This manual documents WeeChat chat client, it is part of WeeChat.

Latest version of this document can be found on this page: https://weechat.org/doc

1. Introduction

WeeChat (Wee Enhanced Environment for Chat) is a free chat client, fast and light, designed for many operating systems.

This manual documents WeeChat internals:

  • repositories

  • coding rules

  • core internals

  • plugin internals

  • how to contribute to WeeChat.

2. Repositories

WeeChat repositories are on GitHub organization "weechat": https://github.com/weechat

List of repositories:

weechat

core repository with source code and documentation

scripts

the official scripts submitted on weechat.org

weechat.org

source of WeeChat web site: https://weechat.org/

weercd

IRC testing server

qweechat

Qt remote GUI for WeeChat.

This manual documents only weechat repository.

2.1. Overview

The main WeeChat directories are:

Directory Description

src/

Root of sources

   core/

Core functions: entry point, internal structures

   gui/

Functions for buffers, windows, …​ (used by all interfaces)

      curses/

Curses interface

   plugins/

Plugin and scripting API

      alias/

Alias plugin

      aspell/

Aspell plugin

      charset/

Charset plugin

      exec/

Exec plugin

      fifo/

Fifo plugin (FIFO pipe used to remotely send commands to WeeChat)

      guile/

Guile (scheme) scripting API

      irc/

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) plugin

      javascript/

Javascript scripting API

      logger/

Logger plugin (write messages displayed to files)

      lua/

Lua scripting API

      perl/

Perl scripting API

      python/

Python scripting API

      relay/

Relay plugin (irc proxy + relay for remote interfaces)

      ruby/

Ruby scripting API

      script/

Scripts manager

      tcl/

Tcl scripting API

      trigger/

Trigger plugin

      xfer/

Xfer plugin (IRC DCC file/chat)

tests/

Tests

   unit/

Unit tests

      core/

Unit tests for core functions

doc/

Documentation

po/

Translations files (gettext)

debian/

Debian packaging

2.2. Sources

2.2.1. Core

WeeChat "core" is located in following directories:

  • src/core/: core functions (for data manipulation)

  • src/gui/: functions about interface (buffers, windows, …​)

Path/file Description

core/

Core functions: entry point, internal structures

   wee-arraylist.c

Array lists

   wee-backtrace.c

Display a backtrace after a crash

   wee-command.c

WeeChat core commands

   wee-completion.c

Default completions

   wee-config-file.c

Configuration file management

   wee-config.c

Configuration options for WeeChat core (file weechat.conf)

   wee-debug.c

Some debug functions

   wee-eval.c

Evaluation of expressions with references to internal vars

   wee-hashtable.c

Hashtables

   wee-hdata.c

Hdata (direct access to data using hashtables)

   wee-hook.c

Hooks

   wee-infolist.c

Infolists (lists with objects data)

   wee-input.c

Input of commands/text

   wee-list.c

Sorted lists

   wee-log.c

Write to WeeChat log file (weechat.log)

   wee-network.c

Network functions (connection to servers/proxies)

   wee-proxy.c

Proxy management

   wee-secure.c

Secured data options (file sec.conf)

   wee-string.c

Functions on strings

   wee-upgrade-file.c

Internal upgrade system

   wee-upgrade.c

Upgrade for WeeChat core (buffers, lines, history, …​)

   wee-url.c

URL transfer (using libcurl)

   wee-utf8.c

UTF-8 functions

   wee-util.c

Some other functions

   wee-version.c

Functions for WeeChat version

   weechat.c

Main functions: command line options, startup

gui/

Functions for buffers, windows, …​ (used by all interfaces)

   gui-bar-item.c

Bar items

   gui-bar-window.c

Bar windows

   gui-bar.c

Bars

   gui-buffer.c

Buffers

   gui-chat.c

Chat functions (display message, …​)

   gui-color.c

Color functions

   gui-completion.c

Completion on command line

   gui-cursor.c

Cursor mode (free movement of cursor)

   gui-filter.c

Filters

   gui-focus.c

Functions about focus (for cursor mode and mouse)

