# Instantbird

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Cross-platform instant messaging client

Instantbird Screenshot Instantbird chat window Developer Florian Quèze Release 0.1 (October 18, 2007; 18 years ago (2007-10-18)) Final release 1.5 (December 17, 2013; 12 years ago (2013-12-17)) [±] Written in C/C++, JavaScript, CSS, XUL Operating system Linux OS X Windows Platform Cross-platform Available in Multilanguage Type IM client License GNU GPL Website www.instantbird.com

**Instantbird** is a discontinued [cross-platform](/source/Cross-platform) [instant messaging](/source/Instant_messaging) client based on [Mozilla](/source/Mozilla)'s [XULRunner](/source/XULRunner) and the [open-source](/source/Open-source_software) library *libpurple* used in [Pidgin](/source/Pidgin_(software)). Instantbird is [free software](/source/Free_software) available under the [GNU General Public License](/source/GNU_General_Public_License). Over 250 add-ons allow user customization of, and addition of, features. On October 18, 2017, Florian Quèze announced that "... we are stopping development of Instantbird as a standalone product."[1]

## Supported protocols

Instantbird began as a chat client based on libpurple and gradually moved toward being a chat client which used a combination of libpurple and its own protocol architecture. Specifically, Instantbird developers wrote their own JavaScript support for [IRC](/source/Internet_Relay_Chat), [Odnoklassniki](/source/Odnoklassniki), [Twitter](/source/Twitter), [XMPP](/source/Extensible_Messaging_and_Presence_Protocol) (including [Google Talk](/source/Google_Talk)) and [YMSG](/source/Yahoo!_Messenger_Protocol) (used by [YIM](/source/Yahoo!_Messenger)). The reason writing these in JavaScript, rather than using the faster C code already included with libpurple, had to do with a plan to merge certain protocols into [Mozilla Thunderbird](/source/Mozilla_Thunderbird).

The remaining protocols supported in Instantbird, provided through libpurple, were [OSCAR](/source/OSCAR_protocol) ([AIM](/source/AOL_Instant_Messenger)/[ICQ](/source/ICQ)/[MobileMe](/source/MobileMe)), [Gadu-Gadu](/source/Gadu-Gadu), [Novell GroupWise](/source/Novell_GroupWise), [Lotus Sametime](/source/IBM_Lotus_Sametime), [MSNP](/source/Microsoft_Notification_Protocol) ([Microsoft Messenger service](/source/Microsoft_Messenger_service)), [MySpaceIM](/source/MySpaceIM#Protocol), [Netsoul](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Netsoul&action=edit&redlink=1), [SIMPLE](/source/SIMPLE_(instant_messaging_protocol)), [QQ](/source/Tencent_QQ) and [VKontakte](/source/VKontakte).[2][3] Some of these can no longer be used, even with up-to-date client software, due to discontinuation of the servers.

## Features

Users can set their own user icon and display name.[4] Several themes are included by default, including "Bubbles", which has the "Time Bubbles" feature of displaying time between messages, rather than timestamps within or adjacent to each message.[5] Text copied from an Instantbird window is reformatted transparently to include timestamps in front of each message, in a feature called "Magic Copy".[6] Instantbird includes an Add-ons system which allows additional protocol support such as [LiveJournal](/source/LiveJournal)'s [LJ Talk](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LJ_Talk&action=edit&redlink=1); there are over 250 additional add-ons available.[7] Additional features available include "UI theming, language packs and dictionaries, developer tools and usability enhancements such as tab completion of nicknames, highlighting, colourising of buddies, and vertical tabs."[7] The developers list some of their "favorite" add-ons as follows: "Colorize" buddy names, "Highlight" words in chats, "Tab Complete" nicknames and commands, "Reply to Nick" - doubleclick inserts name, "Show Nick" in color in multiuser chats, and "Vertical Tabs" to arrange conversations vertically.[8] Conversation logging is enabled by default, but can be disabled.[9] Binaries are available in the following 13 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Swedish and Estonian.[7]

