Merge pull request #3 from HueByte/dev

Dev merge

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
-name: PR Check
+name: CI
 
 on:
-  pull_request:
+  push:
     branches: [master]
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [master, dev]
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   lint-markdown:
@@ -28,25 +31,30 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check formatting
         run: dotnet format src/EchoHub.slnx --verify-no-changes --verbosity diagnostic
 
-  test:
+  build-and-test:
     name: Build & Test
-    needs: [lint-markdown, format-check]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Check for src/ changes
         id: changes
         env:
+          EVENT: ${{ github.event_name }}
+          BEFORE: ${{ github.event.before }}
           BASE_REF: ${{ github.base_ref }}
         run: |
-          git fetch origin "$BASE_REF" --depth=1
-          CHANGED=$(git diff --name-only "origin/$BASE_REF"...HEAD -- 'src/' | wc -l)
-          if [ "$CHANGED" -gt 0 ]; then
-            echo "src_changed=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          if [ "$EVENT" = "pull_request" ]; then
+            git fetch origin "$BASE_REF" --depth=1
+            CHANGED=$(git diff --name-only "origin/$BASE_REF"...HEAD -- 'src/' | wc -l)
+          elif [ -z "$BEFORE" ] || [ "$BEFORE" = "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" ]; then
+            CHANGED=1
           else
-            echo "src_changed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            CHANGED=$(git diff --name-only "$BEFORE" HEAD -- 'src/' | wc -l)
           fi
+          [ "$CHANGED" -gt 0 ] && echo "src_changed=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT" || echo "src_changed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Setup .NET 10
         if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true'

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: CI / Release
+name: Release
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -9,96 +9,28 @@ permissions:
   contents: write
 
 jobs:
-  lint-markdown:
-    name: Markdown Lint
+  release:
+    name: Create Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Run markdownlint
-        run: bash scripts/lint-markdown.sh
-
-  format-check:
-    name: Format Check
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Setup .NET 10
-        uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
-        with:
-          dotnet-version: '10.0.x'
-
-      - name: Check formatting
-        run: dotnet format src/EchoHub.slnx --verify-no-changes --verbosity diagnostic
-
-  detect-changes:
-    name: Detect Changes
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    outputs:
-      src_changed: ${{ steps.check.outputs.src_changed }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      - name: Check for changes
-        id: check
+      - name: Check for src/ changes
+        id: changes
         env:
           BEFORE: ${{ github.event.before }}
         run: |
-          if [ "$BEFORE" = "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" ]; then
-            # Initial push — treat everything as changed
+          if [ -z "$BEFORE" ] || [ "$BEFORE" = "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000" ]; then
             echo "src_changed=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           else
-            SRC_CHANGED=$(git diff --name-only "$BEFORE" HEAD -- 'src/' | wc -l)
-
-            [ "$SRC_CHANGED" -gt 0 ] && echo "src_changed=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT" || echo "src_changed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            CHANGED=$(git diff --name-only "$BEFORE" HEAD -- 'src/' | wc -l)
+            [ "$CHANGED" -gt 0 ] && echo "src_changed=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT" || echo "src_changed=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
           fi
 
-  test:
-    name: Build & Test
-    needs: [lint-markdown, format-check, detect-changes]
-    if: needs.detect-changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Setup .NET 10
-        uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
-        with:
-          dotnet-version: '10.0.x'
-
-      - name: Cache NuGet packages
-        uses: actions/cache@v4
-        with:
-          path: ~/.nuget/packages
-          key: nuget-${{ runner.os }}-${{ hashFiles('src/**/*.csproj') }}
-          restore-keys: nuget-${{ runner.os }}-
-
-      - name: Restore dependencies
-        run: dotnet restore src/EchoHub.slnx
-
-      - name: Build
-        run: dotnet build src/EchoHub.slnx --no-restore --configuration Release
-
-      - name: Test
-        run: dotnet test src/EchoHub.slnx --no-build --configuration Release --verbosity normal
-
-  release:
-    name: Create Release
-    needs: [lint-markdown, format-check, detect-changes, test]
-    if: needs.detect-changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Setup .NET 10
-        uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
-        with:
-          dotnet-version: '10.0.x'
-
       - name: Read version
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true'
         id: version
         run: |
           VERSION=$(grep -oP '(?<=<Version>)[^<]+' src/Directory.Build.props)
@@ -106,6 +38,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "tag=v$VERSION" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
       - name: Check if release exists
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true'
         id: check_release
         run: |
           if gh release view "${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}" &>/dev/null; then
@@ -116,40 +49,46 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
+      - name: Setup .NET 10
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
+        with:
+          dotnet-version: '10.0.x'
+
       - name: Publish Server win-x64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Server/EchoHub.Server.csproj -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained true -o publish/server-win-x64
 
       - name: Publish Server linux-x64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Server/EchoHub.Server.csproj -c Release -r linux-x64 --self-contained true -o publish/server-linux-x64
 
       - name: Publish Server osx-x64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Server/EchoHub.Server.csproj -c Release -r osx-x64 --self-contained true -o publish/server-osx-x64
 
       - name: Publish Server osx-arm64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Server/EchoHub.Server.csproj -c Release -r osx-arm64 --self-contained true -o publish/server-osx-arm64
 
       - name: Publish Client win-x64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Client/EchoHub.Client.csproj -c Release -r win-x64 --self-contained true -o publish/client-win-x64
 
       - name: Publish Client linux-x64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Client/EchoHub.Client.csproj -c Release -r linux-x64 --self-contained true -o publish/client-linux-x64
 
       - name: Publish Client osx-x64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Client/EchoHub.Client.csproj -c Release -r osx-x64 --self-contained true -o publish/client-osx-x64
 
       - name: Publish Client osx-arm64
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: dotnet publish src/EchoHub.Client/EchoHub.Client.csproj -c Release -r osx-arm64 --self-contained true -o publish/client-osx-arm64
 
       - name: Zip artifacts
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: |
           cd publish
           zip -r ../EchoHub-Server-win-x64.zip server-win-x64/
@@ -161,12 +100,44 @@ jobs:
           zip -r ../EchoHub-Client-osx-x64.zip client-osx-x64/
           zip -r ../EchoHub-Client-osx-arm64.zip client-osx-arm64/
 
+      - name: Build release notes
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        id: notes
+        run: |
+          TAG="${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}"
+          CHANGELOG_URL="https://huebyte.github.io/EchoHub/changelog/${TAG}.html"
+          REPO="https://github.com/${{ github.repository }}"
+          PREV_TAG=$(git tag --sort=-v:refname | grep -v "^${TAG}$" | head -n 1)
+
+          {
+            echo "body<<RELEASE_EOF"
+            echo "📋 **[Full Changelog](${CHANGELOG_URL})**"
+            echo ""
+            echo "---"
+            echo ""
+            echo "### Commits"
+            echo ""
+            if [ -n "$PREV_TAG" ]; then
+              git log "${PREV_TAG}..HEAD" --pretty=format:"- %s (%h)" --no-merges
+            else
+              git log HEAD --pretty=format:"- %s (%h)" --no-merges
+            fi
+            echo ""
+            echo ""
+            if [ -n "$PREV_TAG" ]; then
+              echo "*Version diff: [${PREV_TAG}...${TAG}](${REPO}/compare/${PREV_TAG}...${TAG})*"
+            else
+              echo "*Version diff: [${TAG}](${REPO}/commits/${TAG})*"
+            fi
+            echo "RELEASE_EOF"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
       - name: Create GitHub Release
-        if: steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
+        if: steps.changes.outputs.src_changed == 'true' && steps.check_release.outputs.exists == 'false'
         run: |
           gh release create "${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}" \
             --title "EchoHub ${{ steps.version.outputs.tag }}" \
-            --generate-notes \
+            --notes "${{ steps.notes.outputs.body }}" \
             EchoHub-Server-win-x64.zip \
             EchoHub-Server-linux-x64.zip \
             EchoHub-Server-osx-x64.zip \

README.md

@@ -13,11 +13,19 @@
 <p align="center">
   <a href="#what-is-this">What</a> •
   <a href="#getting-started">Setup</a> •
+  <a href="#irc-gateway">IRC</a> •
+  <a href="#deployment-with-nginx">Deploy</a> •
   <a href="#client-commands">Commands</a> •
   <a href="#configuration">Config</a> •
   <a href="#license">License</a>
 </p>
 
+<p align="center">
+  <a href="https://echohub.voidcube.cloud/">Website</a> •
+  <a href="https://echohub.voidcube.cloud/servers">Public Servers</a> •
+  <a href="https://huebyte.github.io/EchoHub/">Documentation</a>
+</p>
+
 <p align="center">
   <img alt=".NET 10" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/.NET-10-512BD4?style=flat-square&logo=dotnet&logoColor=white" />
   <img alt="SignalR" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/SignalR-Real--time-0078D4?style=flat-square" />
@@ -40,21 +48,25 @@ Each server is fully independent — no central authority, no account federation
 ```mermaid
 graph TD
     subgraph Server["Server"]
+        ChatSvc["ChatService"]
         Hub["SignalR ChatHub"]
+        IRC["IRC Gateway :6667"]
         Auth["JWT Auth"]
         DB["SQLite DB (EF Core)"]
         Files["File Storage"]
     end
 
-    subgraph Client["Client"]
+    subgraph Clients["Clients"]
         TUI["Terminal GUI (TUI)"]
-        Theme["Theme Engine"]
-        API["API Client (auto-refresh)"]
+        IRCClient["IRC Client (irssi, WeeChat, ...)"]
     end
 
-    API -- "WebSocket" --> Hub
-    API -- "REST" --> Auth
-    Hub --> DB
+    TUI -- "WebSocket" --> Hub
+    TUI -- "REST" --> Auth
+    IRCClient -- "TCP" --> IRC
+    Hub --> ChatSvc
+    IRC --> ChatSvc
+    ChatSvc --> DB
     Auth --> DB
     Files --> DB
 ```
@@ -65,6 +77,7 @@ graph TD
 
