[alekratz]

it's dead simple early 90s text based protocol, and the servers have a remarkably lightweight footprint. simplicity also means you don't get the modern niceties like built-in media embeds or reactions (things that I really love from discord and matrix). but its simplicity also means it's easy to integrate (client, server, bot). I think it's perfect for 10-50 person channels, anything more it gets a bit too noisy to be useful or carry normal conversations.

[Gud]

the missing built-in media embeds and reactions are a feature, in my opinion.

The internet needs a light weight chat protocol.

[darknavi]

It was a fun Networking 101 project to implement an IRC server and client. Such a simple protocol.