Open Source Comms
I've found these to be useful every day. Give them a test!
HexChat is an IRC client based on XChat for Linux , but unlike XChat it’s completely free for both Windows and Unix-like systems. HexChat was originally called XChat-WDK which in turn was a successor of freakschat.
Features
Easy to use and customizable interface Cross-platform on Windows, OS X, and Unix-like OSes Highly scriptable with Python and Perl Translated in multiple languages Fully open source and actively developed Multi-network with auto-connect, join, and identify Spellcheck, Proxies, SASL, DCC support and more
Mastodon is a Free and Open Source federated social network, made with a focus on more personal interaction.
The biggest difference between Mastodon and many other social networks is that even though a Mastodon website (called an instance) can operate alone, they can interoperate through AcitivityPub, letting their users on different, independent, instances communicate with each other. This is called federation, and it even works with instances running different software like PeerTube and Pixelfed
FEATURES
- No ads or tracking
- No algorithm
- Completely Free and Open Source
- 500 character text limit
- Custom emojis
- Content warnings/spoilers
- Easy post editing
- Many moderation tools like text filtering
- Image thumbnail adjustment
- Fully self-hostable
Matrix defines a set of open APIs for decentralised communication, suitable for securely publishing, persisting and subscribing to data over a global open federation of servers with no single point of control. Uses include Instant Messaging (IM), Voice over IP (VoIP) signalling, Internet of Things (IoT) communication, and bridging together existing communication silos - providing the basis of a new open real-time communication ecosystem.
Thunderbird is a free, open source, cross-platform e-mail, news and instant messaging client. The project strategy is modeled after Mozilla Firefox.
It supports POP (storing mail locally on your hard drive so that it can be accessed without an internet connection), and IMAP. It features excellent mail filter capabilities and management.
Thunderbird has strong support for using multiple accounts and identities, including automated signature features.
Chat functionality is built in, so you can enjoy real-time conversation with your contacts, right from your favorite messaging application, with multiple supported networks. Thunderbird makes it easy to search through both past conversations and received emails.
Thunderbird can also function as an RSS/Atom feed reader, and has a large selection of add-ons that extend it with calendar support, PGP support, integration with online services and much more.
Available also as portable app: http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/thunderbird_portable
Thunderbird for Android is known as K-9 Mail