 - **Self-hostable** — your server, your rules, your data
 - **Real-time messaging** via SignalR WebSockets
+- **IRC gateway** — native IRC clients connect alongside TUI users, full cross-protocol messaging
 - **JWT auth** with short-lived access tokens and 30-day refresh tokens
 - **Channels** — create, set topics, delete (no 47-step permission wizard required)
 - **File & image uploads** with actual validation (magic bytes, not just trusting the extension)
@@ -122,6 +135,66 @@ Connect, register, chat. That's the whole onboarding flow.
 dotnet build src/EchoHub.slnx
 ```
 
+## IRC Gateway
+
+EchoHub includes a built-in IRC protocol gateway. Any standard IRC client can connect to the same server and chat alongside TUI users — messages flow both ways in real time.
+
+### Enable It
+
+In the server's `appsettings.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "Irc": {
+    "Enabled": true,
+    "Port": 6667,
+    "ServerName": "echohub",
+    "Motd": "Welcome to EchoHub IRC Gateway!"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Connect
+
+```bash
+# irssi
+irssi -c your-server.com -p 6667 -w <password> -n <username>
+
+# WeeChat
+/server add echohub your-server.com/6667 -password=<password> -nicks=<username>
+/connect echohub
+```
+
+IRC users must have an existing EchoHub account (no registration via IRC). Auth works via `PASS`/`NICK`/`USER` or SASL PLAIN.
+
+### What Works
+
+| Feature | How it maps to IRC |
+| ------- | ------------------ |
+| Text messages | Standard `PRIVMSG` (long messages split at ~400 byte chunks) |
+| Images | `[Image: filename]` + download URL + ASCII art line-by-line |
+| File uploads | `[File: filename] /api/files/{id}` |
+| Channels | `JOIN`, `PART`, `NAMES`, `TOPIC`, `LIST` |
+| Presence | `AWAY`, `WHO`, `WHOIS` |
+| Status | Maps to IRC away/here |
+
+### TLS
+
+If running behind **nginx** (recommended), let nginx handle TLS -- see [Deployment with nginx](#deployment-with-nginx) below.
+
+For direct TLS without a reverse proxy, the IRC gateway can terminate TLS itself:
+
+```json
+{
+  "Irc": {
+    "TlsEnabled": true,
+    "TlsPort": 6697,
+    "TlsCertPath": "/path/to/cert.pfx",
+    "TlsCertPassword": "your-password"
+  }
+}
+```
+
 ## Client Commands
 
 | Command | Description |
@@ -172,35 +245,107 @@ dotnet build src/EchoHub.slnx
 | `Jwt:Secret` | *(auto-generated)* | JWT signing key |
 | `Server:Name` | `My EchoHub Server` | Server display name |
 | `Server:Description` | `A self-hosted EchoHub chat server` | Server description |
+| `Server:PublicServer` | `false` | List on the [public directory](https://echohub.voidcube.cloud/servers) |
+| `Server:PublicHost` | *(empty)* | Public hostname for directory listing |
+| `Irc:Enabled` | `false` | Enable the IRC gateway |
+| `Irc:Port` | `6667` | IRC listen port |
+| `Irc:TlsEnabled` | `false` | Enable TLS for IRC |
+| `Irc:TlsPort` | `6697` | IRC TLS port |
+| `Irc:ServerName` | `echohub` | IRC server name in protocol messages |
+| `Irc:Motd` | `Welcome to EchoHub IRC Gateway!` | Message of the day |
 | `Cors:AllowedOrigins` | *(all origins)* | CORS whitelist |
 
-Logging uses Serilog — console + daily rolling files with 14-day retention. Configure it in the `Serilog` section of appsettings.
+Logging uses Serilog — console + daily rolling files with 14-day retention. Configure in the `Serilog` section.
+
+## Deployment with nginx
+
+Most production deployments run behind nginx. Here's a config that handles both the HTTP/WebSocket server and the IRC gateway:
+
+```nginx
+# HTTP + WebSocket (EchoHub Server API + SignalR)
+server {
+    listen 443 ssl;
+    server_name echohub.example.com;
+
+    ssl_certificate     /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/fullchain.pem;
+    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/privkey.pem;
+
+    location / {
+        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:5000;
+        proxy_http_version 1.1;
+        proxy_set_header Host $host;
+        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
+
+        # Required for SignalR WebSocket
+        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
+        proxy_set_header Connection $http_connection;
+
+        proxy_read_timeout 86400s;
+        proxy_send_timeout 86400s;
+    }
+
+    # Increase max upload size for file sharing
+    client_max_body_size 10m;
+}
+
+# HTTP → HTTPS redirect
+server {
+    listen 80;
+    server_name echohub.example.com;
+    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
+}
+
+# IRC TLS (port 6697 → plain IRC on 6667)
+stream {
+    upstream irc_backend {
+        server 127.0.0.1:6667;
+    }
+
+    server {
+        listen 6697 ssl;
+        proxy_pass irc_backend;
+
+        ssl_certificate     /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/fullchain.pem;
+        ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/privkey.pem;
+    }
+}
+```
+
+With this setup, keep the EchoHub IRC gateway's `TlsEnabled` set to `false` — nginx terminates TLS. See the full example at [`examples/nginx.conf`](examples/nginx.conf).
 
 ## Project Structure
 
 ```text
 src/
-├── EchoHub.Core/          # Shared models, DTOs, contracts, validation
-│   ├── Constants/         # ValidationConstants, HubConstants
-│   ├── Contracts/         # IEchoHubClient (SignalR interface)
-│   ├── DTOs/              # Record DTOs
-│   └── Models/            # Entity models
+├── EchoHub.Core/            # Shared models, DTOs, contracts, validation
+│   ├── Constants/           # ValidationConstants, HubConstants
+│   ├── Contracts/           # IChatService, IChatBroadcaster, IEchoHubClient
+│   ├── DTOs/                # Record DTOs
+│   └── Models/              # Entity models
 │
-├── EchoHub.Server/        # ASP.NET Core server
-│   ├── Auth/              # JWT token service
-│   ├── Controllers/       # REST API endpoints
-│   ├── Data/              # EF Core DbContext + migrations
-│   ├── Hubs/              # SignalR ChatHub
-│   ├── Services/          # Presence, file storage, image processing
-│   └── Setup/             # First-run setup, DB initialization
+├── EchoHub.Server/          # ASP.NET Core server
+│   ├── Auth/                # JWT token service
+│   ├── Controllers/         # REST API endpoints
+│   ├── Data/                # EF Core DbContext + migrations
+│   ├── Hubs/                # SignalR ChatHub
+│   ├── Services/            # ChatService, presence, file storage, image processing
+│   └── Setup/               # First-run setup, DB initialization
 │
-├── EchoHub.Client/        # Terminal.Gui TUI client
-│   ├── Config/            # Client configuration
-│   ├── Services/          # API client, SignalR connection
-│   ├── Themes/            # 6 built-in themes
-│   └── UI/                # MainWindow, dialogs, chat renderer
+├── EchoHub.Server.Irc/      # IRC protocol gateway
+│   ├── IrcGatewayService    # TCP listener (BackgroundService)
+│   ├── IrcCommandHandler    # IRC command dispatch (JOIN, PRIVMSG, etc.)
+│   ├── IrcBroadcaster       # Fans chat events to IRC connections
+│   └── IrcMessageFormatter  # MessageDto → IRC PRIVMSG lines
 │
-└── EchoHub.slnx           # Solution file
+├── EchoHub.Client/          # Terminal.Gui TUI client
+│   ├── Config/              # Client configuration
+│   ├── Services/            # API client, SignalR connection
+│   ├── Themes/              # 13 built-in themes
+│   └── UI/                  # MainWindow, dialogs, chat renderer
+│
+└── EchoHub.slnx             # Solution file
 ```
 
 ## License

docs/api/core-articles/index.md

@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@ Articles related to the EchoHub.Core shared library.
 ## Topics
 
 - Data models and DTOs
-- SignalR contract interface
+- Contract interfaces (IChatService, IChatBroadcaster, IEchoHubClient)
 - Validation constants and shared rules

docs/api/index.md

@@ -10,8 +10,12 @@ Terminal.Gui v2 TUI application -- UI components, services, themes, and configur
 
 ### Core
 
-Shared library -- DTOs, models, constants, and the SignalR client contract.
+Shared library -- DTOs, models, constants, and contracts (`IChatService`, `IChatBroadcaster`, `IEchoHubClient`).
 
 ### Server
 
-ASP.NET Core server -- controllers, hubs, authentication, and data access.
+ASP.NET Core server -- controllers, hubs, ChatService, SignalRBroadcaster, authentication, and data access.
+
+### Server.Irc
+
+IRC protocol gateway -- TCP listener, command handler, IrcBroadcaster, and message formatter.

docs/api/server-articles/index.md

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ Articles related to the EchoHub server built with ASP.NET Core.
 
 - Authentication and JWT tokens
 - SignalR hub and real-time messaging
+- IRC gateway and protocol bridging
+- ChatService and broadcaster pattern
 - File upload and validation
 - Rate limiting configuration
 - Database schema and migrations

docs/api/toc.yml

@@ -16,3 +16,7 @@
       href: ../_api_meta/server/toc.yml
     - name: Articles
       href: server-articles/
+- name: Server.Irc
+  items:
+    - name: API Reference
+      href: ../_api_meta/server-irc/toc.yml

docs/articles/architecture.md

@@ -4,6 +4,16 @@
 
 EchoHub follows a decentralized model where each server is fully independent. There is no central authority or account federation. Users create one account per server.
 
+The server exposes two protocol interfaces to the same chat backend:
+
+```text
+IRC Client ──► TCP :6667 ──► IrcGateway ──┐
+                                           ├──► ChatService ──► DB + PresenceTracker
+TUI Client ──► WebSocket ──► ChatHub ─────┘
+```
+
+Both protocols call into a shared `IChatService` for business logic. Events fan out to all registered `IChatBroadcaster` implementations (SignalR and IRC).
+
 ## Components
 
 ### EchoHub.Core
@@ -12,7 +22,7 @@ Shared library containing:
 
 - **Models**: `User`, `Channel`, `Message`, `RefreshToken`
 - **DTOs**: Record types for API requests/responses
-- **Contracts**: `IEchoHubClient` -- the strongly-typed SignalR client interface
+- **Contracts**: `IChatService` (protocol-agnostic chat operations), `IChatBroadcaster` (event fan-out interface), `IEchoHubClient` (SignalR client interface)
 - **Constants**: `ValidationConstants` (shared regex patterns), `HubConstants`
 
 ### EchoHub.Server
@@ -20,10 +30,21 @@ Shared library containing:
 ASP.NET Core web application:
 
 - **Controllers**: REST API endpoints for auth, channels, users, files, server info
-- **Hubs**: SignalR `ChatHub` for real-time messaging
+- **Hubs**: SignalR `ChatHub` -- thin adapter delegating to `IChatService`
 - **Auth**: JWT token service (15-min access tokens, 30-day refresh tokens)
 - **Data**: EF Core with SQLite
-- **Services**: Presence tracking, file storage, image-to-ASCII conversion
+- **Services**: `ChatService` (core business logic), `SignalRBroadcaster`, presence tracking, file storage, image-to-ASCII conversion
+
+### EchoHub.Server.Irc
+
+IRC protocol gateway (separate project for clean separation of concerns):
+
+- **IrcGatewayService**: `BackgroundService` with TCP listener on configured port(s), optional TLS
+- **IrcCommandHandler**: Per-client IRC command dispatch -- handles `CAP`/`SASL`, `NICK`/`USER`/`PASS`, `JOIN`/`PART`/`PRIVMSG`/`QUIT`, `NAMES`/`TOPIC`/`WHO`/`WHOIS`/`AWAY`/`LIST`/`MODE`/`MOTD`
+- **IrcBroadcaster**: `IChatBroadcaster` implementation that formats chat events as IRC protocol lines, with echo suppression (IRC convention)
+- **IrcMessageFormatter**: Converts `MessageDto` to IRC `PRIVMSG` lines -- splits long text at word boundaries (~400 byte chunks), sends images as ASCII art line-by-line
+
+IRC users authenticate with existing EchoHub accounts via `PASS`/`NICK`/`USER` or SASL PLAIN (BCrypt verification against the database).
 
 ### EchoHub.Client
 
@@ -31,11 +52,22 @@ Terminal.Gui v2 TUI application:
 
 - **UI**: Main window, dialogs, chat renderer with ANSI color support
 - **Services**: API client with automatic token refresh, SignalR connection wrapper
-- **Themes**: 6 built-in color themes
+- **Themes**: 13 built-in color themes
 - **Config**: Client configuration management
 
 ## Communication
 
-- REST API for authentication, profile management, channel CRUD, file uploads
-- SignalR WebSocket for real-time messaging and presence updates
+- **REST API** for authentication, profile management, channel CRUD, file uploads
+- **SignalR WebSocket** for real-time messaging and presence updates (TUI client)
+- **IRC TCP** for real-time messaging via standard IRC protocol (IRC clients)
 - JWT tokens passed via query string for SignalR authentication
+- IRC authentication via PASS/SASL PLAIN against BCrypt password hashes
+
+## Broadcaster Pattern
+
+The `IChatBroadcaster` interface allows multiple protocols to receive chat events:
+
+- **SignalRBroadcaster**: Wraps `IHubContext<ChatHub>`, filters out IRC connections
+- **IrcBroadcaster**: Iterates live IRC connections in a channel, formats events as IRC protocol lines
+
+Both are registered in DI and called by `ChatService` when events occur. This means a message sent from an IRC client appears in the TUI client, and vice versa.

docs/articles/getting-started.md

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 - [.NET 10 SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download)
 
+Or grab a self-contained binary from [Releases](https://github.com/HueByte/EchoHub/releases) -- no runtime needed.
+
 ## Run the Server
 
 ```bash
@@ -24,6 +26,37 @@ dotnet run --project src/EchoHub.Client
 
 Connect to a server, register an account, and start chatting.
 
