Last time I used IRC (which was 1-3 years ago), I found over 4 servers that each had over 15 users. And since I am communicating with 5+ IRC users through XMPP, IRC is not dead. It’s more dead today compared to 20 years ago, yes, but it is not dead-dead.
But IRC is dead now
I highly disagree. I am in a group chat on XMPP that uses a IRC bridge and many of the users in that group chat are using that bridge.
And now to other stuff that I want to mention related to the discussion in this thread.
Services that does not meet modern standards like Mumble and XMPP, are not widly used because they “lack many important features”. I say “bah, humbug” to that!
If MSN and ICQ worked flawlessly when those services was active, Mumble and XMPP works very well today, too. People are too spoiled by today’s technology.
Here’s an example.
I use my self-hosted Jitsi Meet server when communicating with people that refuses to talk to me unless there’s video calls and screen sharing. Otherwise, I gladly use Mumble 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, every year! And for file sharing other than images? XMPP, baby!
A friend of mine invited a Discord loving person to my Jitsi Meet server few weeks ago. He/she said “it looks just like Discord, I’m sold!” My friend (also a Discord lover) agreed and does not hesitate for 1 second to join me on Jitsi Meet. My friend’s Discord friend said he/she gladly join us more times.
For me it was elementary OS. Dual-booted with Windows back in 2015/2016. Maybe 1 year later, I installed Linux Mint Cinnamon and gradually used it more than Windows. Now I am using EndeavourOS XFCE and only using Windows virtually… when I am bored or need to use Adobe Lightroom Classic.
How about Mumble? It’s free, open sourced, encrypted, and with temporary chats with the ability to share images with ease.
No, I’m not. All I am saying is that people are still using IRC. IRC is therefore not dead. But if you want to compare Discord with IRC, then yes, IRC is dead. But not dead-dead since people are still using it and can still recover. I know people that wants to start using IRC again.
Do you follow what I mean now?