Homer, from Blue Cow Software, was an IRC client for Apple Macintosh computer systems during the 1990s,[1][2] written by Tob Smith, and distributed as shareware.[3] System 7 or later of the classic Mac OS was required, as was MacTCP.[4][5] It featured an icon view of users in a channel, which would animate when the user posted to the channel. It also provided notification of incoming CTCP Finger commands.[6] Ircle included and extended this feature, "face files" to larger images.[7] A late version of Homer reportedly allowed collaborative drawing across the network.[8]
The Internet Starter Kit for Macintosh (1994) described it as "a great program if you're interested in IRC," and noted that "Homer has a colorful and unique interface that significantly eases using IRC, since it simplifies switching channels, keeping multiple discussions going, [and] giving and taking operator privileges".[4]