https://github.com/ObsidianIRC/ObsidianIRC
HTTP is also a really old protocol, but it's still used everywhere and still evolving. IRC lost momentum at some point, but it definitely has potential because of it's flexibility and simplicity. There is no other chat protocol or chat platform currently which can morph as much as IRC. It's not perfect and it's specification can be confusing, but I still believe it's the best option we have currently.