+## Connect via IRC
+
+Enable the IRC gateway in the server's `appsettings.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "Irc": {
+    "Enabled": true,
+    "Port": 6667
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Then connect with any standard IRC client:
+
+```bash
+irssi -c localhost -p 6667 -w <password> -n <username>
+```
+
+IRC users must have an existing EchoHub account. Authentication works via `PASS`/`NICK`/`USER` or SASL PLAIN. Messages flow bidirectionally between IRC and TUI clients.
+
+For TLS, set `TlsEnabled: true`, `TlsPort: 6697`, and provide a PKCS#12 certificate path.
+
+See the [Architecture](architecture.md) page for details on how the IRC gateway integrates with the chat service.
+
+## Configuration
+
+Server configuration is in `appsettings.json` (auto-generated on first run). See the [example config](https://github.com/HueByte/EchoHub/blob/master/src/EchoHub.Server/appsettings.example.json) for all available options.
+
+To list your server on the [public directory](https://echohub.voidcube.cloud/servers), set `Server:PublicServer` to `true` and `Server:PublicHost` to your server's public address.
+
 ## Build from Source
 
 ```bash

docs/changelog/index.md

@@ -4,4 +4,6 @@ Release history for EchoHub.
 
 ## Releases
 
+- [v0.2.0](v0.2.0.md) - IRC Gateway
+- [v0.1.1](v0.1.1.md) - Directory Connection Self-Healing
 - [v0.1.0](v0.1.0.md) - Initial Release

docs/changelog/toc.yml

@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 - name: Overview
   href: index.md
+- name: v0.2.0
+  href: v0.2.0.md
+- name: v0.1.1
+  href: v0.1.1.md
 - name: v0.1.0
   href: v0.1.0.md

docs/changelog/v0.1.1.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# v0.1.1 - Directory Connection Self-Healing
+
+## Fixes
+
+- Server now reconnects to the EchoHubSpace directory indefinitely when the API goes down, using exponential backoff (2s → 30s cap)
+- If automatic reconnect is exhausted, the connection is rebuilt from scratch automatically
+- Initial connection attempts also use exponential backoff instead of a fixed 30s delay

docs/changelog/v0.2.0.md

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# v0.2.0 - IRC Gateway
+
+## Features
+
+- **IRC protocol gateway** -- native IRC clients (irssi, WeeChat, HexChat, etc.) can connect to EchoHub servers
+- **Cross-protocol messaging** -- messages flow bidirectionally between IRC and TUI clients in real time
+- **SASL PLAIN authentication** -- IRC clients can authenticate via SASL or traditional PASS/NICK/USER
+- **Full IRC command support** -- JOIN, PART, PRIVMSG, QUIT, NAMES, TOPIC, WHO, WHOIS, AWAY, LIST, MODE, MOTD
+- **TLS support** -- optional encrypted IRC connections on port 6697
+- **Image-to-IRC formatting** -- images appear as ASCII art line-by-line with download URLs
+- **Message splitting** -- long messages automatically split at word boundaries (~400 byte chunks)
+- **Configurable MOTD** -- server message of the day for IRC clients
+
+## Architecture Changes
+
+- Extracted shared business logic from `ChatHub` into protocol-agnostic `IChatService`
+- Introduced `IChatBroadcaster` pattern for multi-protocol event fan-out
+- `ChatHub` refactored to thin adapter delegating to `IChatService`
+- `ChannelsController` updated to use `IChatService` for broadcasts
+- New `EchoHub.Server.Irc` project for clean separation of concerns
+- `IChatService` and `IChatBroadcaster` interfaces live in `EchoHub.Core/Contracts`

docs/docfx.json

@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@
       ],
       "dest": "_api_meta/client",
       "filter": "filterConfig.yml"
+    },
+    {
+      "src": [
+        {
+          "src": "../src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/bin/Release/net10.0",
+          "files": ["EchoHub.Server.Irc.dll"]
+        }
+      ],
+      "dest": "_api_meta/server-irc",
+      "filter": "filterConfig.yml"
     }
   ],
   "build": {
@@ -55,6 +65,12 @@
         "dest": "api/client",
         "files": ["*.yml"],
         "exclude": ["toc.yml"]
+      },
+      {
+        "src": "_api_meta/server-irc",
+        "dest": "api/server-irc",
+        "files": ["*.yml"],
+        "exclude": ["toc.yml"]
       }
     ],
     "resource": [

docs/index.md

@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ _layout: landing
 
 # EchoHub Documentation
 
-Welcome to the EchoHub documentation. EchoHub is a decentralized, IRC-like chat application built with .NET 10 and SignalR.
+Welcome to the EchoHub documentation. EchoHub is a decentralized, IRC-style chat platform. Self-hosted, terminal-first, with a built-in IRC gateway so native IRC clients can connect alongside the TUI client.
+
+**Website:** [echohub.voidcube.cloud](https://echohub.voidcube.cloud/) | **Public Servers:** [Server Directory](https://echohub.voidcube.cloud/servers)
 
 ## Quick Links
 
 - [Getting Started](articles/getting-started.md) - Set up and run EchoHub
-- [Architecture](articles/architecture.md) - Understand the system design
+- [Architecture](articles/architecture.md) - System design and IRC gateway
 - [API Reference](api/index.md) - Generated C# API documentation
 - [Changelog](changelog/index.md) - Release history

examples/nginx.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+# EchoHub nginx configuration example
+#
+# This config handles:
+# - HTTPS reverse proxy for the HTTP API + SignalR WebSocket
+# - TLS termination for IRC on port 6697
+# - HTTP → HTTPS redirect
+#
+# Prerequisites:
+# - EchoHub Server running on 127.0.0.1:5000
+# - IRC gateway enabled on port 6667 (Irc:Enabled = true, Irc:TlsEnabled = false)
+# - TLS certificate (e.g. from Let's Encrypt)
+#
+# Usage:
+# 1. Copy this file to /etc/nginx/sites-available/echohub
+# 2. Replace "echohub.example.com" with your domain
+# 3. Update certificate paths
+# 4. ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/echohub /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
+# 5. nginx -t && systemctl reload nginx
+#
+# Note: The "stream" block for IRC TLS must go in the main nginx.conf
+# (outside the http block), not in sites-available. See the bottom of
+# this file for the stream config.
+
+# --- Place this in /etc/nginx/sites-available/echohub ---
+
+# HTTP → HTTPS redirect
+server {
+    listen 80;
+    listen [::]:80;
+    server_name echohub.example.com;
+
+    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
+}
+
+# HTTPS — API + SignalR WebSocket
+server {
+    listen 443 ssl;
+    listen [::]:443 ssl;
+    server_name echohub.example.com;
+
+    ssl_certificate     /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/fullchain.pem;
+    ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/privkey.pem;
+    ssl_protocols       TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
+    ssl_ciphers         HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5;
+
+    # File upload limit (match EchoHub's MaxFileSizeBytes)
+    client_max_body_size 10m;
+
+    location / {
+        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:5000;
+        proxy_http_version 1.1;
+
+        # Standard proxy headers
+        proxy_set_header Host $host;
+        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
+
+        # Required for SignalR WebSocket upgrade
+        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
+        proxy_set_header Connection $http_connection;
+
+        # Long timeout for WebSocket connections
+        proxy_read_timeout 86400s;
+        proxy_send_timeout 86400s;
+
+        # Disable buffering for real-time
+        proxy_buffering off;
+    }
+}
+
+# --- Place this in /etc/nginx/nginx.conf (outside the http block) ---
+
+# IRC TLS termination (port 6697 → plain IRC on 6667)
+# The stream module handles raw TCP, not HTTP.
+#
+# stream {
+#     upstream irc_backend {
+#         server 127.0.0.1:6667;
+#     }
+#
+#     server {
+#         listen 6697 ssl;
+#         listen [::]:6697 ssl;
+#         proxy_pass irc_backend;
+#
+#         ssl_certificate     /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/fullchain.pem;
+#         ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/echohub.example.com/privkey.pem;
+#         ssl_protocols       TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
+#
+#         # Timeout for idle IRC connections (24 hours)
+#         proxy_timeout 86400s;
+#     }
+# }

src/Directory.Build.props

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <Project>
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <Version>0.1.0</Version>
+    <Version>0.1.1</Version>
     <GenerateDocumentationFile>true</GenerateDocumentationFile>
     <NoWarn>$(NoWarn);CS1591</NoWarn>
   </PropertyGroup>

src/EchoHub.Core/Contracts/IChatBroadcaster.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+
+public interface IChatBroadcaster
+{
+    Task SendMessageToChannelAsync(string channelName, MessageDto message);
+    Task SendUserJoinedAsync(string channelName, string username, string? excludeConnectionId = null);
+    Task SendUserLeftAsync(string channelName, string username);
+    Task SendChannelUpdatedAsync(ChannelDto channel, string? channelName = null);
+    Task SendUserStatusChangedAsync(List<string> channelNames, UserPresenceDto presence);
+    Task SendErrorAsync(string connectionId, string message);
+}

src/EchoHub.Core/Contracts/IChatService.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+using EchoHub.Core.Models;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+
+public interface IChatService
+{
+    // Connection lifecycle
+    Task UserConnectedAsync(string connectionId, Guid userId, string username);
+    Task<string?> UserDisconnectedAsync(string connectionId);
+
+    // Channel operations
+    Task<(List<MessageDto> History, string? Error)> JoinChannelAsync(string connectionId, Guid userId, string username, string channelName);
+    Task LeaveChannelAsync(string connectionId, string username, string channelName);
+
+    // Messaging
+    Task<string?> SendMessageAsync(Guid userId, string username, string channelName, string content);
+    Task<List<MessageDto>> GetChannelHistoryAsync(string channelName, int count);
+
+    // Presence
+    Task<string?> UpdateStatusAsync(Guid userId, string username, UserStatus status, string? statusMessage);
+    Task<List<UserPresenceDto>> GetOnlineUsersAsync(string channelName);
+
+    // Broadcasting (used by controllers and IRC gateway)
+    Task BroadcastMessageAsync(string channelName, MessageDto message);
+    Task BroadcastChannelUpdatedAsync(ChannelDto channel, string? channelName = null);
+
+    // Query operations (used by IRC gateway for WHOIS, TOPIC, LIST, AUTH)
+    Task<UserProfileDto?> GetUserProfileAsync(string username);
+    Task<(string? Topic, bool Exists)> GetChannelTopicAsync(string channelName);
+    Task<List<ChannelListItem>> GetChannelListAsync();
+    Task<List<string>> GetChannelsForUserAsync(string username);
+    Task<(Guid UserId, string Username)?> AuthenticateUserAsync(string username, string password);
+}
+
+public record ChannelListItem(string Name, string? Topic, int OnlineCount);

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/EchoHub.Server.Irc.csproj

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <FrameworkReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.App" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\EchoHub.Core\EchoHub.Core.csproj" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="BCrypt.Net-Next" Version="4.1.0" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+</Project>

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcBroadcaster.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+public class IrcBroadcaster(IrcGatewayService gateway) : IChatBroadcaster
+{
+    public async Task SendMessageToChannelAsync(string channelName, MessageDto message)
+    {
+        var lines = IrcMessageFormatter.FormatMessage(message);
+
+        foreach (var conn in gateway.GetConnectionsInChannel(channelName))
+        {
+            // IRC convention: don't echo sender's own message
+            if (conn.Nickname == message.SenderUsername)
+                continue;
+
+            foreach (var line in lines)
+                await conn.SendAsync(line);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task SendUserJoinedAsync(string channelName, string username, string? excludeConnectionId = null)
+    {
+        foreach (var conn in gateway.GetConnectionsInChannel(channelName))
+        {
+            if (conn.ConnectionId == excludeConnectionId) continue;
+            await conn.SendAsync($":{username}!{username}@echohub JOIN #{channelName}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task SendUserLeftAsync(string channelName, string username)
+    {
+        foreach (var conn in gateway.GetConnectionsInChannel(channelName))
+        {
+            if (conn.Nickname == username) continue;
+            await conn.SendAsync($":{username}!{username}@echohub PART #{channelName}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task SendChannelUpdatedAsync(ChannelDto channel, string? channelName = null)
+    {
+        var target = channelName ?? channel.Name;
+        if (channel.Topic is null) return;
+
+        foreach (var conn in gateway.GetConnectionsInChannel(target))
+        {
+            await conn.SendAsync($":{gateway.Options.ServerName} TOPIC #{channel.Name} :{channel.Topic}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public Task SendUserStatusChangedAsync(List<string> channelNames, UserPresenceDto presence)
+    {
+        // IRC has no active status broadcast. Clients discover away via WHOIS/WHO.
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    public async Task SendErrorAsync(string connectionId, string message)
+    {
+        if (!connectionId.StartsWith("irc-")) return;
+
+        if (gateway.Connections.TryGetValue(connectionId, out var conn))
+        {
+            await conn.SendAsync($":{gateway.Options.ServerName} NOTICE {conn.Nickname ?? "*"} :{message}");
+        }
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcClientConnection.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using System.Text;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Manages a single IRC client TCP connection.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class IrcClientConnection : IAsyncDisposable
+{
+    private readonly TcpClient _tcpClient;
+    private readonly StreamReader _reader;
+    private readonly StreamWriter _writer;
+    private readonly SemaphoreSlim _writeLock = new(1, 1);
+
+    // Connection identity
+    public string ConnectionId { get; } = $"irc-{Guid.NewGuid()}";
+
+    // Registration state
+    public string? Nickname { get; set; }
+    public string? Username { get; set; }
+    public string? RealName { get; set; }
+    public string? Password { get; set; }
+    public Guid? UserId { get; set; }
+    public bool IsRegistered { get; set; }
+    public bool IsAuthenticated { get; set; }
+    public bool IsSasl { get; set; }
+    public bool CapNegotiating { get; set; }
+
+    // Channel state
+    public HashSet<string> JoinedChannels { get; } = new(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+
+    // Away state
+    public string? AwayMessage { get; set; }
+
+    public string Hostmask => $"{Nickname}!{Username ?? Nickname}@echohub";
