nixrc | mIRC scripting for the modern web

mIRC scripting was ahead of its time. Event-driven, socket-native, with picture windows and a tiny feedback loop that invited experimentation.

I built nixrc to carry that model forward: browser runtime, server runtime, and a transpiler that turns scripts into importable TypeScript modules.

Browser Runtime

Picture windows on Canvas and event handlers that feel native to mIRC scripting.

on *:paint:@clock:{
  drawline -r @clock $rgb(77,166,255) 2 50 50 80 20
}

Transpiler

Compile `.mrc` scripts into typed modules with source maps, watch mode, and optional `.d.ts` output.

nixrc compile regx.mrc --out dist --emit-dts --watch
# dist/regx.ts (+ .map + .d.ts)

Server-Side

Run bots and IRC automations on Bun, Node.js, or Deno without rewriting core script logic.

import { Runtime } from "nixrc/server";
const bot = new Runtime();
bot.load("greet.mrc");

Playground

A live editor for mIRC scripts with instant execution and shareable links.

https://nixrc.dev/play/?script=clock.mrc

Example Scripts

clock.mrc

Analog clock drawing and timer loop.

Run in playground

ball.mrc

Animation loop and collision bounce.

Run in playground

regx.mrc

Regex extraction and text formatting.

Run in playground

amip.mrc

Timer-based now-playing metadata updates.

Run in playground

fserve.mrc

File-serving style triggers and socket flow.

Run in playground

Why nixrc?

mIRC scripting taught me that good tooling is about momentum. You write a few lines, trigger an event, and immediately see behavior. That creative loop still matters.

nixrc keeps that spirit but makes it portable: scripts that run in the browser, in server runtimes, and in modern build pipelines without losing the original model.

Current Progress

Done Architecture and subsystem planning
Done nixrc.dev landing page / pitch site
Done `.mrc` to TypeScript transpiler MVP (compile, watch, source maps, d.ts)
Done Core runtime MVP: tokenizer/parser integration + interpreter
Done Picture windows + window/text/dialog event host MVP
Done Live playground MVP with URL sharing and examples
Done Browser UI framework MVP (`<mirx-dialog>`, `<mirx-canvas>`, JS API)

Stay in the Loop

nixrc is live. Get notified of major updates, stable releases, and breaking changes. Low volume, no noise.