Gaim! Any desktop Linux users from 20+ years ago likely remember the Gaim instant messaging app that was commonly shipped by desktop Linux distributions for interfacing with different instant messaging platforms like AIM, MSN, ICQ, etc. About twenty years ago Gaim was renamed to Pidgin though due to the AOL Instant Messenger trademark. But with the AIM trademark since expired and wanting to take a differing approach from the latest Pidgin, Gaim 3 is under development.
Gaim was a popular desktop Linux app in the days before Slack, Discord, etc. Gaim provided a native Linux app for interacting with popular instant messaging platforms of the time, especially when there typically were not native Linux clients otherwise available. Then it evolved into Pidgin but for many long-time Linux users likely have memories of Gaim. Some old screenshots from the early days of Phoronix:
Or if really wanting to bring back memories, the Lindows/Linspire take on Gaim:
As much surprise today, it turns out Gaim is back in development with the AIM trademark abandoned. Given the date at first I was wondering if it was an April Fool’s announcement. But there is prior discussions in recent months around restoring Gaim, such as this update last August:
“We’ve gotten a fair amount of feedback when it comes to the user interface direction of Pidgin 3. The feedback is that some people prefer the simplified user interface of Pidgin 2 which is more focused on one to one chats than multiple user chat rooms.
Due to this, Gary has been playing around with an additional GTK4 interface which will reproduce the Pidgin 2 look and feel. This is still very early in development, but as it’s just another GTK4 user interface which we’re all very well versed in, it should pick up steam quickly especially since it’s cloning an existing design. However, we’re waiting on the Account Setting API before we really move forward at the moment.
So that said, the only thing left to discuss is the name. As you might have guessed, we’ve spent a fair amount of time discussing this and I’m pleased to tell you that we’re calling it Gaim 3. That’s right, we’re bringing the Gaim name back. We’ve talked to a lawyer and they believe we are in the clear when it comes to the old AOL trademark which has since expired.”
While posted today was a more straight-forward announcement:
“We’ve been keeping this somewhat quiet, but it’s time to be LOUD!! Gaim 3 exists!!
It is a new from scratch GTK4 interface on top of libpurple 3 reproducing the Pidgin 2/Gaim interface!”
The Gaim app site can be found at gaim.imfreedom.org. It’s described as using Pidgin’s libpurple library and the GTK4 toolkit for its UI rendering while retaining a similar look to the classic Gaim and Pidgin 2 interface. Pidgin 3 meanwhile will exist too with its more chat room inspired interface. Gaim 3 is still under active development but here is how it’s looking in a modern GTK4 world:
Pidgin 3.0 Alpha 1 was announced today as well for those interested in that app.
