Developer Tools
The Lounge on your desktop, inside Franz
Run your self-hosted The Lounge IRC client as a desktop tab on Mac, Windows, and Linux by pointing Franz at your own server, in Franz.
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
The Lounge is the self-hosted IRC client you run on your own server, so you stay connected and keep your history on infrastructure you control rather than someone else's service. That ownership is the whole appeal, and it is also why a browser tab is a poor home for it: the one place you go to reach every IRC network deserves a permanent spot, not a tab you close by accident. Franz runs your The Lounge install as a desktop service tab, right next to GitHub and the rest of your developer stack, so your own IRC front end is always one click away in the sidebar.
Point Franz at your own server
The Lounge does not live at a single public address, because every install runs on its own server. Franz lets you enter your own server URL when you add the service, so you point it at wherever your The Lounge instance lives, sign in, and it runs as a desktop tab just like any hosted service, while your client and your chat history stay on infrastructure you control. You stay signed in, your networks and channels persist, and reaching them is a keyboard shortcut rather than retyping a URL into a fresh browser tab.
The Lounge next to the rest of your developer stack
Most developers keep several tools open at once: GitHub for the code, an IRC network or two for upstream projects, maybe Gitter and a status page on the side. Franz groups your The Lounge tab with the other developer tools so your whole workflow surface sits in one window. When a conversation on an IRC network relates to an issue or a pull request you have open, you can move between the chat and the code without breaking flow or losing your place among browser tabs. Its own unread badge and native desktop notifications, including the notification sound, mean a highlight in a channel reaches you even when you are heads-down in your editor.
The Lounge on macOS, Windows, and Linux
Franz is a native desktop app for all three major platforms, and your self-hosted The Lounge behaves the same on each: the same web client, the same login to your own server, a real dock or taskbar presence and fast switching to and from your other services. Whether you work on a Mac, a Windows machine, or a Linux workstation, your IRC front end is set up the same way and travels with your workflow, with your chat staying on the server you run.
Other Developer Tools services
Frequently asked questions
Which platforms does The Lounge work on in Franz?
Franz runs The Lounge as a native desktop app on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with the same notifications, badges, and fast switching on every operating system.
Can I use multiple The Lounge accounts at once?
Yes. Franz lets you add The Lounge as many times as you need, one tab per account, all signed in at once. Each tab keeps its own session and unread badge, so you never sign out of one to check another.
Is The Lounge in Franz free?
Franz is free to use with The Lounge and every other service. A free account covers the essentials and takes minutes to set up; paid plans add extra features, but running The Lounge in Franz costs nothing to start.