I built a web-based IRC BNC dashboard and would appreciate feedback from IRC users
Hi r/irc,
I have been building an IRC BNC project and wanted to share what I have so far, mainly to get feedback from people who actually use IRC.
The idea is to keep it as normal IRC underneath, but make the BNC setup and management easier through a web dashboard.
Current features I have working or actively integrated:
- ZNC-backed IRC BNC accounts
- Website signup flow for creating a BNC account
- IRC-native signup through an Eggdrop bot
- Guided setup for nickname, ident, server, port and first IRC network
- Vhost selection during signup
- Multiple hosted vhost choices
- Locked default realname/gecos text for standard accounts
- Optional custom realname/gecos support for upgraded accounts
- Dashboard-based account management
- User-managed IRC network editing
- Add, update and delete managed IRC networks from the dashboard
- WebChat access from inside the dashboard
- Browser-based chat for users who do not want to configure a client straight away
- Normal IRC client support, so users can still connect from HexChat, mIRC, WeeChat, irssi, etc.
- Copy/paste connection details after signup
- Protected support/system network
- Support network does not count against the user’s own managed network allowance
- Dashboard support ticket system
- IRC Inbox concept for private messages
- Inbox read/hide/restore controls
- Dashboard-side reply handling
- External reply worker instead of loading custom ZNC modules into production
- Account status display
- Free account limits with optional upgrade logic for extra managed networks
- Mobile-focused landing page work so newer users can understand what a BNC is from a phone
- Web dashboard designed to hide most of the confusing ZNC panel complexity from new users
The part I am most interested in is whether the dashboard-style approach makes sense for IRC users.
The goal is not to replace IRC clients or turn IRC into a closed platform. Users can still connect with normal IRC clients and use their own networks. The dashboard is mainly there to make account setup, vhosts, WebChat, inbox messages and network management easier.
A few things I would appreciate feedback on:
- Would vhost selection during signup be useful to new BNC users?
- Does a dashboard-based IRC Inbox make sense, or is that too far away from normal IRC usage?
- Is built-in WebChat a good bridge for newer users?
- What would experienced IRC users expect from a modern BNC dashboard?
- What should I avoid adding so it still feels like IRC rather than a closed chat service?
I am deliberately not posting a service link here because I do not want this to come across as an advert. I am mainly looking for technical and usability feedback from IRC users.