InspIRCd vs Libervia
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted chat & communication options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
InspIRCd
Modular C++ Internet Relay Chat daemon
VS
Libervia
Multi-frontend XMPP communication ecosystem
| Feature | InspIRCd | Libervia |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Chat & Communication | Chat & Communication |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,347 | ★ 50 |
| First released | 2002 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Slack, Discord | Slack, Facebook |
What are InspIRCd and Libervia?
InspIRCd
InspIRCd is a modular, high-performance IRC server written in C++. Its plugin-based architecture lets administrators enable only the features they need for their network.
- Modular plugin architecture
- Lightweight and fast
- Supports large IRC networks
- Cross-platform
Libervia
Libervia, formerly Salut a Toi, is a communication ecosystem built on XMPP that offers desktop, web, and command-line frontends. It supports chat, blogging, file sharing, and more over a single decentralized network.
- Multiple frontends on XMPP
- Blogging and file sharing
- End-to-end encryption
- Command-line interface
InspIRCd vs Libervia: key differences
InspIRCd is written in C++, while Libervia is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for InspIRCd versus AGPL-3.0 for Libervia. InspIRCd is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Libervia. InspIRCd is the more established project (first released 2002), while Libervia arrived in 2009. InspIRCd has the considerably larger community, at 1,347 GitHub stars versus 50. InspIRCd lists first-class Docker deployment; Libervia does not.
Why pick each one
Choose InspIRCd if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
Watch out for
- Configuration is XML-based
- IRC-only
Choose Libervia if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is InspIRCd or Libervia better?
InspIRCd is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Libervia if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are InspIRCd and Libervia free and open-source?
Yes. InspIRCd is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Libervia under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run InspIRCd and Libervia with Docker?
InspIRCd: yes. Libervia: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, InspIRCd or Libervia?
InspIRCd has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Libervia. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.