https://jcs.org/wallops

joshua stein


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[wallops-icon-128x]

Wallops - A modern IRC client for classic Mac OS

Wallops is a modern IRC client that I wrote on and for my Macintosh
Plus. It is written for System 6 and should run on newer classic Mac
OS versions.

It requires MacTCP and supports multiple connections, channels, and
query windows in a tabbed interface. When run under MultiFinder, it
can run in the background using Notification Manager to flash the
Apple menu icon when one's nick is mentioned while the window is
hidden.

Wallops is free software and its source code is available under an
ISC license. I also have some videos about its development and C
programming on System 6 in general.

[wallops-screenshot2-512x342]

Latest Update: Wallops 2.0 Released (2024-09-12)

Another large update to my Wallops IRC client is available:

  * wallops-2.0.sit (StuffIt 3 archive, includes source code and
    THINK C 5 project file)
    SHA256: 532f6c72eadbb9e7ce74dded1bfcd71369a61d818f7c7716
    0bb8a66d6f1ccf9c
    SHA1: c375a24e00900378e84745c1e11d3d6976ef749c

This release features an overhaul of the interface bringing tabs
allowing multiple channels and private message queries, including a
number of other new features and bugfixes:

  * Support window resizing, using an initial window size based on
    the screen size
  * Connect-time settings (server, nick, password, etc.) are now
    saved to a preferences file in the System folder, rather than as
    resources on the binary itself; this prevents accidental sharing
    of saved passwords and avoids having to re-enter settings every
    time the software is updated
  * Add per-user queries which simplify private messaging back and
    forth with a single user; can be opened with /query <user> or by
    double-clicking a user in a channel nick list
  * Much improved tab and window redrawing
  * Optimize nick list sorting and building, especially on large
    channels; on a large channel with 750 users, this operation went
    from 62 seconds to 33 on a Mac Plus
  * Only auto-scroll a message buffer to new messages when not
    scrolled to the bottom, making it easier to read old messages on
    busy channels
  * Implement support for many more server numerics and commands
  * Implement additional commands like /clear, /op, /umode, and /
    disconnect (the full list is in the README)
  * Add global menu options to suppress channel "junk" such as joins,
    quits/parts, and nick changes
  * Make Desk Accessories work from the Apple Menu
  * Do case-insensitive matching of slash commands
  * Add a setting to suppress MOTD printing which can speed up
    connections on slower machines, since MOTDs can be very long on
    some servers
  * Add a custom about dialog

Previous Updates

  * Wallops 1.1 Released (2022-02-10)

  * Wallops 1.0 Released (2022-02-07)

(c) 2001-2024 joshua stein