Worst Chat Ever

Our live chat server, chat.veeb.ch, is getting a new purpose. When we first launched it, the idea was simple: provide a quick way for visitors to ask questions and get help in real time. In practice, it did not quite work out. Time zone differences meant someone from our team was not always available, and modern expectations shaped by instant AI chatbots meant many people expected immediate replies. The result was an experiment that never fully found its footing.

Rather than shutting it down, we decided to give it a second life.

What IRC Is

Our channel runs on Internet Relay Chat (IRC), a protocol created in 1988. Key points:

• Decentralised and open: no single company controls it; anyone can run a server

• Channel-based: people gather in themed channels to discuss specific topics

• Lightweight and efficient: fast, simple, and built for conversation

The people on IRC often have a “Comic Book Guy” energy: knowledgeable, highly opinionated, and sometimes a touch patronising, but they are also one of the best sources of practical knowledge online.

Why We Use Libera Chat

Our server connects to Libera Chat, one of the largest IRC networks today. It hosts thousands of channels covering:

• Programming languages

• Open-source projects

• System administration

• General technical discussion

For us, it is a place to explore knowledge, ask questions, and see well-designed systems in action.

IRC and Good Design

Just like the vintage clocks we restore, IRC is built to last and adapt to new uses. Good design, whether mechanical or digital, stands the test of time.

Curious? Drop by and say hello.