In October 2015 the [Tor](/source/Tor_(anonymity_network)) anonymity project presented [Tor Messenger](/source/Tor_Messenger) as its [open-source](/source/Open-source_software) instant messenger client. It is based on Instandbird but removes the dependency on libpurple, re-implementing all supported chat protocols in the memory-safe language [JavaScript](/source/JavaScript). *Tor Messenger* encrypts one-to-one chats by default using [OTR](/source/Off-the-Record_Messaging) and provides anonymity by routing its traffic through the Tor network.[10][11][12]

## Reception

Instantbird received some positive notice, with stated expectations of future improvements. Tech blogger [Chris Pirillo](/source/Chris_Pirillo) wrote that the client "works quite well on all three main operating systems", that the interface "is unobtrusive… and very clean", and that chat can take place on multiple protocols simultaneously, including IRC.[3] BetaNews writer Joe Cassels noted that Instantbird "aims to bring together many of these disparate networks and services under one roof, and while not as polished as more established multi-network clients like [Trillian](/source/Trillian_(software)) and [Pidgin](/source/Pidgin_(software)), its close links to Mozilla makes us confident the program will evolve into a powerful alternative to these programs in time."[13] [LifeHacker](/source/LifeHacker) writer Alan Henry called the application's visual appearance "sharp", referred to the user interface as "inspired by" but "a bit more attractive" than Pidgin, called the version 1.0 of the software "a big improvement", and stated "what it lacks in native features it makes up for in add-ons and themes contributed by the user community."[14]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Quèze, Florian (18 October 2017). ["Thunderbird is the next version of Instantbird"](http://blog.queze.net/post/2017/10/18/Thunderbird-is-the-next-version-of-Instantbird). *Florian Quèze*. Retrieved 3 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Protocols_2-0)** ["Instantbird FAQ: Supported Protocols"](http://www.instantbird.com/faq.html#supportedprotocols). instantbird.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Pirillo_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Pirillo_3-1) Pirillo, Chris (April 22, 2009). ["What All-in-one Instant Messenger Should You Use?"](http://chris.pirillo.com/what-all-in-one-instant-messenger-should-you-use/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110830101648/http://chris.pirillo.com/what-all-in-one-instant-messenger-should-you-use) 2011-08-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). chrispirillo.com. (Also video).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["What's New"](http://www.instantbird.com). instantbird.com. Retrieved September 16, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bubbles_5-0)** Quèze, Florian (June 8, 2011). ["Introducing Time Bubbles"](https://blog.instantbird.org/c42-introducing-time-bubbles.html). Instantbird.com blog.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Quèze, Florian (June 16, 2011).["Introducing Magic Copy"](https://blog.instantbird.org/n44-introducing-magic-copy.html). instantbird.com blog.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HO_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HO_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-HO_7-2) Walker-Morgan, Dj (June 29, 2011). ["Cross platform IM client InstantBird goes 1.0"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131208073537/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Cross-platform-IM-client-InstantBird-goes-1-0-1270008.html). h-online.com. Heise Media UK Ltd.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1.0_11_8-0)** C., Patrick (June 28, 2011). ["Instantbird 1.0 released in 11 locales"](https://blog.instantbird.org/n48-instantbird-1-0-released-in-11-locales.html). Instantbird.org blog.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["FAQ: Logs"](http://www.instantbird.com/faq.html#logsenabled). instantbird.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Greenberg, Andy (2015-10-29). ["Tor just launched the easiest app yet for encrypted IM"](https://www.wired.com/2015/10/tor-just-launched-the-easiest-app-yet-for-anonymous-encrypted-im/). Wired. Retrieved 2017-08-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Tor Messenger Beta: Chat Over Tor, Easily"](https://blog.torproject.org/blog/tor-messenger-beta-chat-over-tor-easily). Tor Blog. 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2017-08-01.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Tor Messenger Design Document"](https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/wiki/doc/TorMessenger/DesignDoc). 13 July 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Cassels, Joe (July 1, 2011). ["Why tweet when you can chirp? Instantbird 1.0 multi-IM client is available"](https://betanews.com/2011/07/01/why-tweet-when-you-can-chirp-instantbird-1-0-multi-im-client-is-available/). [Betanews](/source/Betanews).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-LH_14-0)** Henry, Alan (June 29, 2011). ["InstantBird is a Lightweight, Cross-Platform Instant Messaging App with Sharp Looks"](https://lifehacker.com/5816618/instantbird-is-a-lightweight-cross+platform-instant-messaging-app-with-sharp-looks). [LifeHacker](/source/LifeHacker)

