> IRC also has the multi-login problem - it gets confused if I log in from my phone and my laptop. To get a persistent history of IRC requires running an extern

> IRC also has the multi-login problem - it gets confused if I log in from my phone and my laptop. To get a persistent history of IRC requires running an external service which is way beyond most users. This part I really do find annoying about IRC. I use IRC by far the most but this still gets me. Even if you run it in a screen somewhere it's a hassle from a mobile device. There's solutions for all of it, but you have to string a series of things together to get to something just about every other option offers you out of the box. Unless you have a particular need for IRC or have used it for a while and know how to deal with it, the other options are more appealing to newcomers. Depending on how young your project or community is that can make all the difference.