   gui-history.c

Commands/text saved in buffers

   gui-hotlist.c

Hotlist management (list of buffers with activity)

   gui-input.c

Input functions (input bar)

   gui-key.c

Keyboard functions

   gui-layout.c

Layout

   gui-line.c

Lines in buffers

   gui-mouse.c

Mouse

   gui-nick.c

Nick functions

   gui-nicklist.c

Nicklist in buffers

   gui-window.c

Windows

   curses/

Curses interface

      gui-curses-bar-window.c

Display in bar windows

      gui-curses-chat.c

Display in chat area (messages)

      gui-curses-color.c

Color functions

      gui-curses-key.c

Keyboard functions (default keys, read of input)

      gui-curses-main.c

WeeChat main loop (waiting for keyboard/network events)

      gui-curses-mouse.c

Mouse

      gui-curses-term.c

Functions about terminal

      gui-curses-window.c

Windows

      main.c

Entry point

2.2.2. Plugins

Path/file Description

plugins/

Root of plugins

   plugin.c

Plugins management (load/unload dynamic C libraries)

   plugin-api.c

Extra functions for plugin API (wrapper around WeeChat core functions)

   plugin-config.c

Plugin configuration options (file plugins.conf)

   plugin-script.c

Common functions used by script plugins

   plugin-script-api.c

Script API functions: wrappers around some plugin API functions

   weechat-plugin.h

Header designed to be distributed with WeeChat plugins, in order to compile them

   alias/

Alias plugin

      alias.c

Main alias functions

      alias-command.c

Alias commands

      alias-completion.c

Alias completions

      alias-config.c

Alias config options (file alias.conf)

      alias-info.c

Alias info/infolists/hdata

   aspell/

Aspell plugin

      weechat-aspell.c

Main aspell functions

      weechat-aspell-bar-item.c

Aspell bar items

      weechat-aspell-command.c

Aspell commands

      weechat-aspell-completion.c

Aspell completions

      weechat-aspell-config.c

Aspell config options (file aspell.conf)

      weechat-aspell-info.c

Aspell info/infolists/hdata

      weechat-aspell-speller.c

Spellers management

   charset/

Charset plugin

      charset.c

Charset functions

   exec/

Exec plugin

      exec.c

Main exec functions

      exec-buffer.c

Exec buffer

      exec-command.c

Exec commands

      exec-completion.c

Exec completions

      exec-config.c

Exec config options (file exec.conf)

   fifo/

Fifo plugin

      fifo.c

Main fifo functions

      fifo-command.c

Fifo commands

      fifo-info.c

Fifo info/infolists/hdata

   guile/

Guile (scheme) plugin

      weechat-guile.c

Main guile functions (load/unload scripts, execute guile code)

      weechat-guile-api.c

Guile scripting API functions

   irc/

IRC (Internet Relay Chat) plugin

      irc.c

Main IRC functions

      irc-bar-item.c

IRC bar items

      irc-buffer.c

IRC buffers

      irc-channel.c

IRC channels

      irc-color.c

IRC colors

      irc-command.c

IRC commands

      irc-completion.c

IRC completions

      irc-config.c

IRC config options (file irc.conf)

      irc-ctcp.c

IRC CTCP

      irc-debug.c

IRC debug functions

      irc-ignore.c

IRC Ignore

      irc-info.c

IRC info/infolists/hdata

      irc-input.c

Input of commands/text

      irc-message.c

Functions to manipulate IRC messages

      irc-mode.c

Functions about channel/nick modes

      irc-msgbuffer.c

Target buffer for IRC messages

      irc-nick.c

IRC nicks

      irc-notify.c

IRC notify lists

      irc-protocol.c

IRC protocol (RFCs 1459/2810/2811/2812/2813)

      irc-raw.c

IRC raw buffer

      irc-redirect.c

Redirection of IRC command output

      irc-sasl.c

SASL authentication with IRC server

      irc-server.c

I/O communication with IRC server

      irc-upgrade.c

Save/restore of IRC data when upgrading WeeChat

   javascript/

Javascript plugin

      weechat-js.cpp

Main javascript functions (load/unload scripts, execute javascript code)

