When I realized how will I could instant message from the terminal, my head exploded. You know Pidgin, the multi-protocol IM client? Well, it has a version for the terminal, called “finch,” that allows you to connect to multiple networks and chat with multiple people at once. The interface is even similar to Pidgin. Just amazing. Use Google Hangouts? Try hangups. It has a nice tabbed interface and works amazingly well. Seriously. Other than needing perhaps some emoji and inline pictures, instant messaging from the shell is a great experience.