+
+    public IrcClientConnection(TcpClient tcpClient, Stream stream)
+    {
+        _tcpClient = tcpClient;
+        _reader = new StreamReader(stream, Encoding.UTF8);
+        _writer = new StreamWriter(stream, Encoding.UTF8) { AutoFlush = true, NewLine = "\r\n" };
+    }
+
+    public async Task<string?> ReadLineAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            return await _reader.ReadLineAsync(ct);
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task SendAsync(string line)
+    {
+        await _writeLock.WaitAsync();
+        try
+        {
+            await _writer.WriteLineAsync(line);
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // Connection lost — swallow
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _writeLock.Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public Task SendNumericAsync(string serverName, string numeric, string target, string text)
+        => SendAsync($":{serverName} {numeric} {target} {text}");
+
+    public Task SendNumericAsync(string serverName, string numeric, string text)
+        => SendNumericAsync(serverName, numeric, Nickname ?? "*", text);
+
+    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        try { _tcpClient.Close(); } catch { }
+        _reader.Dispose();
+        _writer.Dispose();
+        _writeLock.Dispose();
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcCommandHandler.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,641 @@
+using System.Text;
+using EchoHub.Core.Constants;
+using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+using EchoHub.Core.Models;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+public sealed class IrcCommandHandler
+{
+    private readonly IrcClientConnection _conn;
+    private readonly IrcOptions _options;
+    private readonly IChatService _chatService;
+    private readonly ILogger _logger;
+
+    private string ServerName => _options.ServerName;
+
+    public IrcCommandHandler(
+        IrcClientConnection conn,
+        IrcOptions options,
+        IChatService chatService,
+        ILogger logger)
+    {
+        _conn = conn;
+        _options = options;
+        _chatService = chatService;
+        _logger = logger;
+    }
+
+    public async Task RunAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            var line = await _conn.ReadLineAsync(ct);
+            if (line is null) break;
+
+            line = line.TrimEnd('\r', '\n');
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(line)) continue;
+
+            var msg = IrcMessage.Parse(line);
+
+            try
+            {
+                await HandleCommandAsync(msg);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _logger.LogError(ex, "Error handling IRC command {Command} for {Nick}",
+                    msg.Command, _conn.Nickname ?? "unregistered");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Task HandleCommandAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        var command = msg.Command.ToUpperInvariant();
+
+        return command switch
+        {
+            // Pre-registration
+            "CAP" => HandleCapAsync(msg),
+            "AUTHENTICATE" => HandleAuthenticateAsync(msg),
+            "PASS" => HandlePassAsync(msg),
+            "NICK" => HandleNickAsync(msg),
+            "USER" => HandleUserAsync(msg),
+
+            // Post-registration
+            "PING" => HandlePingAsync(msg),
+            "PONG" => Task.CompletedTask,
+            "JOIN" => HandleJoinAsync(msg),
+            "PART" => HandlePartAsync(msg),
+            "PRIVMSG" => HandlePrivmsgAsync(msg),
+            "QUIT" => HandleQuitAsync(msg),
+            "NAMES" => HandleNamesAsync(msg),
+            "TOPIC" => HandleTopicAsync(msg),
+            "WHO" => HandleWhoAsync(msg),
+            "WHOIS" => HandleWhoisAsync(msg),
+            "AWAY" => HandleAwayAsync(msg),
+            "LIST" => HandleListAsync(msg),
+            "MODE" => HandleModeAsync(msg),
+            "MOTD" => SendMotdAsync(),
+            "USERHOST" or "LUSERS" => Task.CompletedTask,
+
+            _ => _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_UNKNOWNCOMMAND,
+                $"{command} :Unknown command"),
+        };
+    }
+
+    // ── Authentication ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    private async Task HandleCapAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        switch (msg.Parameters[0].ToUpperInvariant())
+        {
+            case "LS":
+                await _conn.SendAsync($":{ServerName} CAP * LS :sasl");
+                _conn.CapNegotiating = true;
+                break;
+
+            case "REQ":
+                if (msg.Parameters.Count >= 2 &&
+                    msg.Parameters[1].Trim().Equals("sasl", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+                {
+                    await _conn.SendAsync($":{ServerName} CAP * ACK :sasl");
+                    _conn.IsSasl = true;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    var requested = msg.Parameters.ElementAtOrDefault(1) ?? "";
+                    await _conn.SendAsync($":{ServerName} CAP * NAK :{requested}");
+                }
+                break;
+
+            case "END":
+                _conn.CapNegotiating = false;
+                if (_conn.Nickname is not null && _conn.Username is not null && !_conn.IsRegistered)
+                    await TryCompleteRegistrationAsync();
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleAuthenticateAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        if (msg.Parameters[0].Equals("PLAIN", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+        {
+            await _conn.SendAsync("AUTHENTICATE +");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            var decoded = Convert.FromBase64String(msg.Parameters[0]);
+            var text = Encoding.UTF8.GetString(decoded);
+            var parts = text.Split('\0');
+
+            if (parts.Length < 3)
+            {
+                await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_SASLFAIL,
+                    ":SASL authentication failed (malformed payload)");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            var username = (parts[1].Length > 0 ? parts[1] : parts[0]).ToLowerInvariant();
+            var password = parts[2];
+
+            var result = await _chatService.AuthenticateUserAsync(username, password);
+
+            if (result is null)
+            {
+                await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_SASLFAIL,
+                    ":SASL authentication failed");
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _conn.Nickname = result.Value.Username;
+            _conn.UserId = result.Value.UserId;
+            _conn.IsAuthenticated = true;
+
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_LOGGEDIN,
+                $"{_conn.Hostmask} {username} :You are now logged in as {username}");
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_SASLSUCCESS,
+                ":SASL authentication successful");
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_SASLFAIL,
+                ":SASL authentication failed");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Task HandlePassAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (_conn.IsRegistered)
+            return _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_ALREADYREGISTERED,
+                ":You may not reregister");
+
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count >= 1)
+            _conn.Password = msg.Parameters[0];
+
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleNickAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NONICKNAMEGIVEN,
+                ":No nickname given");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var nick = msg.Parameters[0];
+
+        if (!ValidationConstants.UsernameRegex().IsMatch(nick))
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_ERRONEUSNICKNAME,
+                $"{nick} :Erroneous nickname (must be 3-50 chars: a-z, 0-9, _, -)");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _conn.Nickname = nick.ToLowerInvariant();
+
+        if (!_conn.IsRegistered && _conn.Username is not null)
+            await TryCompleteRegistrationAsync();
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleUserAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (_conn.IsRegistered)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_ALREADYREGISTERED,
+                ":You may not reregister");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 4)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS,
+                "USER :Not enough parameters");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _conn.Username = msg.Parameters[0];
+        _conn.RealName = msg.Parameters[3];
+
+        if (_conn.Nickname is not null)
+            await TryCompleteRegistrationAsync();
+    }
+
+    private async Task TryCompleteRegistrationAsync()
+    {
+        if (_conn.CapNegotiating || _conn.IsRegistered) return;
+
+        // SASL already authenticated
+        if (_conn.IsAuthenticated && _conn.UserId is not null)
+        {
+            _conn.IsRegistered = true;
+            await _chatService.UserConnectedAsync(_conn.ConnectionId, _conn.UserId.Value, _conn.Nickname!);
+            await SendWelcomeBurstAsync();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // PASS-based authentication
+        if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(_conn.Password))
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_PASSWDMISMATCH,
+                ":Password required. Use PASS command or SASL PLAIN.");
+            await _conn.SendAsync("ERROR :Authentication failed - no password provided");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var result = await _chatService.AuthenticateUserAsync(_conn.Nickname!, _conn.Password);
+
+        if (result is null)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_PASSWDMISMATCH,
+                ":Password incorrect or account not found. Register via the EchoHub client first.");
+            await _conn.SendAsync("ERROR :Authentication failed");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _conn.UserId = result.Value.UserId;
+        _conn.Nickname = result.Value.Username;
+        _conn.IsAuthenticated = true;
+        _conn.IsRegistered = true;
+
+        await _chatService.UserConnectedAsync(_conn.ConnectionId, result.Value.UserId, result.Value.Username);
+        await SendWelcomeBurstAsync();
+    }
+
+    // ── Welcome / MOTD ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    private async Task SendWelcomeBurstAsync()
+    {
+        var nick = _conn.Nickname!;
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_WELCOME,
+            $":Welcome to the EchoHub IRC Gateway, {nick}!");
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_YOURHOST,
+            $":Your host is {ServerName}, running EchoHub IRC Gateway");
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_CREATED,
+            $":This server was created {DateTimeOffset.UtcNow:yyyy-MM-dd}");
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_MYINFO,
+            $"{ServerName} EchoHub-IRC o o");
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_ISUPPORT,
+            "CHANTYPES=# NICKLEN=50 CHANNELLEN=100 :are supported by this server");
+
+        await SendMotdAsync();
+    }
+
+    private async Task SendMotdAsync()
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_options.Motd))
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NOMOTD,
+                ":MOTD File is missing");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_MOTDSTART,
+            $":- {ServerName} Message of the day - ");
+
+        foreach (var line in _options.Motd.Split('\n'))
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_MOTD,
+                $":- {line.TrimEnd('\r')}");
+        }
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_ENDOFMOTD,
+            ":End of MOTD command");
+    }
+
+    // ── Channel Operations ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    private async Task HandleJoinAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS,
+                "JOIN :Not enough parameters");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var channels = msg.Parameters[0].Split(',', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
+
+        foreach (var rawChannel in channels)
+        {
+            var channelName = IrcToEchoHubChannel(rawChannel);
+            if (channelName is null)
+            {
+                await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL,
+                    $"{rawChannel} :Invalid channel name");
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            var (history, error) = await _chatService.JoinChannelAsync(
+                _conn.ConnectionId, _conn.UserId!.Value, _conn.Nickname!, channelName);
+
+            if (error is not null)
+            {
+                await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL,
+                    $"#{channelName} :{error}");
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            _conn.JoinedChannels.Add(channelName);
+
+            // Confirm JOIN to the client
+            await _conn.SendAsync($":{_conn.Hostmask} JOIN #{channelName}");
+
+            // Send topic
+            await SendChannelTopicAsync(channelName);
+
+            // Send NAMES list
+            await SendNamesReplyAsync(channelName);
+
+            // Replay history
+            foreach (var m in history)
+            {
+                var lines = IrcMessageFormatter.FormatMessage(m);
+                foreach (var line in lines)
+                    await _conn.SendAsync(line);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandlePartAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        var channels = msg.Parameters[0].Split(',', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
+        var partMessage = msg.Parameters.Count > 1 ? msg.Parameters[1] : null;
+
+        foreach (var rawChannel in channels)
+        {
+            var channelName = IrcToEchoHubChannel(rawChannel);
+            if (channelName is null) continue;
+
+            await _chatService.LeaveChannelAsync(_conn.ConnectionId, _conn.Nickname!, channelName);
+            _conn.JoinedChannels.Remove(channelName);
+
+            await _conn.SendAsync($":{_conn.Hostmask} PART #{channelName}" +
+                (partMessage is not null ? $" :{partMessage}" : ""));
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandlePrivmsgAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 2)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS,
+                "PRIVMSG :Not enough parameters");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var target = msg.Parameters[0];
+        var content = msg.Parameters[1];
+
+        if (!target.StartsWith('#'))
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NOSUCHNICK,
+                $"{target} :Private messages are not supported. Use channels.");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var channelName = IrcToEchoHubChannel(target);
+        if (channelName is null) return;
+
+        var error = await _chatService.SendMessageAsync(