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.instantbird.com/)

- [Backups of releases](https://code.google.com/archive/p/instantbird/downloads)

v t e Instant messaging Protocols (comparison) Open DDP IMPP IRC Matrix MLS MTProto Retroshare Signal Protocol SIP MSRP SIMPLE Tox XMPP Jingle Zephyr Closed MSNP OSCAR TOC Skype Services Band BBM Enterprise Beeper BiP Bitchat DingTalk Discord Element Google Chat Google Meet Google Messages GroupMe iGap iMessage Imo Instagram Direct Messenger JioChat Jongla KakaoTalk Kik Lark Libon Line Marco Polo Mattermost Max Facebook Messenger Messenger Kids Olvid Paltalk The Palace QQ Rocket.Chat Sandes Session ShareChat Signal Slack Snapchat Snow Stoat Tango Live Telegram Textfree Threema Trillian Viber VK Messenger WeChat WhatsApp Wickr WOLF Zalo Zoom Zulip Clients (comparison) Single protocol Baidu Hi BBM Enterprise Briar Element FaceTime Gadu-Gadu GroupMe HCL Sametime IMVU Jami Jongla Linphone Facebook Messenger Olvid QQ Retroshare Ricochet Session Signal Telegram Tox WeChat WhatsApp Wickr Wire WOLF Multi-protocol Adium Ayttm Beeper BitlBee Centericq eBuddy Jitsi Kopete Messages Miranda NG Nimbuzz Pidgin Finch Telepathy Thunderbird Trillian XMPP (Jabber) Conversations Gajim Movim Psi Spark Xabber MSNP Microsoft Teams Defunct List of defunct instant messaging platforms Related Backchannel Chat log Chatbot Circuit Comparison of user features of messaging platforms Contact list Emoticon File sharing FirstClass Flock Fuze Box Hall.com LAN messenger Online chat Presence information RingCentral Glip SMS language Status message U-Report Videotelephony Viva Engage VoIP Webcam

v t e Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Comparison of clients Common terms BNC Bot DoS attack Flood Netsplit Operator Script IRCd Services Takeover Related protocols IRCX MSN Chat CTCP DCC XDCC Ident Networks DALnet EFnet Freenode GameSurge IRCnet Libera Chat OFTC QuakeNet Rizon RusNet SlashNET Snoonet Undernet Technology Eggdrop SASL Infobot BitlBee ZNC UnrealIRCd See also List of commands Subculture Jarkko Oikarinen Clients macOS Colloquy Fire Homer Ircle Linkinus Snak Microsoft Windows Bersirc mIRC Microsoft Comic Chat PIRCH Shareaza Visual IRC Unix-like ircII Ii Cross-platform Ayttm BitchX IRC Cloud Irssi Konversation KVIrc LeafChat naim Nettalk Smuxi WeeChat HexChat PJIRC Quassel IRC XChat Multi-IM Centericq Empathy Kopete Miranda NG Pidgin Trillian Web-based CGI:IRC PJIRC Mibbit Web browser components ChatZilla Mozilla Application Suite Mozilla Thunderbird Library and plug-ins ERC rcirc Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Instantbird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instantbird) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instantbird?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.