Build of WeeChat images using Docker (default) or Podman.

The following packages are required to build images:

• Docker or Podman

Optional dependencies:

• Python ≥ 3.6 if you use the provided Makefile or build.py script

Images are based on Debian or Alpine (smaller size, with same features):

• Debian:
  • debian (~ 327 MB)
  • debian-slim: slim version (~ 125 MB)
• Alpine:
  • alpine (~ 217 MB)
  • alpine-slim: slim version (~ 41 MB)

The slim version includes all plugins except these ones:

• script manager (command /script)
• scripting languages: perl, python, ruby, lua, tcl, guile, php
• spell

You can install and run directly the latest version from the Docker Hub:

docker run -it weechat/weechat

Or the Alpine version:

docker run -it weechat/weechat:latest-alpine

For a specific WeeChat version (Debian):

docker run -it weechat/weechat:4.3.2

Run with custom home directories on host to persist data (WeeChat ≥ 3.2, using XDG directories):

mkdir -p ~/.weechat-container/config ~/.weechat-container/data ~/.weechat-container/cache chmod 777 ~/.weechat-container/config ~/.weechat-container/data ~/.weechat-container/cache docker run -it -v $HOME/.weechat-container/config:/home/user/.config/weechat -v $HOME/.weechat-container/data:/home/user/.local/share/weechat -v $HOME/.weechat-container/cache:/home/user/.cache/weechat weechat/weechat

Run with a custom single home directory on host to persist data (any WeeChat version):

mkdir -p ~/.weechat-container chmod 777 ~/.weechat-container docker run -it -v $HOME/.weechat-container:/home/user/.weechat weechat/weechat weechat -d /home/user/.weechat

A Makefile is provided and supports these variables:

• BUILDER: the tool to build the image: docker, podman or any equivalent tool (default is docker)
• VERSION: the WeeChat version to build (default is latest which is the latest stable version, use devel for development version, which is built every day).

Build a Debian-based image with latest stable version of WeeChat:

make debian

Build all images with latest stable version of WeeChat:

make all-images

Build an Alpine-based image with Podman, slim version, WeeChat 4.3.2:

make BUILDER=podman VERSION=4.3.2 alpine-slim

Build a Debian-based image with WeeChat 4.3.2, directly with docker:

docker build -f debian/Containerfile --build-arg VERSION=4.3.2 .

Copyright © 2021-2025 Sébastien Helleu

This program 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.

This program 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 this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.