      weechat-js-api.cpp

Javascript scripting API functions

      weechat-js-v8.cpp

Javascript v8 functions

   logger/

Logger plugin

      logger.c

Main logger functions

      logger-buffer.c

Logger buffer list management

      logger-config.c

Logger config options (file logger.conf)

      logger-info.c

Logger info/infolists/hdata

      logger-tail.c

Functions to get last lines of a file

   lua/

Lua plugin

      weechat-lua.c

Main lua functions (load/unload scripts, execute lua code)

      weechat-lua-api.c

Lua scripting API functions

   perl/

Perl plugin

      weechat-perl.c

Main perl functions (load/unload scripts, execute perl code)

      weechat-perl-api.c

Perl scripting API functions

   python/

Python plugin

      weechat-python.c

Main python functions (load/unload scripts, execute python code)

      weechat-python-api.c

Python scripting API functions

   relay/

Relay plugin (IRC proxy and relay for remote interfaces)

      relay.c

Main relay functions

      relay-buffer.c

Relay buffer

      relay-client.c

Clients of relay

      relay-command.c

Relay commands

      relay-completion.c

Relay completions

      relay-config.c

Relay config options (file relay.conf)

      relay-info.c

Relay info/infolists/hdata

      relay-network.c

Network functions for relay

      relay-raw.c

Relay raw buffer

      relay-server.c

Relay server

      relay-upgrade.c

Save/restore of relay data when upgrading WeeChat

      relay-websocket.c

WebSocket server functions (RFC 6455)

      irc/

IRC proxy

         relay-irc.c

Main IRC proxy functions

      weechat/

Relay for remote interfaces

         relay-weechat.c

Relay for remote interfaces (main functions)

         relay-weechat-msg.c

Send binary messages to clients

         relay-weechat-nicklist.c

Nicklist functions

         relay-weechat-protocol.c

Read commands from clients

   ruby/

Ruby plugin

      weechat-ruby.c

Main ruby functions (load/unload scripts, execute ruby code)

      weechat-ruby-api.c

Ruby scripting API functions

   script/

Scripts manager

      script.c

Main functions for scripts manager

      script-action.c

Actions on scripts (load/unload, install/remove, …​)

      script-buffer.c

Buffer for scripts manager

      script-command.c

Commands for scripts manager

      script-completion.c

Completions for scripts manager

      script-config.c

Config options for scripts manager (file script.conf)

      script-info.c

Script manager info/infolists/hdata

      script-repo.c

Download and read repository file

   tcl/

Tcl plugin

      weechat-tcl.c

Main tcl functions (load/unload scripts, execute tcl code)

      weechat-tcl-api.c

Tcl scripting API functions

   trigger/

Trigger plugin

      trigger.c

Main trigger functions

      trigger-buffer.c

Trigger buffer

      trigger-callback.c

Trigger callbacks

      trigger-command.c

Trigger commands

      trigger-completion.c

Trigger completions

      trigger-config.c

Trigger config options (file trigger.conf)

   xfer/

Xfer plugin (IRC DCC file/chat)

      xfer.c

Main xfer functions

      xfer-buffer.c

Xfer buffer

      xfer-chat.c

DCC chat

      xfer-command.c

Xfer commands

      xfer-completion.c

Xfer completions

      xfer-config.c

Xfer config options (file xfer.conf)

      xfer-dcc.c

DCC file transfer

      xfer-file.c

File functions for xfer

      xfer-info.c

Xfer info/infolists/hdata

      xfer-network.c

Network functions for xfer

      xfer-upgrade.c

Save/restore of xfer data when upgrading WeeChat

2.2.3. Tests

Path/file Description

tests/

Root of tests

   tests.cpp

Program used to run tests

   unit/

Root of unit tests

      core/

Root of unit tests for core

         test-arraylist.cpp

Tests: arraylists

         test-eval.cpp

Tests: evaluation of expressions

         test-hashtble.cpp

Tests: hashtables

         test-hdata.cpp

Tests: hdata

         test-infolist.cpp

Tests: infolists

         test-list.cpp

Tests: lists

         test-string.cpp

Tests: strings

         test-url.cpp

Tests: URLs

         test-utf8.cpp

Tests: UTF-8

         test-util.cpp

Tests: utility functions

2.3. Documentation / translations

Documentation files:

