Two New Ways to Connect

By SarahRose on June 19, 2025

✨ Two New Ways to Connect: IRIS and ShellHop Live

TransIRC is a trans-owned IRC network built entirely by and for trans and questioning folks. Our mission is simple: give our community a safe, privacy-respecting, no-BS space to connect and be ourselves --- free from surveillance capitalism and corporate platforms.

Today, we're thrilled to launch two powerful, open-source tools to help you access TransIRC more easily and securely than ever:

📱 IRIS -- IRC, Reimagined for Mobile

IRIS is our brand-new Android client designed to look and feel like Discord, but powered by the elegant protocol of IRC under the hood.

Built with Flutter for the interface and Go for the backend, IRIS connects to TransIRC via a WebSocket gateway that speaks Ergo-compatible IRC fluently. It supports avatars, media uploads, emoji, and channel history --- all while preserving your identity through NickServ authentication.

🛡️ Secure & Open

  • No email required to register.

  • Connect using your NickServ account.

  • 100% open source on both ends (client + gateway).

IRIS syncs 500 lines of chat and supports SASL login out of the box. Just open the app, log in, and jump into the same channels you already know and love --- but in a way that fits in your pocket.

⚠️ IRIS is in early testing. Things may break --- but it already works, and your feedback will help shape it.

🔗 Download IRIS APK 🌍 View the IRIS Source Code

💿 ShellHop Live -- Boot, Connect, Disappear

Need a more private way to access TransIRC? Say hello to ShellHop Live --- a RAM-only Linux distro that boots directly into our IRC environment via SSH, without ever touching your disk.

But it's not just any SSH. ShellHop Live uses our custom tunneling network, ShellHop, to securely and anonymously connect you to our infrastructure --- without exposing our backend systems or requiring VPNs or Tor.

🐚 What is ShellHop?

ShellHop is a single-hop, HMAC-authenticated SSH relay network. It was built for projects like TransIRC where censorship resistance and privacy matter.

🔐 ShellHop Features:

  • 🔁 Single-Hop Simplicity: Just one trusted hop between you and our gateway.

  • 🛰️ Peer-Relay Model: Discover volunteer relays automatically.

  • 🛡️ HMAC Authentication: Only approved relays can forward traffic.

  • 📡 PROXY Protocol Support: Preserves your real IP for IRC bans/access control.

  • 🧠 Censorship Resistance: Bypass firewalls, DPI, and network blocks.

  • 💻 Built-in SSH: No setup required; just boot and go.

ShellHop Live boots straight into a tmux session on TransIRC with:

  • A ready-to-go IRC client (already logged in)

  • Access to our wiki, news, and issue tools

  • Terminal-based games and community scripts

Whether you're in a library, a school, or on a borrowed laptop --- ShellHop Live lets you jump into IRC without leaving a trace.

🔗 Download ShellHop Live ISO 🛠️ View the ShellHop Source

🧵 Why These Exist

We built IRIS and ShellHop Live because you deserve access --- access that doesn't depend on what platform you use, who your ISP is, or what device you're on.

Whether you're booting up for total privacy or chatting on your phone, TransIRC now meets you where you are --- without compromising our values.

Come join us.

🏳️‍⚧️ Server Info 📝 Register a NickServ Account 💬 Jump Into IRC

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