Puredyne/Irssi

Irssi
Irssi is a terminal based IRC client for UNIX systems. It also supports SILC and ICB protocols via plugins.

www.irssi.org

some basics to get you started
connect to the goto10.org irc server

/connect irc.goto10.org

connect to the pure:dyne channel

/join puredyne

change your nick to myname (will be lintian or something else by default unless you edit your .conf file, see below)

/nick myname

address robc specifically (tab key autocompletes nicks)

robc: ping

open a private message window to robc

/query robc

close current buffer (maybe when you are finished with a private chat for example)

/buffer close

leave a channel (but stay connected to irc server)

/leave

quit Irssi

/quit