Path/file Description

doc/

Documentation

   docinfo.html

Asciidoctor style

   docgen.py

Python script to build files in autogen/ directory (see below)

   XX/

Documentation for language XX (languages: en, fr, de, it, …​)

      cmdline_options.XX.adoc

Command-line options (file included in man page and user’s guide)

      weechat.1.XX.adoc

Man page (man weechat)

      weechat_dev.XX.adoc

Developer’s guide (this document)

      weechat_faq.XX.adoc

FAQ

      weechat_plugin_api.XX.adoc

Plugin API reference

      weechat_quickstart.XX.adoc

Quickstart guide

      weechat_relay_protocol.XX.adoc

Relay protocol (for remote interfaces)

      weechat_scripting.XX.adoc

Scripting guide

      weechat_tester.XX.adoc

Tester’s guide

      weechat_user.XX.adoc

User’s guide

      autogen/

Files auto-built with script docgen.py

         user/

Files auto-built for user’s guide (do NEVER update manually!)

         plugin_api/

Files auto-built for plugin API (do NEVER update manually!)

Translations for WeeChat and plugins are done with gettext, files are in po/ directory:

Path/file Description

po/

Translation files (gettext)

   XX.po

Translations for language XX (fr, de, it, …​), base language is English

   weechat.pot

Template for translations (auto-built)

3. Coding rules

3.1. General rules

  • In source code, your comments, variable names, .. must be written in English only (no other language is allowed).

  • Use a copyright header in each new source file with:

    • short description of file (one line),

    • date,

    • name,

    • e-mail,

    • license.

Example in C:

/*
 * weechat.c - core functions for WeeChat
 *
 * Copyright (C) 2016 Your Name <your@email.com>
 *
 * This file is part of WeeChat, the extensible chat client.
 *
 * WeeChat is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
 * the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
 * (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * WeeChat is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
 * GNU General Public License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 * along with WeeChat.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 */

3.2. C style

Some basic rules you must follow when you write C code:

  • Use 4 spaces for indentation. Don’t use tabs, they are evil.

  • Try to not exceed 80 chars by line, except if this is needed to increase readability.

  • Use comments /* comment */ (not C99-style comments like // comment).

  • Add a comment before any function, to explain what it does (always use a multi-line comment, even if description is very short).

Example:

/*
 * Checks if a string with boolean value is valid.
 *
 * Returns:
 *   1: boolean value is valid
 *   0: boolean value is NOT valid
 */

int
foo ()
{
    int i;

    /* one line comment */
    i = 1;

    /*
     * multi-line comment: this is a very long description about next block
     * of code
     */
    i = 2;
    printf ("%d\n", i);
}
  • Use explicit variable names, for example "nicks_count" instead of "n" or "nc". Exception: in for loops, where variables like "i" or "n" are OK.

  • Initialize local variables after declaration, in body of function, example:

void
foo ()
{
    int nick_count, buffer_count;

    nick_count = 0;
    buffer_count = 1;
    /* ... */
}
  • Use parentheses to explicitly show how expression is evaluated, even if they are not required, for example: write x + (y * z) instead of x + y * z.

