Nix, Blender and GHC all have IRC channels on Libera, with a few hundred members each. I didn't join them but I assume they're bridged to Matrix via EMS.
I have been using IRC since 2006 and I still use it. Initially, I used to hang out on a variety of networks including Freenode, DALNet, EFNet, OFTC, etc. but as years went by I found myself joining only Freenode. The most active discussions around open source projects, mathematics, programming languages, etc. occurred on Freenode.
After the original Freenode staff stepped down[1] and moved to Libera[2] in May 2021, I moved to Libera too.
There are still tight-knit communities on Libera IRC. For example #commonlisp, #emacs, ##math, #python, etc. have great communities with friendly attitude. I have been an operator of the #algorithms channel[3] for over 14 years now. I run a mathematics and computation book club[4] at #offbeat. Contrary to the popular opinion on this forum that IRC is dead, I think IRC is still thriving. It is definitely not as popular as web-based forums like Twitter, Stack Overflow, etc., not even close, but it is there, it is active, and I think it is here to stay for at least another decade or two and possibly even longer.
The #emacs channel on Libera Chat (irc.libera.chat:6697) is indeed a very friendly and fun channel.
For those you are new to IRC and want to take a quick glance at the channel without choosing clients and configuring them, here is a web-based interface to connect to the #emacs channel:https://web.libera.chat/#emacs
Here is the Matrix bridge for it accessible via Element's web interface: https://app.element.io/#/room/#emacs:libera.chat . The Matrix bridge could be useful for those who want their nick to stay connected to the channel even after closing the browser without having to set up an IRC bouncer for themselves.
+1 for Matrix and Mastodon, might wanna check out Libera too. IRC is never coming back in the way we remembered it, but there's still plenty of online communities that are living out their individual Eternal Septembers.
Ah, i saw libera popping up but didn't check it out .
A comment where somebody mentioned that they would script their community back together made me think it wasn't irc and admins would replace their scripts to support the new platform.
Matrix. From my point of view, most IRC communities are slowly moving.
Major projects i interact with (kernel, kde, rustlang, mozilla, etc) all have "rooms" in matrix with a considerable quorum (not as good as irc, not as empty as other places)
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