Instant messaging software

So, now I need to find all relevant software. Debian's Synaptic is a good tool for the beginning of the road.

• A couple of days ago I found python-irclib. However, I realized that it is too basic tool for me.
• I think that the best idea is to find some existing client and to build generalized client around it. So, I started: Synaptic -> Search -> irc.
  
• epic4, a classic IRC client -- good for the beginning.
• ircii -- epic4 is based on ircii -- so, ti it is good to have it, too.
• Jabber. Hmm... So, I'll need to make another query for all jabber utilities.
• kvirc -- even it is not what do I want, I want to try it; maybe I'll get some idea (I am using Pidgin/Gaim and XChat).
• pidgin-plugin-pack -- I didn't realized that it exists; I'll have to make another query (as well as to search on Internet) for pidgin extensions.
• python-twisted-words -- very interesting -- low level protocol implementations or AIM, ICQ, IRC, MSN and Jabber. I heard for twisted, but I forgot about it. I'll have to make another query for python-twisted...
• SILC is interesting protocol, but not for the beginning.
• tor is interesting protocol, but not now :)
• Hmmm... there is a Gnome interface for XChat!