  • Place curly brackets { } alone on lines, and indent them with number of spaces used for line above opening curly bracket (the if in example):

if (nicks_count == 1)
{
    /* something */
}
  • Use empty lines to separate many different blocks inside functions, and if possible add a comment for each one, like this:

/*
 * Sends a message from out queue.
 */

void
irc_server_outqueue_send (struct t_irc_server *server)
{
    /* ... */

    /* send signal with command that will be sent to server */
    irc_server_send_signal (server, "irc_out",
                            server->outqueue[priority]->command,
                            server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod,
                            NULL);
    tags_to_send = irc_server_get_tags_to_send (server->outqueue[priority]->tags);
    irc_server_send_signal (server, "irc_outtags",
                            server->outqueue[priority]->command,
                            server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod,
                            (tags_to_send) ? tags_to_send : "");
    if (tags_to_send)
        free (tags_to_send);

    /* send command */
    irc_server_send (server, server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod,
                     strlen (server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod));
    server->last_user_message = time_now;

    /* start redirection if redirect is set */
    if (server->outqueue[priority]->redirect)
    {
        irc_redirect_init_command (server->outqueue[priority]->redirect,
                                   server->outqueue[priority]->message_after_mod);
    }

    /* ... */
}
  • Indent the if conditions, and use parentheses around conditions with an operator (not needed for single boolean), like this:

if (something)
{
    /* something */
}
else
{
    /* something else */
}

if (my_boolean1 && my_boolean2 && (i == 10)
    && ((buffer1 != buffer2) || (window1 != window2)))
{
    /* something */
}
else
{
    /* something else */
}
  • Indent the switch statements like this:

switch (string[0])
{
    case 'A':  /* first case */
        foo ("abc", "def");
        break;
    case 'B':  /* second case */
        bar (1, 2, 3);
        break;
    default:  /* other cases */
        baz ();
        break;
}
  • Use typedef for function prototypes but not for structures:

typedef int (t_hook_callback_fd)(void *data, int fd);

struct t_hook_fd
{
    t_hook_callback_fd *callback;      /* fd callback                       */
    int fd;                            /* socket or file descriptor         */
    int flags;                         /* fd flags (read,write,..)          */
    int error;                         /* contains errno if error occurred  */
                                       /* with fd                           */
};

/* ... */

struct t_hook_fd *new_hook_fd;

new_hook_fd = malloc (sizeof (*new_hook_fd));
  • This Lisp code can be used in your ~/.emacs.el to indent properly if you are using Emacs as text editor:

(add-hook 'c-mode-common-hook
          '(lambda ()
             (c-toggle-hungry-state t)
             (c-set-style "k&r")
             (setq c-basic-offset 4)
             (c-tab-always-indent t)
             (c-set-offset 'case-label '+)))

4. Core internals

4.1. Naming convention

4.1.1. Files

File names are composed by letters and hyphens, with format: xxx-yyyyy.[ch], where xxx is directory/component (can be abbreviation) and yyyyy a name for the file.

The main file of a directory may have same name as directory, for example irc.c in irc plugin.

Examples:

Directory Files

src/core/

weechat.c, wee-backtrace.c, wee-command.c, …​

src/gui/

gui-bar.c, gui-bar-item.c, gui-bar-window.c, …​

src/gui/curses/

gui-curses-bar.c, gui-curses-bar-window.c, gui-curses-chat.c, …​

src/plugins/

plugin.c, plugin-api.c, plugin-config.c, plugin-script.c, …​

src/plugins/irc/

irc.c, irc-bar-item.c, irc-buffer.c, …​

src/plugins/python/

weechat-python.c, weechat-python-api.c, …​

The headers of C files have same name as file, for example wee-command.h for file wee-command.c.

4.1.2. Structures

Structures have name t_X_Y or t_X_Y_Z:

  • X: directory/component (can be abbreviation)

  • Y: end of file name

  • Z: name for structure (optional)

Example: an IRC nick (from src/plugins/irc/irc-nick.h):

struct t_irc_nick
{
    char *name;                     /* nickname                              */
    char *host;                     /* full hostname                         */
    char *prefixes;                 /* string with prefixes enabled for nick */
    char prefix[2];                 /* current prefix (higher prefix set in  */
                                    /* prefixes)                             */
    int away;                       /* 1 if nick is away                     */
    char *color;                    /* color for nickname in chat window     */
    struct t_irc_nick *prev_nick;   /* link to previous nick on channel      */
    struct t_irc_nick *next_nick;   /* link to next nick on channel          */
};

4.1.3. Variables

Global variables (outside functions) have name X_Y_Z:

  • X: directory/component (can be abbreviation)

  • Y: end of file name

  • Z: name for variable

Exception are variables for "last" node of a list, name is last_X (where X is name of variable, using singular form).

