The Lounge Hosting

How The Lounge works

The Lounge connects to external IRC networks from a server-side process and presents channels, private messages, mentions, logs, and network settings through a responsive web interface. In private mode it acts as both client and bouncer: a user can close the browser while the hosted process remains connected, then resume the same session from another device. The application is also installable as a progressive web app.

The catalogue creates an admin account, generates its password, and persists /var/opt/thelounge. The first user can add IRC networks through the Connect screen. IRC network accounts, NickServ credentials, channel permissions, operator roles, and network rules remain external to The Lounge and must be handled according to each network’s policies.

Key The Lounge features

Multi-user support exists upstream, but adding users is an administrative server action. The catalogue note refers to a console command that is not exposed as a normal control-panel workflow, so the standard package should be treated as a pre-created administrator account unless the hosting service operations explicitly adds further users. Sharing the same account weakens attribution and should be avoided.

Persistent connection does not mean every IRC network permits continuous automated sessions or high connection counts. Logs can contain private conversations, join information, hostmasks, and channel history, so backups and account access are sensitive. Push notifications and PWA behaviour depend on browser and device support, while IRC features vary by network and server capabilities.

Who uses The Lounge

Long-time IRC users keep sessions active across a laptop and phone, project communities centralise access to support channels, and small teams retain message context while members move between devices. A hosted bouncer is especially useful when intermittent connectivity would otherwise cause missed channel activity or repeated reconnects.

The Lounge is not an IRC network, encrypted team-messaging replacement, moderation service, or identity provider. It does not create channels on networks where the user lacks permission, recover history that the bouncer did not receive, or protect an account whose IRC credentials are shared carelessly. Network-specific terms and bans still apply.

Self-hosting The Lounge: requirements and cost

The Lounge resource use depends on users, connected IRC networks, joined channels, retained logs, message volume, media previews, push activity, and simultaneous browser sessions. PostgreSQL and MariaDB are Not required in the catalogue template; user configuration and logs live in the persistent application directory. A single quiet account is light, while many active channels and long histories expand storage and memory use.

On AvaHost, The Lounge uses Plan 1 at €2. The hosted The Lounge package includes one-click deployment, a custom domain with automated HTTPS, automatic application updates, and scheduled backups. The package creates one admin account and runs in private mode. Additional user creation requires an administrative action outside the ordinary web interface and is not a self-service hosted feature. IRC networks, accounts, channel rights, NickServ credentials, push-provider behaviour, and network compliance are not included.