GAIM

GAIM, originally known as Gaim, is an open-source, cross-platform instant messaging client designed to connect to multiple networks from a single interface. It runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, and other Unix-like systems. The project centers on a core library called libpurple, which handles protocol implementations, network communication, and message processing; the user interface is provided by a GTK+-based front end in most distributions. Through libpurple, GAIM supports a wide range of messaging networks, including AIM, ICQ, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, and IRC, as well as several lesser-known services. The design allows adding support for additional protocols via plugins or by extending libpurple.

GAIM was developed as an open-source alternative to multi-network clients, with development ramping up in the early 2000s. In 2007, due to trademark concerns with AOL's AIM brand, the project changed its name to Pidgin, and the GAIM name largely disappeared from use. The Pidgin project continues the same codebase and community that originated with GAIM, and many distributions continue to ship it under the Pidgin name.

The client supports standard features such as presence information, chat conversations, file transfers, and group chats, along with extensibility through plugins. Optional features include encryption via the Off-the-Record Messaging (OTR) plugin and various third-party add-ons. GAIM/Pidgin is released under the GNU General Public License and is widely included in open-source software repositories for Linux and other platforms.