Example: windows (from src/gui/gui-window.c):

struct t_gui_window *gui_windows = NULL;        /* first window             */
struct t_gui_window *last_gui_window = NULL;    /* last window              */
struct t_gui_window *gui_current_window = NULL; /* current window           */

There is no naming convention for local variables (in functions). The only recommendation is that name is explicit (not too short).
Nevertheless, pointers to structures are often named ptr_xxxx, for example a pointer on a struct t_gui_buffer * will be: *ptr_buffer.

4.1.4. Functions

Naming convention for functions is the same as variables.

Example: creation of a new window (from src/gui/gui-window.c):

/*
 * Creates a new window.
 *
 * Returns pointer to new window, NULL if error.
 */

struct t_gui_window *
gui_window_new (struct t_gui_window *parent_window, struct t_gui_buffer *buffer,
                int x, int y, int width, int height,
                int width_pct, int height_pct)
{
    /* ... */

    return new_window;
}

4.2. Single thread

WeeChat is single threaded. That means every part of code should execute very fast, and that calls to functions like sleep are strictly forbidden (it is true for WeeChat core, but also C plugins and scripts).

If for some reasons you have to sleep a while, use hook_timer with a callback.

4.3. Doubly linked lists

Most of WeeChat linked lists are doubly linked lists: each node has pointer to previous and next node.

Example: list of buffers (from src/gui/gui-buffer.h):

struct t_gui_buffer
{
    /* data */

    /* ... */

    struct t_gui_buffer *prev_buffer;  /* link to previous buffer           */
    struct t_gui_buffer *next_buffer;  /* link to next buffer               */
};

Then the two list pointers, to the head and tail of list:

struct t_gui_buffer *gui_buffers = NULL;           /* first buffer          */
struct t_gui_buffer *last_gui_buffer = NULL;       /* last buffer           */

4.4. Color codes in strings

WeeChat uses own color codes in strings to display attributes (bold, underline, …​) and colors on screen.

All attributes/colors are prefixed with a char in string, which can be:

  • 0x19: color code (followed by color code(s))

  • 0x1A: set attribute (followed by attribute on one char)

  • 0x1B: remove attribute (followed by attribute on one char)

  • 0x1C: reset (nothing after)

Allowed attributes are (one or more chars):

  • *: bold

  • !: reverse

  • /: italic

  • _: underline

  • |: keep attributes

Possible colors are:

  • standard color: optional attributes + number on 2 digits

  • extended color: @ + optional attributes + number on 5 digits

In following table, these conventions are used:

  • STD: standard color (2 digits)

  • (A)STD: standard color with optional attributes (attributes + 2 digits)

  • EXT: extended color (@ + 5 digits)

  • (A)EXT: extended color with optional attributes (@ + attributes + 5 digits)

  • ATTR: one attribute char (*, !, /, _ or |)

All combinations are summarized in this table:

Code Example Areas Description

19 + STD

19 01+

chat + bars

Set attributes and color using option, see table below

19 + EXT

19 @00001

chat

Set color with a ncurses pair (used only on /color buffer)

19 + "F" + (A)STD

19 F*05

chat + bars

Set foreground (WeeChat color)

19 + "F" + (A)EXT

19 F@00214

chat + bars

Set foreground (extended color)

19 + "B" + STD

19 B05

chat + bars

Set background (WeeChat color)

19 + "B" + EXT

19 B@00124

chat + bars

Set background (extended color)

19 + "*" + (A)STD

19 *05

chat + bars

Set foreground (WeeChat color)

19 + "*" + (A)EXT

19 *@00214

chat + bars

Set foreground (extended color)

19 + "*" + (A)STD + "," + STD

19 *08,05

chat + bars

Set foreground/background (WeeChat colors)

19 + "*" + (A)STD + "," + EXT

19 *01,@00214

chat + bars

Set foreground (WeeChat color) and background (extended color)