+            _conn.UserId!.Value, _conn.Nickname!, channelName, content);
+
+        if (error is not null)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_CANNOTSENDTOCHAN,
+                $"#{channelName} :{error}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleQuitAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        var quitMessage = msg.Parameters.Count > 0 ? msg.Parameters[0] : "Client quit";
+        await _conn.SendAsync($"ERROR :Closing Link: {_conn.Nickname} ({quitMessage})");
+    }
+
+    // ── Query Commands ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    private async Task HandleNamesAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        var channelName = IrcToEchoHubChannel(msg.Parameters[0]);
+        if (channelName is null) return;
+
+        await SendNamesReplyAsync(channelName);
+    }
+
+    private async Task SendNamesReplyAsync(string channelName)
+    {
+        var users = await _chatService.GetOnlineUsersAsync(channelName);
+        var nicks = string.Join(" ", users.Select(u => u.Username));
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_NAMREPLY,
+            $"= #{channelName} :{nicks}");
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_ENDOFNAMES,
+            $"#{channelName} :End of /NAMES list");
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleTopicAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        var channelName = IrcToEchoHubChannel(msg.Parameters[0]);
+        if (channelName is null) return;
+
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count == 1)
+        {
+            await SendChannelTopicAsync(channelName);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED,
+                $"#{channelName} :Topic can only be changed by the channel creator via the API");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task SendChannelTopicAsync(string channelName)
+    {
+        var (topic, exists) = await _chatService.GetChannelTopicAsync(channelName);
+
+        if (!exists) return;
+
+        if (topic is not null)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_TOPIC,
+                $"#{channelName} :{topic}");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_NOTOPIC,
+                $"#{channelName} :No topic is set");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleWhoAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        var channelName = IrcToEchoHubChannel(msg.Parameters[0]);
+        if (channelName is null) return;
+
+        var users = await _chatService.GetOnlineUsersAsync(channelName);
+
+        foreach (var u in users)
+        {
+            var awayFlag = u.Status == UserStatus.Away ? "G" : "H";
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_WHOREPLY,
+                $"#{channelName} {u.Username} echohub {ServerName} {u.Username} {awayFlag} :0 {u.DisplayName ?? u.Username}");
+        }
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_ENDOFWHO,
+            $"#{channelName} :End of WHO list");
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleWhoisAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        var nick = msg.Parameters[^1].ToLowerInvariant();
+        var profile = await _chatService.GetUserProfileAsync(nick);
+
+        if (profile is null)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NOSUCHNICK,
+                $"{nick} :No such nick/channel");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_WHOISUSER,
+            $"{nick} {nick} echohub * :{profile.DisplayName ?? nick}");
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_WHOISSERVER,
+            $"{nick} {ServerName} :EchoHub IRC Gateway");
+
+        var channels = await _chatService.GetChannelsForUserAsync(nick);
+        if (channels.Count > 0)
+        {
+            var chanList = string.Join(" ", channels.Select(c => $"#{c}"));
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_WHOISCHANNELS,
+                $"{nick} :{chanList}");
+        }
+
+        if (profile.Status == UserStatus.Away && profile.StatusMessage is not null)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_AWAY,
+                $"{nick} :{profile.StatusMessage}");
+        }
+
+        var idleSeconds = (long)(DateTimeOffset.UtcNow - profile.LastSeenAt).TotalSeconds;
+        var signonUnix = profile.CreatedAt.ToUnixTimeSeconds();
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_WHOISIDLE,
+            $"{nick} {idleSeconds} {signonUnix} :seconds idle, signon time");
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_ENDOFWHOIS,
+            $"{nick} :End of WHOIS list");
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleAwayAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count > 0 && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(msg.Parameters[0]))
+        {
+            _conn.AwayMessage = msg.Parameters[0];
+            await _chatService.UpdateStatusAsync(
+                _conn.UserId!.Value, _conn.Nickname!, UserStatus.Away, _conn.AwayMessage);
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_NOWAWAY,
+                ":You have been marked as being away");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _conn.AwayMessage = null;
+            await _chatService.UpdateStatusAsync(
+                _conn.UserId!.Value, _conn.Nickname!, UserStatus.Online, null);
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_UNAWAY,
+                ":You are no longer marked as being away");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleListAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+
+        var channels = await _chatService.GetChannelListAsync();
+
+        foreach (var ch in channels)
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_LIST,
+                $"#{ch.Name} {ch.OnlineCount} :{ch.Topic ?? ""}");
+        }
+
+        await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_LISTEND,
+            ":End of LIST");
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleModeAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        if (!RequireRegistered()) return;
+        if (msg.Parameters.Count < 1) return;
+
+        var target = msg.Parameters[0];
+
+        if (target.StartsWith('#'))
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_CHANNELMODEIS,
+                $"{target} +");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            await _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.RPL_UMODEIS, "+");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandlePingAsync(IrcMessage msg)
+    {
+        var token = msg.Parameters.Count > 0 ? msg.Parameters[0] : ServerName;
+        await _conn.SendAsync($":{ServerName} PONG {ServerName} :{token}");
+    }
+
+    // ── Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    private bool RequireRegistered()
+    {
+        if (_conn.IsRegistered) return true;
+
+        _ = _conn.SendNumericAsync(ServerName, IrcNumericReply.ERR_NOTREGISTERED,
+            ":You have not registered");
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private static string? IrcToEchoHubChannel(string ircChannel)
+    {
+        if (!ircChannel.StartsWith('#') || ircChannel.Length < 2)
+            return null;
+
+        var name = ircChannel[1..].ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+        return ValidationConstants.ChannelNameRegex().IsMatch(name) ? name : null;
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcGatewayService.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using System.Net;
+using System.Net.Security;
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates;
+using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+public sealed class IrcGatewayService : BackgroundService
+{
+    private readonly IrcOptions _options;
+    private readonly IChatService _chatService;
+    private readonly ILogger<IrcGatewayService> _logger;
+    private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<string, IrcClientConnection> _connections = new();
+
+    public IrcOptions Options => _options;
+    public IReadOnlyDictionary<string, IrcClientConnection> Connections => _connections;
+
+    public IrcGatewayService(
+        IOptions<IrcOptions> options,
+        IChatService chatService,
+        ILogger<IrcGatewayService> logger)
+    {
+        _options = options.Value;
+        _chatService = chatService;
+        _logger = logger;
+    }
+
+    public IEnumerable<IrcClientConnection> GetConnectionsInChannel(string channelName)
+    {
+        return _connections.Values
+            .Where(c => c.IsAuthenticated && c.JoinedChannels.Contains(channelName));
+    }
+
+    protected override async Task ExecuteAsync(CancellationToken stoppingToken)
+    {
+        await Task.Yield();
+
+        if (!_options.Enabled)
+        {
+            _logger.LogInformation("IRC gateway is disabled");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var listeners = new List<Task>();
+
+        listeners.Add(RunListenerAsync(_options.Port, useTls: false, stoppingToken));
+
+        if (_options.TlsEnabled && !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_options.TlsCertPath))
+        {
+            listeners.Add(RunListenerAsync(_options.TlsPort, useTls: true, stoppingToken));
+        }
+
+        await Task.WhenAll(listeners);
+    }
+
+    private async Task RunListenerAsync(int port, bool useTls, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var listener = new TcpListener(IPAddress.Any, port);
+        listener.Start();
+        _logger.LogInformation("IRC gateway listening on port {Port} ({Mode})",
+            port, useTls ? "TLS" : "plain");
+
+        ct.Register(() => listener.Stop());
+
+        try
+        {
+            while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                var tcpClient = await listener.AcceptTcpClientAsync(ct);
+                _ = HandleClientAsync(tcpClient, useTls, ct);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) { }
+        catch (ObjectDisposedException) { }
+        finally
+        {
+            listener.Stop();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleClientAsync(TcpClient tcpClient, bool useTls, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        Stream stream = tcpClient.GetStream();
+
+        if (useTls)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var cert = X509CertificateLoader.LoadPkcs12FromFile(_options.TlsCertPath!, _options.TlsCertPassword);
+                var sslStream = new SslStream(stream, leaveInnerStreamOpen: false);
+                await sslStream.AuthenticateAsServerAsync(cert);
+                stream = sslStream;
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _logger.LogError(ex, "TLS handshake failed");
+                tcpClient.Close();
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        var connection = new IrcClientConnection(tcpClient, stream);
+        _connections[connection.ConnectionId] = connection;
+
+        _logger.LogInformation("IRC client connected: {Id}", connection.ConnectionId);
+
+        try
+        {
+            var handler = new IrcCommandHandler(
+                connection, _options, _chatService, _logger);
+
+            await handler.RunAsync(ct);
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            _logger.LogError(ex, "IRC client {Id} error", connection.ConnectionId);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            if (connection.IsAuthenticated)
+            {
+                foreach (var ch in connection.JoinedChannels.ToList())
+                {
+                    await _chatService.LeaveChannelAsync(
+                        connection.ConnectionId, connection.Nickname!, ch);
+                }
+                await _chatService.UserDisconnectedAsync(connection.ConnectionId);
+            }
+
+            _connections.TryRemove(connection.ConnectionId, out _);
+            await connection.DisposeAsync();
+            _logger.LogInformation("IRC client {Id} ({Nick}) disconnected",
+                connection.ConnectionId, connection.Nickname ?? "unregistered");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public override async Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        foreach (var (_, conn) in _connections)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                await conn.SendAsync("ERROR :Server shutting down");
+                await conn.DisposeAsync();
+            }
+            catch { }
+        }
+        _connections.Clear();
+
+        await base.StopAsync(cancellationToken);
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcMessage.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Parsed representation of an IRC protocol line.
+/// Format: [:prefix] COMMAND [params...] [:trailing]
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class IrcMessage
+{
+    public string? Prefix { get; init; }
+    public string Command { get; init; } = "";
+    public List<string> Parameters { get; init; } = [];
+
+    public string? Trailing => Parameters.Count > 0 ? Parameters[^1] : null;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Parse a raw IRC line: [:prefix SPACE] command [SPACE params] CRLF
+    /// </summary>
+    public static IrcMessage Parse(string line)
+    {
+        var span = line.AsSpan().TrimEnd("\r\n");
+        string? prefix = null;
+        var pos = 0;
+
+        // Parse optional prefix
+        if (span.Length > 0 && span[0] == ':')
+        {
+            var spaceIdx = span.IndexOf(' ');
+            if (spaceIdx == -1)
+                return new IrcMessage { Prefix = span[1..].ToString() };
+
+            prefix = span[1..spaceIdx].ToString();
+            pos = spaceIdx + 1;
+        }
+
+        // Skip whitespace
+        while (pos < span.Length && span[pos] == ' ') pos++;
+
+        // Parse command
+        var cmdStart = pos;
+        while (pos < span.Length && span[pos] != ' ') pos++;
+        var command = span[cmdStart..pos].ToString();
+
+        // Parse parameters
+        var parameters = new List<string>();
+        while (pos < span.Length)
+        {
+            while (pos < span.Length && span[pos] == ' ') pos++;
+            if (pos >= span.Length) break;
+
+            if (span[pos] == ':')
+            {
+                // Trailing parameter (rest of line)
+                parameters.Add(span[(pos + 1)..].ToString());
+                break;
+            }
+
+            var paramStart = pos;
+            while (pos < span.Length && span[pos] != ' ') pos++;
+            parameters.Add(span[paramStart..pos].ToString());
+        }
+
+        return new IrcMessage
+        {
+            Prefix = prefix,
+            Command = command,
+            Parameters = parameters,
+        };
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcMessageFormatter.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+using System.Text;
+using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+using EchoHub.Core.Models;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+public static class IrcMessageFormatter
+{
+    private const int MaxIrcLineContentBytes = 400;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Format a MessageDto as one or more IRC PRIVMSG lines.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static List<string> FormatMessage(MessageDto message)
