A simple EasyChat tab module that allows you to outsource your local Garry's Mod chat.

easychat_local_tab.lua

local tag = "local_tab"

local EC_LEGACY_ENTRY = GetConVar("easychat_legacy_entry")
local EC_LEGACY_TEXT = GetConVar("easychat_legacy_text")
local HAS_CHROMIUM = jit.arch == "x64"

local use_new_text_entry = (EC_LEGACY_ENTRY and not EC_LEGACY_ENTRY:GetBool()) or not EC_LEGACY_ENTRY
local use_new_richtext = (EC_LEGACY_TEXT and not EC_LEGACY_TEXT:GetBool()) or not EC_LEGACY_TEXT

local tab = vgui.Create("DPanel")
local textentry = tab:Add(HAS_CHROMIUM and use_new_text_entry and "TextEntryX" or "DTextEntry")
textentry:Dock(BOTTOM)
textentry:SetTall(25)
textentry:SetText("")

if use_new_text_entry then
	textentry:SetBackgroundColor(EasyChat.TabColor)
	local border_color = EasyChat.TabOutlineColor.a == 0 and EasyChat.OutlayColor or EasyChat.TabOutlineColor
	textentry:SetBorderColor(border_color)
	textentry:SetTextColor(EasyChat.TextColor)
else
	local selection_color = Color(255, 0, 0, 127)
	function textentry:Paint(w, h)
		surface.SetDrawColor(EasyChat.TabColor)
		surface.DrawRect(0, 0, w, h)

		local border_color = EasyChat.TabOutlineColor.a == 0
			and EasyChat.OutlayColor or EasyChat.TabOutlineColor
		surface.SetDrawColor(border_color)
		surface.DrawOutlinedRect(0, 0, w, h)

		self:DrawTextEntryText(EasyChat.TextColor, selection_color, EasyChat.TextColor)
	end
end

function textentry:OnEnter()
	local local_mode = EasyChat.Modes[2]
	local_mode.Callback(self:GetText())
	self:SetText("")
	EasyChat.Close()
end

local richtext = tab:Add(HAS_CHROMIUM and use_new_richtext and "RichTextX" or "RichText")
richtext:Dock(FILL)
richtext:DockMargin(5, 10, 5, 10)

function richtext:PerformLayout()
	self:SetFontInternal("EasyChatFont")
	self:SetFGColor(EasyChat.UseDermaSkin and EasyChat.TextColor or Color(0, 0, 0, 255))
end

EasyChat.AddTab("Local", tab, "icon16/user_comment.png")
EasyChat.SetFocusForOn("Local", textentry)

hook.Add("ECSecondaryOpen", tag, function(mode_name)
	if mode_name == "local" then
		EasyChat.OpenTab("Local")
		return true
	end
end)

hook.Add("OnPlayerChat", tag, function(ply, msg, _, _, is_local)
	if is_local then
		EasyChat.FlashTab("Local")
		EasyChat.AddText(richtext, ply, color_white, ": ", msg)
	end
end)