What is the best alternate to Pidgin under Linux?

Pidgin (2.5.5) keeps crashing on me (Ubuntu 9.04). What is the best alternative to it that supports XMPP/Jabber as well as MSN & Yahoo?

jldupont

Posted 2009-09-22T21:24:17.330

Reputation: 5 524

10 more crash bugs closed in 2.6.4 http://developer.pidgin.im/query?status=closed&summary=~crash&col=id&col=summary&col=status&col=owner&col=type&col=milestone&milestone=2.6.4&order=priority

– Doug Harris – 2010-02-17T16:00:49.363

3Pidgin, the g isn't capitalized. – Captain Segfault – 2009-09-22T21:44:19.567

2Pidgin is up to 2.6.2, which I know fixed at least one crash condition. – mwalling – 2009-09-23T12:08:28.097

@mwalling: thanks for the info: it seems that the Ubuntu repos do not have it (2.6.2) yet. – jldupont – 2009-09-23T12:27:32.427

But there are Pidgin's own repos, instructions at http://pidgin.im/download/ubuntu/

– user1686 – 2009-09-23T13:10:11.720

@grawity: Thanks! I should have guessed and not only rely on Ubuntu aptitude. – jldupont – 2009-09-23T13:57:11.917

Answers

For KDE users, Kopete is an excellent alternative. [Empathy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy_(software)) is also quite good and seems to be improving at a fast clip. [Psi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psi_(instant_messaging_client)) natively supports only XMPP, but can connect to other major networks via gateways.

user4358

Posted 2009-09-22T21:24:17.330

Reputation:

Kopete is more lenient than Empathy when it comes to communicating with chat bots (ones that don't implement the IQ disco protocols). – jldupont – 2009-09-23T12:31:03.800

Empathy has been getting alot of attention recently. Works on about as many networks as pidgin, but it lacks several of the plugins.

TJ L

Posted 2009-09-22T21:24:17.330

Reputation: 1 869

As I've said elsewhere, I use a combination of irssi and BitlBee for my instant messaging needs.

It isn't flashy like a desktop IM client.

Quadpoint has lots of different articles about using Irssi here.

mwalling

Posted 2009-09-22T21:24:17.330

Reputation: 478

Kopete, Psi and Gossip are 3 good options for you. Empathy is new, if you've time for testing it out you can try that as well. Other options :(irssi,Bitbee), it depends your needs though.

Mahesh

Posted 2009-09-22T21:24:17.330

Reputation: 430

Links would have been nice: googling for 'Gossip' is sort of time intensive-ish. – jldupont – 2009-09-23T12:33:30.223

1Links to Gossip,Empathy,Bitbee are now added :) – Mahesh – 2009-09-23T14:35:32.713

Gossip is Windows only it seems....... – jldupont – 2009-09-23T15:07:27.170

There is linux version as well. It is in repository of ubuntu. – Mahesh – 2009-09-23T16:11:56.137

I know you want alternatives, the best is probably empathy, but i wouldn't switch away until you've updated to the latest version (which has working XMPP Video and audio in ubuntu) I think an update will fix your problems, if not: Empathy Kopete Psi Coccinella Jabbin Gajim I think this might work too emesene

alpha1

Posted 2009-09-22T21:24:17.330

Reputation: 1 638