+    {
+        var lines = new List<string>();
+        var ircChannel = $"#{message.ChannelName}";
+        var prefix = $":{message.SenderUsername}!{message.SenderUsername}@echohub";
+
+        switch (message.Type)
+        {
+            case MessageType.Text:
+                foreach (var chunk in SplitMessage(message.Content, MaxIrcLineContentBytes))
+                    lines.Add($"{prefix} PRIVMSG {ircChannel} :{chunk}");
+                break;
+
+            case MessageType.Image:
+                lines.Add($"{prefix} PRIVMSG {ircChannel} :[Image: {message.AttachmentFileName}]");
+                if (message.AttachmentUrl is not null)
+                    lines.Add($"{prefix} PRIVMSG {ircChannel} :Download: {message.AttachmentUrl}");
+
+                foreach (var line in message.Content.Split('\n'))
+                {
+                    var trimmed = line.TrimEnd('\r');
+                    if (trimmed.Length > 0)
+                        lines.Add($"{prefix} PRIVMSG {ircChannel} :{trimmed}");
+                }
+                break;
+
+            case MessageType.File:
+                lines.Add($"{prefix} PRIVMSG {ircChannel} :[File: {message.AttachmentFileName}] {message.AttachmentUrl}");
+                break;
+        }
+
+        return lines;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Split a message into chunks of approximately maxBytes (UTF-8), at word boundaries.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static List<string> SplitMessage(string content, int maxBytes)
+    {
+        if (Encoding.UTF8.GetByteCount(content) <= maxBytes)
+            return [content];
+
+        var chunks = new List<string>();
+        var current = new StringBuilder();
+        var currentBytes = 0;
+
+        foreach (var word in content.Split(' '))
+        {
+            var wordBytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetByteCount(word) + 1; // +1 for space
+
+            if (currentBytes + wordBytes > maxBytes && current.Length > 0)
+            {
+                chunks.Add(current.ToString().TrimEnd());
+                current.Clear();
+                currentBytes = 0;
+            }
+
+            current.Append(word).Append(' ');
+            currentBytes += wordBytes;
+        }
+
+        if (current.Length > 0)
+            chunks.Add(current.ToString().TrimEnd());
+
+        return chunks;
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcNumericReply.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+public static class IrcNumericReply
+{
+    // Connection registration
+    public const string RPL_WELCOME = "001";
+    public const string RPL_YOURHOST = "002";
+    public const string RPL_CREATED = "003";
+    public const string RPL_MYINFO = "004";
+    public const string RPL_ISUPPORT = "005";
+
+    // MOTD
+    public const string RPL_MOTDSTART = "375";
+    public const string RPL_MOTD = "372";
+    public const string RPL_ENDOFMOTD = "376";
+    public const string ERR_NOMOTD = "422";
+
+    // Channel operations
+    public const string RPL_NOTOPIC = "331";
+    public const string RPL_TOPIC = "332";
+    public const string RPL_NAMREPLY = "353";
+    public const string RPL_ENDOFNAMES = "366";
+
+    // LIST
+    public const string RPL_LIST = "322";
+    public const string RPL_LISTEND = "323";
+
+    // WHO / WHOIS
+    public const string RPL_WHOREPLY = "352";
+    public const string RPL_ENDOFWHO = "315";
+    public const string RPL_WHOISUSER = "311";
+    public const string RPL_WHOISSERVER = "312";
+    public const string RPL_WHOISIDLE = "317";
+    public const string RPL_ENDOFWHOIS = "318";
+    public const string RPL_WHOISCHANNELS = "319";
+
+    // AWAY
+    public const string RPL_UNAWAY = "305";
+    public const string RPL_NOWAWAY = "306";
+    public const string RPL_AWAY = "301";
+
+    // MODE
+    public const string RPL_CHANNELMODEIS = "324";
+    public const string RPL_UMODEIS = "221";
+
+    // Errors
+    public const string ERR_NOSUCHNICK = "401";
+    public const string ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL = "403";
+    public const string ERR_CANNOTSENDTOCHAN = "404";
+    public const string ERR_UNKNOWNCOMMAND = "421";
+    public const string ERR_NONICKNAMEGIVEN = "431";
+    public const string ERR_ERRONEUSNICKNAME = "432";
+    public const string ERR_NICKNAMEINUSE = "433";
+    public const string ERR_NOTONCHANNEL = "442";
+    public const string ERR_NOTREGISTERED = "451";
+    public const string ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS = "461";
+    public const string ERR_ALREADYREGISTERED = "462";
+    public const string ERR_PASSWDMISMATCH = "464";
+    public const string ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED = "482";
+
+    // SASL
+    public const string RPL_LOGGEDIN = "900";
+    public const string RPL_SASLSUCCESS = "903";
+    public const string ERR_SASLFAIL = "904";
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcOptions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+public sealed class IrcOptions
+{
+    public const string SectionName = "Irc";
+
+    public bool Enabled { get; set; }
+    public int Port { get; set; } = 6667;
+    public bool TlsEnabled { get; set; }
+    public int TlsPort { get; set; } = 6697;
+    public string? TlsCertPath { get; set; }
+    public string? TlsCertPassword { get; set; }
+    public string ServerName { get; set; } = "echohub";
+    public string? Motd { get; set; }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server.Irc/IrcServiceExtensions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Irc;
+
+public static class IrcServiceExtensions
+{
+    public static WebApplicationBuilder AddIrcGateway(this WebApplicationBuilder builder)
+    {
+        builder.Services.Configure<IrcOptions>(
+            builder.Configuration.GetSection(IrcOptions.SectionName));
+
+        if (builder.Configuration.GetValue<bool>("Irc:Enabled"))
+        {
+            builder.Services.AddSingleton<IrcGatewayService>();
+            builder.Services.AddSingleton<IChatBroadcaster>(sp =>
+                new IrcBroadcaster(sp.GetRequiredService<IrcGatewayService>()));
+            builder.Services.AddHostedService(sp =>
+                sp.GetRequiredService<IrcGatewayService>());
+        }
+
+        return builder;
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server/Controllers/ChannelsController.cs

@@ -4,12 +4,10 @@ using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
 using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
 using EchoHub.Core.Models;
 using EchoHub.Server.Data;
-using EchoHub.Server.Hubs;
 using EchoHub.Server.Services;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.RateLimiting;
-using Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR;
 using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 
 namespace EchoHub.Server.Controllers;
@@ -23,7 +21,7 @@ public class ChannelsController(
     FileStorageService fileStorage,
     ImageToAsciiService asciiService,
     IHttpClientFactory httpClientFactory,
-    IHubContext<ChatHub, IEchoHubClient> hubContext) : ControllerBase
+    IChatService chatService) : ControllerBase
 {
     [HttpGet]
     public async Task<IActionResult> GetChannels([FromQuery] int offset = 0, [FromQuery] int limit = 50)
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ public class ChannelsController(
         await db.SaveChangesAsync();
 
         var dto = new ChannelDto(channel.Id, channel.Name, channel.Topic, 0, channel.CreatedAt);
-        await hubContext.Clients.All.ChannelUpdated(dto);
+        await chatService.BroadcastChannelUpdatedAsync(dto);
 
         return Created($"/api/channels/{channelName}", dto);
     }
@@ -107,7 +105,7 @@ public class ChannelsController(
 
         var messageCount = await db.Messages.CountAsync(m => m.ChannelId == dbChannel.Id);
         var dto = new ChannelDto(dbChannel.Id, dbChannel.Name, dbChannel.Topic, messageCount, dbChannel.CreatedAt);
-        await hubContext.Clients.Group(channelName).ChannelUpdated(dto);
+        await chatService.BroadcastChannelUpdatedAsync(dto, channelName);
 
         return Ok(dto);
     }
@@ -214,7 +212,7 @@ public class ChannelsController(
             file.FileName,
             message.SentAt);
 
-        await hubContext.Clients.Group(channelName).ReceiveMessage(messageDto);
+        await chatService.BroadcastMessageAsync(channelName, messageDto);
 
         return Ok(messageDto);
     }
@@ -331,7 +329,7 @@ public class ChannelsController(
             fileName,
             message.SentAt);
 
-        await hubContext.Clients.Group(channelName).ReceiveMessage(messageDto);
+        await chatService.BroadcastMessageAsync(channelName, messageDto);
 
         return Ok(messageDto);
     }

src/EchoHub.Server/EchoHub.Server.csproj

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\EchoHub.Core\EchoHub.Core.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\EchoHub.Server.Irc\EchoHub.Server.Irc.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>

src/EchoHub.Server/Hubs/ChatHub.cs

@@ -3,16 +3,13 @@ using EchoHub.Core.Constants;
 using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
 using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
 using EchoHub.Core.Models;
-using EchoHub.Server.Data;
-using EchoHub.Server.Services;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR;
-using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 
 namespace EchoHub.Server.Hubs;
 
 [Authorize]
-public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTracker presenceTracker) : Hub<IEchoHubClient>
+public class ChatHub(IChatService chatService, ILogger<ChatHub> logger) : Hub<IEchoHubClient>
 {
     private Guid CurrentUserId =>
         Guid.Parse(Context.User?.FindFirstValue(ClaimTypes.NameIdentifier)
@@ -26,19 +23,8 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
     {
         try
         {
-            presenceTracker.UserConnected(Context.ConnectionId, CurrentUserId, CurrentUsername);
-
-            var user = await db.Users.FindAsync(CurrentUserId);
-            if (user is not null)
-            {
-                user.LastSeenAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
-                user.Status = UserStatus.Online;
-                await db.SaveChangesAsync();
-            }
-
+            await chatService.UserConnectedAsync(Context.ConnectionId, CurrentUserId, CurrentUsername);
             await base.OnConnectedAsync();
-
-            logger.LogInformation("{User} connected (ConnectionId: {ConnectionId})", CurrentUsername, Context.ConnectionId);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -51,39 +37,8 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
     {
         try
         {
-            var preDisconnectUsername = Context.User?.FindFirstValue("username");
-            var channelsBeforeDisconnect = preDisconnectUsername is not null
-                ? presenceTracker.GetChannelsForUser(preDisconnectUsername)
-                : [];
-
-            var username = presenceTracker.UserDisconnected(Context.ConnectionId);
-
-            if (username is not null && !presenceTracker.IsOnline(username))
-            {
-                var user = await db.Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.Username == username);
-                if (user is not null)
-                {
-                    user.LastSeenAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
-                    user.Status = UserStatus.Invisible;
-                    await db.SaveChangesAsync();
-
-                    var presence = new UserPresenceDto(
-                        username,
-                        user.DisplayName,
-                        user.NicknameColor,
-                        UserStatus.Invisible,
-                        user.StatusMessage);
-
-                    foreach (var channel in channelsBeforeDisconnect)
-                    {
-                        await Clients.Group(channel).UserStatusChanged(presence);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-
+            await chatService.UserDisconnectedAsync(Context.ConnectionId);
             await base.OnDisconnectedAsync(exception);
-
-            logger.LogInformation("{User} disconnected (ConnectionId: {ConnectionId})", username ?? "Unknown", Context.ConnectionId);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -96,32 +51,16 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
     {
         try
         {
-            channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+            var (history, error) = await chatService.JoinChannelAsync(
+                Context.ConnectionId, CurrentUserId, CurrentUsername, channelName);
 
-            if (!ValidationConstants.ChannelNameRegex().IsMatch(channelName))
+            if (error is not null)
             {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error("Invalid channel name. Use 2-100 characters: letters, digits, underscores, or hyphens.");
+                await Clients.Caller.Error(error);
                 return [];
             }
 
-            var channel = await db.Channels.FirstOrDefaultAsync(c => c.Name == channelName);
-
-            if (channel is null)
-            {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error($"Channel '{channelName}' does not exist. Create it first via the channel list.");
-                return [];
-            }
-
-            var isNewJoin = presenceTracker.JoinChannel(CurrentUsername, channelName);
-
-            if (isNewJoin)
-            {
-                await Groups.AddToGroupAsync(Context.ConnectionId, channelName);
-                await Clients.OthersInGroup(channelName).UserJoined(channelName, CurrentUsername);
-                logger.LogInformation("{User} joined channel '{Channel}'", CurrentUsername, channelName);
-            }
-
-            var history = await GetChannelHistory(channelName, HubConstants.DefaultHistoryCount);
+            await Groups.AddToGroupAsync(Context.ConnectionId, channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim());
             return history;
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
@@ -137,13 +76,8 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
         try
         {
             channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
-
-            presenceTracker.LeaveChannel(CurrentUsername, channelName);
-
+            await chatService.LeaveChannelAsync(Context.ConnectionId, CurrentUsername, channelName);
             await Groups.RemoveFromGroupAsync(Context.ConnectionId, channelName);
-            await Clients.OthersInGroup(channelName).UserLeft(channelName, CurrentUsername);
-
-            logger.LogInformation("{User} left channel '{Channel}'", CurrentUsername, channelName);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -156,64 +90,9 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
     {
         try
         {
-            channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
-
-            if (!ValidationConstants.ChannelNameRegex().IsMatch(channelName))
-            {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error("Invalid channel name.");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(content))