19 + "*" + (A)EXT + "," + STD

19 *@00214,05

chat + bars

Set foreground (extended color) and background (WeeChat color)

19 + "*" + (A)EXT + "," + EXT

19 *@00214,@00017

chat + bars

Set foreground/background (extended colors)

19 + "b" + "F"

19 bF

bars

Set bar foreground color

19 + "b" + "D"

19 bD

bars

Set bar delimiter color

19 + "b" + "B"

19 bB

bars

Set bar background color

19 + "b" + "_"

19 b_

input bar

Start input char (used only in item "input_text")

19 + "b" + "-"

19 b-

input bar

Start input hidden char (used only in item "input_text")

19 + "b" + "#"

19 b#

input bar

Move cursor char (used only in item "input_text")

19 + "b" + "i"

19 bi

bars

Start item

19 + "b" + "l" (lower L)

19 bl

bars

Start line item

19 + "E"

19 E

chat + bars

Emphasize text (WeeChat ≥ 0.4.2)

19 + 1C

19 1C

chat + bars

Reset color (keep attributes)

1A + ATTR

1A *

chat + bars

Set attribute

1B + ATTR

1B *

chat + bars

Remove attribute

1C

1C

chat + bars

Reset attributes and color

Color codes using options (see t_gui_color_enum, in file src/gui/gui-color.h):

Code Option

00

weechat.color.separator

01

weechat.color.chat

02

weechat.color.chat_time

03

weechat.color.chat_time_delimiters

04

weechat.color.chat_prefix_error

05

weechat.color.chat_prefix_network

06

weechat.color.chat_prefix_action

07

weechat.color.chat_prefix_join

08

weechat.color.chat_prefix_quit

09

weechat.color.chat_prefix_more

10

weechat.color.chat_prefix_suffix

11

weechat.color.chat_buffer

12

weechat.color.chat_server

13

weechat.color.chat_channel

14

weechat.color.chat_nick

15

weechat.color.chat_nick_self

16

weechat.color.chat_nick_other

17

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

18

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

19

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

20

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

21

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

22

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

23

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

24

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

25

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

26

(not used any more since WeeChat 0.3.4)

27

weechat.color.chat_host

28

weechat.color.chat_delimiters

29

weechat.color.chat_highlight

30

weechat.color.chat_read_marker

31

weechat.color.chat_text_found

32

weechat.color.chat_value

33

weechat.color.chat_prefix_buffer

34

weechat.color.chat_tags (WeeChat ≥ 0.3.6)

35

weechat.color.chat_inactive_window (WeeChat ≥ 0.3.6)

36

weechat.color.chat_inactive_buffer (WeeChat ≥ 0.3.6)

37

weechat.color.chat_prefix_buffer_inactive_buffer (WeeChat ≥ 0.3.6)

38

weechat.color.chat_nick_offline (WeeChat ≥ 0.3.9)

39

weechat.color.chat_nick_offline_highlight (WeeChat ≥ 0.3.9)

40

weechat.color.chat_nick_prefix (WeeChat ≥ 0.4.1)

41

weechat.color.chat_nick_suffix (WeeChat ≥ 0.4.1)

42

weechat.color.emphasized (WeeChat ≥ 0.4.2)

43

weechat.color.chat_day_change (WeeChat ≥ 0.4.2)

44

weechat.color.chat_value_null (WeeChat ≥ 1.4)

WeeChat colors are:

Code Color

00

Default (terminal foreground/background)

01

Black

02

Dark gray

03

Dark red

04

Light red

05

Dark green

06

Light green

07

Brown

08

Yellow

09

Dark blue

10

Light blue

11

Dark magenta

12

Light magenta

13

Dark cyan

14

Light cyan

15

Gray

16

White

Examples of color codes:

Code Description

19 01

Color of option "01" (chat text)

19 *08,03

Yellow on red

19 *@00214

Orange (extended color 214)

19 *@*_00214,@00017

Bold underlined orange (214) on dark blue (17)

1A _

Set underline

1B _

Remove underline

1C

Reset attributes and color

5. Plugin internals

The file src/plugins/weechat-plugin.h defines and exports all functions available in the API.

