudo chmod 600 /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/privkey.pem<br />
sudo chmod 644 /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/fullchain.pem</p>
<p>Restart UnrealIRCd</p>
<p>cd /path/to/unrealircd<br />
./unrealircd restart<br />
    `</p>
<h3>Auto-Renewal Setup</h3>
<p>Create a renewal hook to automatically copy certificates:</p>
<pre><code>`bash
</code></pre>
<p>Create renewal hook script</p>
<p>sudo nano /etc/letsencrypt/renewal-hooks/deploy/copy-to-unrealircd.sh<br />
    `</p>
<p>Add this content:</p>
<pre><code>`bash
</code></pre>
<p>!/bin/bash</p>
<p>cp /etc/letsencrypt/live/irc.yourdomain.com/fullchain.pem /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/<br />
cp /etc/letsencrypt/live/irc.yourdomain.com/privkey.pem /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/<br />
chown unrealircd:unrealircd /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/*.pem<br />
chmod 600 /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/privkey.pem<br />
chmod 644 /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/fullchain.pem<br />
/path/to/unrealircd/unrealircd rehash<br />
    `</p>
<p>Make it executable:</p>
<pre><code>`bash
</code></pre>
<p>sudo chmod +x /etc/letsencrypt/renewal-hooks/deploy/copy-to-unrealircd.sh<br />
    `</p>
<h3>Usage</h3>
<h3>Basic Shortcode</h3>
<pre><code>`
</code></pre>
<p>[web_irc_client]<br />
    `</p>
<h3>Shortcode with Attributes</h3>
<pre><code>`
</code></pre>
<p>[web_irc_client theme=”dark” width=”100%” height=”600px”]<br />
    `</p>
<p><strong>Available attributes:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><code>theme</code> – Override theme (light or dark)</li>
<li><code>width</code> – Set custom width (default: 100%)</li>
<li><code>height</code> – Set custom height (default: 70vh)</li>
</ul>
<h3>IRC Commands</h3>
<p>Users can use standard IRC commands:</p>
<ul>
<li><code>/nick newname</code> – Change nickname</li>
<li><code>/join #channel</code> – Join a channel</li>
<li><code>/part</code> – Leave current channel</li>
<li><code>/msg username message</code> – Send private message</li>
<li><code>/me action</code> – Send action message</li>
<li><code>/help</code> – Show available commands</li>
</ul>
<h3>Troubleshooting</h3>
<h3>Connection Issues</h3>
<p><strong>Problem</strong>: “Reconnecting…” message appears</p>
<p><strong>Solutions</strong>:</p>
<ol>
<li>Verify UnrealIRCd is running: <code>ps aux | grep unrealircd</code></li>
<li>Check port is listening: <code>sudo netstat -tlnp | grep 7443</code></li>
<li>Verify SSL certificate is valid and not expired</li>
<li>Check UnrealIRCd logs: <code>tail -f /path/to/unrealircd/logs/ircd.log</code></li>
<li>Test WebSocket connection: <a href="https://www.piesocket.com/websocket-tester" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.piesocket.com/websocket-tester</a></li>
</ol>
<h3>SSL Certificate Errors</h3>
<p><strong>Problem</strong>: Certificate expired or invalid</p>
<p><strong>Solution</strong>:</p>
<pre><code>`bash
</code></pre>
<p>Check certificate expiry</p>
<p>sudo certbot certificates</p>
<p>Renew if needed</p>
<p>sudo certbot renew –force-renewal</p>
<p>Copy to UnrealIRCd and restart</p>
<p>sudo cp /etc/letsencrypt/live/irc.yourdomain.com/*.pem /path/to/unrealircd/conf/tls/<br />
./unrealircd restart<br />
    `</p>
<h3>Plugin Not Loading</h3>
<p><strong>Problem</strong>: IRC client doesn’t appear on page</p>
<p><strong>Solutions</strong>:</p>
<ol>
<li>Verify shortcode is correct: <code>[web_irc_client]</code></li>
<li>Clear WordPress cache</li>
<li>Clear browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+R)</li>
<li>Check browser console for JavaScript errors (F12)</li>
<li>Verify WebSocket URL is configured in plugin settings</li>
</ol>
<h3>WordPress 6.9 Issues</h3>
<p><strong>Problem</strong>: Plugin stopped working after WordPress 6.9 update</p>
<p><strong>Solution</strong>: Update to version 5.2.0 which includes WordPress 6.9 compatibility fixes.</p>
<h3>Support</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>GitHub</strong>: <a href="https://github.com/badwolf1972/web-irc-client" rel="nofollow ugc">https://github.com/badwolf1972/web-irc-client</a></li>
<li><strong>Issues</strong>: <a href="https://github.com/badwolf1972/web-irc-client/issues" rel="nofollow ugc">https://github.com/badwolf1972/web-irc-client/issues</a></li>
<li><strong>WordPress Support</strong>: <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/badwolf-web-irc-client/" rel="ugc">https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/badwolf-web-irc-client/</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Credits</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Author</strong>: Martin Cooper (badwolf72)</li>
<li><strong>Website</strong>: <a href="https://www.oo3dmodels.com" rel="nofollow ugc">https://www.oo3dmodels.com</a></li>
<li><strong>License</strong>: GPL v2 or later</li>
</ul>


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