-            {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error("Message content cannot be empty.");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            if (content.Length > HubConstants.MaxMessageLength)
-            {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error($"Message exceeds maximum length of {HubConstants.MaxMessageLength} characters.");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            var channel = await db.Channels.FirstOrDefaultAsync(c => c.Name == channelName);
-
-            if (channel is null)
-            {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error($"Channel '{channelName}' does not exist.");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            var sender = await db.Users.FindAsync(CurrentUserId);
-
-            var message = new Message
-            {
-                Id = Guid.NewGuid(),
-                Content = content,
-                Type = MessageType.Text,
-                SentAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow,
-                ChannelId = channel.Id,
-                SenderUserId = CurrentUserId,
-                SenderUsername = CurrentUsername,
-            };
-
-            db.Messages.Add(message);
-            await db.SaveChangesAsync();
-
-            var messageDto = new MessageDto(
-                message.Id,
-                message.Content,
-                message.SenderUsername,
-                sender?.NicknameColor,
-                channelName,
-                MessageType.Text,
-                null,
-                null,
-                message.SentAt);
-
-            await Clients.Group(channelName).ReceiveMessage(messageDto);
-
-            logger.LogDebug("{User} sent message in '{Channel}'", CurrentUsername, channelName);
+            var error = await chatService.SendMessageAsync(CurrentUserId, CurrentUsername, channelName, content);
+            if (error is not null)
+                await Clients.Caller.Error(error);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -226,35 +105,7 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
     {
         try
         {
-            channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
-            count = Math.Clamp(count, 1, ValidationConstants.MaxHistoryCount);
-
-            var channel = await db.Channels.FirstOrDefaultAsync(c => c.Name == channelName);
-
-            if (channel is null)
-                return [];
-
-            var messages = await db.Messages
-                .Where(m => m.ChannelId == channel.Id)
-                .OrderByDescending(m => m.SentAt)
-                .Take(count)
-                .Join(db.Users,
-                    m => m.SenderUserId,
-                    u => u.Id,
-                    (m, u) => new MessageDto(
-                        m.Id,
-                        m.Content,
-                        m.SenderUsername,
-                        u.NicknameColor,
-                        channelName,
-                        m.Type,
-                        m.AttachmentUrl,
-                        m.AttachmentFileName,
-                        m.SentAt))
-                .ToListAsync();
-
-            messages.Reverse();
-            return messages;
+            return await chatService.GetChannelHistoryAsync(channelName, count);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -268,37 +119,9 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
     {
         try
         {
-            if (statusMessage is not null && statusMessage.Length > ValidationConstants.MaxStatusMessageLength)
-            {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error($"Status message must not exceed {ValidationConstants.MaxStatusMessageLength} characters.");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            var user = await db.Users.FindAsync(CurrentUserId);
-
-            if (user is null)
-            {
-                await Clients.Caller.Error("User not found.");
-                return;
-            }
-
-            user.Status = status;
-            user.StatusMessage = statusMessage?.Trim();
-            user.LastSeenAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
-            await db.SaveChangesAsync();
-
-            var presence = new UserPresenceDto(
-                user.Username,
-                user.DisplayName,
-                user.NicknameColor,
-                status,
-                statusMessage);
-
-            var channels = presenceTracker.GetChannelsForUser(CurrentUsername);
-            var connections = presenceTracker.GetConnectionsInChannels(channels);
-
-            if (connections.Count > 0)
-                await Clients.Clients(connections).UserStatusChanged(presence);
+            var error = await chatService.UpdateStatusAsync(CurrentUserId, CurrentUsername, status, statusMessage);
+            if (error is not null)
+                await Clients.Caller.Error(error);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -311,21 +134,7 @@ public class ChatHub(EchoHubDbContext db, ILogger<ChatHub> logger, PresenceTrack
     {
         try
         {
-            channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
-
-            var onlineUsernames = presenceTracker.GetOnlineUsersInChannel(channelName);
-
-            var users = await db.Users
-                .Where(u => onlineUsernames.Contains(u.Username))
-                .Select(u => new UserPresenceDto(
-                    u.Username,
-                    u.DisplayName,
-                    u.NicknameColor,
-                    u.Status,
-                    u.StatusMessage))
-                .ToListAsync();
-
-            return users;
+            return await chatService.GetOnlineUsersAsync(channelName);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {

src/EchoHub.Server/Program.cs

@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 using System.Text;
 using System.Threading.RateLimiting;
 using EchoHub.Core.Constants;
+using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
 using EchoHub.Core.Models;
 using EchoHub.Server.Auth;
 using EchoHub.Server.Data;
 using EchoHub.Server.Hubs;
+using EchoHub.Server.Irc;
 using EchoHub.Server.Services;
 using EchoHub.Server.Setup;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.JwtBearer;
@@ -101,6 +103,14 @@ while (true)
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<ImageToAsciiService>();
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<FileStorageService>();
         builder.Services.AddHostedService<ServerDirectoryService>();
+
+        // ── Chat Service + Broadcasters ─────────────────────────────────────
+        builder.Services.AddSingleton<IChatBroadcaster, SignalRBroadcaster>();
+        builder.Services.AddSingleton<IChatService, ChatService>();
+
+        // ── IRC Gateway (optional) ──────────────────────────────────────────
+        builder.AddIrcGateway();
+
         builder.Services.AddHttpClient("ImageDownload", client =>
         {
             client.Timeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(15);

src/EchoHub.Server/Services/ChatService.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,330 @@
+using EchoHub.Core.Constants;
+using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+using EchoHub.Core.Models;
+using EchoHub.Server.Data;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Services;
+
+public class ChatService(
+    IServiceScopeFactory scopeFactory,
+    PresenceTracker presenceTracker,
+    IEnumerable<IChatBroadcaster> broadcasters,
+    ILogger<ChatService> logger) : IChatService
+{
+    public async Task UserConnectedAsync(string connectionId, Guid userId, string username)
+    {
+        presenceTracker.UserConnected(connectionId, userId, username);
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var user = await db.Users.FindAsync(userId);
+        if (user is not null)
+        {
+            user.LastSeenAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+            user.Status = UserStatus.Online;
+            await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+        }
+
+        logger.LogInformation("{User} connected (ConnectionId: {ConnectionId})", username, connectionId);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<string?> UserDisconnectedAsync(string connectionId)
+    {
+        var preDisconnectUsername = presenceTracker.GetUsernameForConnection(connectionId);
+        var channelsBeforeDisconnect = preDisconnectUsername is not null
+            ? presenceTracker.GetChannelsForUser(preDisconnectUsername)
+            : [];
+
+        var username = presenceTracker.UserDisconnected(connectionId);
+
+        if (username is not null && !presenceTracker.IsOnline(username))
+        {
+            using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+            var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+            var user = await db.Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.Username == username);
+            if (user is not null)
+            {
+                user.LastSeenAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+                user.Status = UserStatus.Invisible;
+                await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+
+                var presence = new UserPresenceDto(
+                    username,
+                    user.DisplayName,
+                    user.NicknameColor,
+                    UserStatus.Invisible,
+                    user.StatusMessage);
+
+                await BroadcastToAllAsync(b => b.SendUserStatusChangedAsync(channelsBeforeDisconnect, presence));
+            }
+        }
+
+        logger.LogInformation("{User} disconnected (ConnectionId: {ConnectionId})", username ?? "Unknown", connectionId);
+        return username;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<(List<MessageDto> History, string? Error)> JoinChannelAsync(
+        string connectionId, Guid userId, string username, string channelName)
+    {
+        channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+
+        if (!ValidationConstants.ChannelNameRegex().IsMatch(channelName))
+            return ([], "Invalid channel name. Use 2-100 characters: letters, digits, underscores, or hyphens.");
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var channel = await db.Channels.FirstOrDefaultAsync(c => c.Name == channelName);
+        if (channel is null)
+            return ([], $"Channel '{channelName}' does not exist. Create it first via the channel list.");
+
+        var isNewJoin = presenceTracker.JoinChannel(username, channelName);
+
+        if (isNewJoin)
+        {
+            await BroadcastToAllAsync(b => b.SendUserJoinedAsync(channelName, username, connectionId));
+            logger.LogInformation("{User} joined channel '{Channel}'", username, channelName);
+        }
+
+        var history = await GetChannelHistoryInternalAsync(db, channelName, HubConstants.DefaultHistoryCount);
+        return (history, null);
+    }
+
+    public async Task LeaveChannelAsync(string connectionId, string username, string channelName)
+    {
+        channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+        presenceTracker.LeaveChannel(username, channelName);
+        await BroadcastToAllAsync(b => b.SendUserLeftAsync(channelName, username));
+        logger.LogInformation("{User} left channel '{Channel}'", username, channelName);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<string?> SendMessageAsync(Guid userId, string username, string channelName, string content)
+    {
+        channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+
+        if (!ValidationConstants.ChannelNameRegex().IsMatch(channelName))
+            return "Invalid channel name.";
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(content))
+            return "Message content cannot be empty.";
+
+        if (content.Length > HubConstants.MaxMessageLength)
+            return $"Message exceeds maximum length of {HubConstants.MaxMessageLength} characters.";
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var channel = await db.Channels.FirstOrDefaultAsync(c => c.Name == channelName);
+        if (channel is null)
+            return $"Channel '{channelName}' does not exist.";
+
+        var sender = await db.Users.FindAsync(userId);
+
+        var message = new Message
+        {
+            Id = Guid.NewGuid(),
+            Content = content,
+            Type = MessageType.Text,
+            SentAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow,
+            ChannelId = channel.Id,
+            SenderUserId = userId,
+            SenderUsername = username,
+        };
+
+        db.Messages.Add(message);
+        await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+
+        var messageDto = new MessageDto(
+            message.Id,
+            message.Content,
+            message.SenderUsername,
+            sender?.NicknameColor,
+            channelName,
+            MessageType.Text,
+            null,
+            null,
+            message.SentAt);
+
+        await BroadcastToAllAsync(b => b.SendMessageToChannelAsync(channelName, messageDto));
+
+        logger.LogDebug("{User} sent message in '{Channel}'", username, channelName);
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<List<MessageDto>> GetChannelHistoryAsync(string channelName, int count)
+    {
+        channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+        count = Math.Clamp(count, 1, ValidationConstants.MaxHistoryCount);
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        return await GetChannelHistoryInternalAsync(db, channelName, count);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<string?> UpdateStatusAsync(Guid userId, string username, UserStatus status, string? statusMessage)
+    {
+        if (statusMessage is not null && statusMessage.Length > ValidationConstants.MaxStatusMessageLength)
+            return $"Status message must not exceed {ValidationConstants.MaxStatusMessageLength} characters.";
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var user = await db.Users.FindAsync(userId);
+        if (user is null)
+            return "User not found.";
+
+        user.Status = status;
+        user.StatusMessage = statusMessage?.Trim();
+        user.LastSeenAt = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+        await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+
+        var presence = new UserPresenceDto(
+            user.Username,
+            user.DisplayName,
+            user.NicknameColor,
+            status,
+            statusMessage);
+
+        var channels = presenceTracker.GetChannelsForUser(username);
+        await BroadcastToAllAsync(b => b.SendUserStatusChangedAsync(channels, presence));
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<List<UserPresenceDto>> GetOnlineUsersAsync(string channelName)
+    {
+        channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+        var onlineUsernames = presenceTracker.GetOnlineUsersInChannel(channelName);
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        return await db.Users
+            .Where(u => onlineUsernames.Contains(u.Username))
+            .Select(u => new UserPresenceDto(
+                u.Username,
+                u.DisplayName,