A structure called t_weechat_plugin is used to store info about plugin (filename, name, author, description, …​) and all API functions, as pointers to WeeChat functions.

Then some macros are defined to call these functions.

For example, function hook_timer is defined in structure t_weechat_plugin like this:

struct t_hook *(*hook_timer) (struct t_weechat_plugin *plugin,
                              long interval,
                              int align_second,
                              int max_calls,
                              int (*callback)(void *data,
                                              int remaining_calls),
                              void *callback_data);

And the macro used to call this function is:

#define weechat_hook_timer(__interval, __align_second, __max_calls,     \
                           __callback, __data)                          \
    weechat_plugin->hook_timer(weechat_plugin, __interval,              \
                               __align_second, __max_calls,             \
                               __callback, __data)

So in a plugin, the call to function will be for example:

server->hook_timer_sasl = weechat_hook_timer (timeout * 1000,
                                              0, 1,
                                              &irc_server_timer_sasl_cb,
                                              server);

6. Contribute to WeeChat

6.1. Git repository

Git repository is at this URL: https://github.com/weechat/weechat

Any patch for bug or new feature must be done on master branch, preferred way is a GitHub pull request. A patch can also be sent by e-mail (made with git diff or git format-patch).

Format of commit message is the following (to close a GitHub issue):

component: fix a problem (closes #123)

For a Savannah bug:

component: fix a problem (bug #12345)

Where component is one of following:

  • WeeChat core: core (files in root directory, po/ and src/, except src/plugins/)

  • documentation files: doc (files in directory doc/)

  • name of a plugin: irc, python, relay, …​ (files in directory src/plugins/)

Some rules to follow:

  • use only English

  • use infinitive form of verb

  • if commit is related to something in tracker, write it in parenthesis after the message, with this format:

    • GitHub: closes #123

    • Savannah: bug #12345, task #12345, patch #12345

Examples of commit messages:

irc: add command /unquiet (closes #36)
core: add callback "nickcmp" for nick comparison in buffers
irc: fix freeze when reading on socket with SSL enabled (bug #35097)
ruby: add detection of ruby version 1.9.3 in cmake
python: fix crash when unloading a script without pointer to interpreter
core: update Japanese translations (patch #7783)

6.2. Translations

6.2.1. Gettext

Gettext files are in directory po/.

If you want to initialize a new language, use command msginit. For example to create a file which is ready to translate to Dutch:

$ cd po
$ msginit -i weechat.pot -l nl_NL -o nl.po

Base language for WeeChat is English, so you must of course perfectly understand English in order to translate to your language.

When done, you have to check your file with script msgcheck.py (https://github.com/flashcode/msgcheck):

$ msgcheck.py xx.po
Build auto-generated files

Files in directory doc/XX/autogen/ are auto-generated by script doc/docgen.py.

Copy this python script to your python directory (for example ~/.weechat/python). Then you can load this script in your WeeChat, and setup path to your /doc directory:

/python load docgen.py
/set plugins.var.python.docgen.path "~/src/weechat/doc"

Then create this alias to build files:

/alias add doc /perl unload; /python unload; /ruby unload; /lua unload; /tcl unload; /guile unload; /javascript unload; /python load docgen.py; /wait 1ms /docgen

And use command /doc to build all files, for all languages.

Important
When using command /doc, be sure all C plugins (irc, charset, …​) are loaded, because files are built using data currently in memory.

6.2.2. Asciidoc

Asciidoc files are in directory doc/XX/ where XX is language (en, fr, de, it, …​).

First make a copy of an English asciidoc file (in directory doc/en/), then work on it.

The translations missing in files are indicated by this string:

// TRANSLATION MISSING

You must translate whole file except links and special keywords for notes, warnings, …​ These words must be kept unchanged:

[[link_name]]
<<link_name>>

[NOTE]
[TIP]
[IMPORTANT]
[WARNING]
[CAUTION]

When there is a name after [link_name], then you must translate it:

<<link_name,this text must be translated>>