+                u.NicknameColor,
+                u.Status,
+                u.StatusMessage))
+            .ToListAsync();
+    }
+
+    public Task BroadcastMessageAsync(string channelName, MessageDto message)
+        => BroadcastToAllAsync(b => b.SendMessageToChannelAsync(channelName, message));
+
+    public Task BroadcastChannelUpdatedAsync(ChannelDto channel, string? channelName = null)
+        => BroadcastToAllAsync(b => b.SendChannelUpdatedAsync(channel, channelName));
+
+    private async Task BroadcastToAllAsync(Func<IChatBroadcaster, Task> action)
+    {
+        foreach (var broadcaster in broadcasters)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                await action(broadcaster);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                logger.LogError(ex, "Broadcaster {Type} failed", broadcaster.GetType().Name);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task<UserProfileDto?> GetUserProfileAsync(string username)
+    {
+        username = username.ToLowerInvariant();
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var user = await db.Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.Username == username);
+        if (user is null) return null;
+
+        return new UserProfileDto(
+            user.Id, user.Username, user.DisplayName, user.Bio,
+            user.NicknameColor, user.AvatarAscii, user.Status,
+            user.StatusMessage, user.CreatedAt, user.LastSeenAt);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<(string? Topic, bool Exists)> GetChannelTopicAsync(string channelName)
+    {
+        channelName = channelName.ToLowerInvariant().Trim();
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var channel = await db.Channels.FirstOrDefaultAsync(c => c.Name == channelName);
+        if (channel is null) return (null, false);
+
+        return (channel.Topic, true);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<List<ChannelListItem>> GetChannelListAsync()
+    {
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var channels = await db.Channels.OrderBy(c => c.Name).ToListAsync();
+
+        return channels.Select(c => new ChannelListItem(
+            c.Name,
+            c.Topic,
+            presenceTracker.GetOnlineUsersInChannel(c.Name).Count)).ToList();
+    }
+
+    public Task<List<string>> GetChannelsForUserAsync(string username)
+        => Task.FromResult(presenceTracker.GetChannelsForUser(username));
+
+    public async Task<(Guid UserId, string Username)?> AuthenticateUserAsync(string username, string password)
+    {
+        username = username.ToLowerInvariant();
+
+        using var scope = scopeFactory.CreateScope();
+        var db = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<EchoHubDbContext>();
+
+        var user = await db.Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(u => u.Username == username);
+        if (user is null) return null;
+
+        if (!BCrypt.Net.BCrypt.Verify(password, user.PasswordHash))
+            return null;
+
+        return (user.Id, user.Username);
+    }
+
+    private static async Task<List<MessageDto>> GetChannelHistoryInternalAsync(EchoHubDbContext db, string channelName, int count)
+    {
+        var channel = await db.Channels.FirstOrDefaultAsync(c => c.Name == channelName);
+        if (channel is null)
+            return [];
+
+        var messages = await db.Messages
+            .Where(m => m.ChannelId == channel.Id)
+            .OrderByDescending(m => m.SentAt)
+            .Take(count)
+            .Join(db.Users,
+                m => m.SenderUserId,
+                u => u.Id,
+                (m, u) => new MessageDto(
+                    m.Id,
+                    m.Content,
+                    m.SenderUsername,
+                    u.NicknameColor,
+                    channelName,
+                    m.Type,
+                    m.AttachmentUrl,
+                    m.AttachmentFileName,
+                    m.SentAt))
+            .ToListAsync();
+
+        messages.Reverse();
+        return messages;
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server/Services/PresenceTracker.cs

@@ -137,6 +137,11 @@ public class PresenceTracker
         }
     }
 
+    public string? GetUsernameForConnection(string connectionId)
+    {
+        return _connections.TryGetValue(connectionId, out var info) ? info.username : null;
+    }
+
     public bool IsOnline(string username)
     {
         return _userConnections.TryGetValue(username, out var connections) && connections.Count > 0;

src/EchoHub.Server/Services/ServerDirectoryService.cs

@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService(
 {
     private const string DirectoryHubUrl = "https://echohub.voidcube.cloud/hubs/servers";
     private static readonly TimeSpan UpdateInterval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30);
+    private static readonly TimeSpan ReconnectBaseDelay = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2);
+    private static readonly TimeSpan ReconnectMaxDelay = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30);
 
     private HubConnection? _connection;
     private int _lastReportedUserCount = -1;
@@ -38,52 +40,97 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService(
 
         logger.LogInformation("PublicServer is enabled — connecting to EchoHubSpace directory as {Name} ({Host})", serverName, host);
 
-        _connection = new HubConnectionBuilder()
-            .WithUrl(DirectoryHubUrl)
-            .WithAutomaticReconnect()
-            .Build();
-
-        _connection.Reconnected += async _ =>
-        {
-            logger.LogInformation("Reconnected to directory — re-registering server");
-            await RegisterAsync(serverName, description, host);
-        };
-
-        _connection.Closed += ex =>
-        {
-            if (ex is not null)
-                logger.LogWarning(ex, "Directory connection closed with error");
-            return Task.CompletedTask;
-        };
-
-        // Initial connection with retry
+        // Outer loop: rebuilds the connection if automatic reconnect permanently fails
         while (!stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            await using var connection = BuildConnection();
+            _connection = connection;
+
+            var connectionPermanentlyClosed = new TaskCompletionSource(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously);
+
+            connection.Reconnected += async _ =>
+            {
+                logger.LogInformation("Reconnected to directory — re-registering server");
+                _lastReportedUserCount = -1;
+                await RegisterAsync(serverName, description, host);
+            };
+
+            connection.Closed += ex =>
+            {
+                if (ex is not null)
+                    logger.LogWarning(ex, "Directory connection permanently closed — will rebuild");
+                else
+                    logger.LogWarning("Directory connection permanently closed — will rebuild");
+
+                connectionPermanentlyClosed.TrySetResult();
+                return Task.CompletedTask;
+            };
+
+            // Connect with retry
+            if (!await ConnectWithRetryAsync(connection, stoppingToken))
+                return;
+
+            logger.LogInformation("Successfully connected to EchoHubSpace API at {Url}", DirectoryHubUrl);
+            await RegisterAsync(serverName, description, host);
+
+            // Poll user count until the connection is permanently closed or cancellation
+            await PollUserCountAsync(connection, connectionPermanentlyClosed.Task, stoppingToken);
+
+            if (stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+                return;
+
+            // Connection was permanently closed — wait briefly then rebuild
+            _connection = null;
+            logger.LogInformation("Rebuilding directory connection...");
+            await Task.Delay(ReconnectBaseDelay, stoppingToken);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private HubConnection BuildConnection()
+    {
+        return new HubConnectionBuilder()
+            .WithUrl(DirectoryHubUrl)
+            .WithAutomaticReconnect(new InfiniteRetryPolicy())
+            .Build();
+    }
+
+    private async Task<bool> ConnectWithRetryAsync(HubConnection connection, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var attempt = 0;
+        while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
         {
             try
             {
-                await _connection.StartAsync(stoppingToken);
-                logger.LogInformation("Successfully connected to EchoHubSpace API at {Url}", DirectoryHubUrl);
-                break;
+                await connection.StartAsync(ct);
+                return true;
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
-                logger.LogWarning(ex, "Failed to connect to directory — retrying in 30s");
-                await Task.Delay(UpdateInterval, stoppingToken);
+                attempt++;
+                var delay = GetBackoffDelay(attempt);
+                logger.LogWarning(ex, "Failed to connect to directory — retrying in {Delay}s", delay.TotalSeconds);
+                await Task.Delay(delay, ct);
             }
         }
 
-        if (stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested)
-            return;
+        return false;
+    }
 
-        // Register on first connect
-        await RegisterAsync(serverName, description, host);
-
-        // Poll user count and send updates
-        while (!stoppingToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+    private async Task PollUserCountAsync(HubConnection connection, Task connectionClosed, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
         {
-            await Task.Delay(UpdateInterval, stoppingToken);
+            var delayTask = Task.Delay(UpdateInterval, ct);
+            var completed = await Task.WhenAny(delayTask, connectionClosed);
 
-            if (_connection.State != HubConnectionState.Connected)
+            if (completed == connectionClosed)
+                return;
+
+            // Observe the delay task (may throw if cancelled)
+            try { await delayTask; }
+            catch (OperationCanceledException) { return; }
+
+            if (connection.State != HubConnectionState.Connected)
                 continue;
 
             var currentCount = presenceTracker.GetOnlineUserCount();
@@ -92,7 +139,7 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService(
 
             try
             {
-                await _connection.InvokeAsync("UpdateUserCount", currentCount, stoppingToken);
+                await connection.InvokeAsync("UpdateUserCount", currentCount, ct);
                 _lastReportedUserCount = currentCount;
                 logger.LogDebug("Updated directory user count to {Count}", currentCount);
             }
@@ -103,6 +150,12 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService(
         }
     }
 
+    private static TimeSpan GetBackoffDelay(int attempt)
+    {
+        var delay = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(Math.Pow(2, Math.Min(attempt, 10)));
+        return delay > ReconnectMaxDelay ? ReconnectMaxDelay : delay;
+    }
+
     private async Task RegisterAsync(string name, string? description, string host)
     {
         if (_connection?.State != HubConnectionState.Connected)
@@ -132,6 +185,18 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService(
 
         await base.StopAsync(cancellationToken);
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Retries indefinitely with exponential backoff capped at 30 seconds.
+    /// </summary>
+    private sealed class InfiniteRetryPolicy : IRetryPolicy
+    {
+        public TimeSpan? NextRetryDelay(RetryContext retryContext)
+        {
+            var delay = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(Math.Pow(2, Math.Min(retryContext.PreviousRetryCount, 10)));
+            return delay > ReconnectMaxDelay ? ReconnectMaxDelay : delay;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 internal record RegisterServerDto(string Name, string? Description, string Host, int UserCount);

src/EchoHub.Server/Services/SignalRBroadcaster.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+using EchoHub.Core.Contracts;
+using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+using EchoHub.Server.Hubs;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.SignalR;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Services;
+
+public class SignalRBroadcaster(
+    IHubContext<ChatHub, IEchoHubClient> hubContext,
+    PresenceTracker presenceTracker) : IChatBroadcaster
+{
+    public Task SendMessageToChannelAsync(string channelName, MessageDto message)
+        => hubContext.Clients.Group(channelName).ReceiveMessage(message);
+
+    public Task SendUserJoinedAsync(string channelName, string username, string? excludeConnectionId = null)
+    {
+        if (excludeConnectionId is not null && !excludeConnectionId.StartsWith("irc-"))
+            return hubContext.Clients.GroupExcept(channelName, [excludeConnectionId]).UserJoined(channelName, username);
+
+        return hubContext.Clients.Group(channelName).UserJoined(channelName, username);
+    }
+
+    public Task SendUserLeftAsync(string channelName, string username)
+        => hubContext.Clients.Group(channelName).UserLeft(channelName, username);
+
+    public Task SendChannelUpdatedAsync(ChannelDto channel, string? channelName = null)
+    {
+        if (channelName is not null)
+            return hubContext.Clients.Group(channelName).ChannelUpdated(channel);
+
+        return hubContext.Clients.All.ChannelUpdated(channel);
+    }
+
+    public Task SendUserStatusChangedAsync(List<string> channelNames, UserPresenceDto presence)
+    {
+        var connections = presenceTracker.GetConnectionsInChannels(channelNames)
+            .Where(c => !c.StartsWith("irc-"))
+            .ToList();
+
+        if (connections.Count == 0)
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+
+        return hubContext.Clients.Clients(connections).UserStatusChanged(presence);
+    }
+
+    public Task SendErrorAsync(string connectionId, string message)
+    {
+        if (connectionId.StartsWith("irc-"))
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+
+        return hubContext.Clients.Client(connectionId).Error(message);
+    }
+}

src/EchoHub.Server/appsettings.example.json

@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@
     "PublicServer": false,
     "PublicHost": ""
   },
+  "Irc": {
+    "Enabled": false,
+    "Port": 6667,
+    "TlsEnabled": false,
+    "TlsPort": 6697,
+    "TlsCertPath": "",
+    "TlsCertPassword": "",
+    "ServerName": "echohub",
+    "Motd": "Welcome to EchoHub IRC Gateway!"
+  },
   "Serilog": {
     "MinimumLevel": {
       "Default": "Information",

src/EchoHub.slnx

@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
   <Project Path="EchoHub.Client/EchoHub.Client.csproj" />
   <Project Path="EchoHub.Core/EchoHub.Core.csproj" />
   <Project Path="EchoHub.Server/EchoHub.Server.csproj" />
+  <Project Path="EchoHub.Server.Irc/EchoHub.Server.Irc.csproj" />
   <Project Path="EchoHub.Tests/EchoHub.Tests.csproj" />
 </Solution>