Transmission (BitTorrent client)

Infobox Software
name = Transmission



caption = Transmission running under Mac OS X 10.5
developer = Transmission Project
latest_release_version = 1.34 (6770)
latest_release_date = release date and age|2008|09|17
operating_system = Mac OS X, Unix-like, BeOS, iPhone OS
language = multilingual
* Mac OS X: 7 languages
* GTK+: 39 languages
genre = BitTorrent
license = MIT/GPL
website = [http://www.transmissionbt.com/ transmissionbt.com]

Transmission is a free lightweight BitTorrent client which features a simple interface on top of a cross-platform back-end. It is free and open source software, mostly licensed under the MIT License. Transmission runs on Linux and other Unix-like systems (GTK+ interface), Mac OS X (Cocoa interface) and BeOS/ZETA (native interface). On 14 January 2008, it was adopted as the default Bittorrent client in the popular Linux distribution Ubuntu.cite web|url=http://changelogs.ubuntu.com/changelogs/pool/main/u/ubuntu-meta/ubuntu-meta_1.87/changelog|title=Ubuntu Changelog|last=Pitt|first=Martin|date=2008-01-14|language=en|accessdate=2008-05-15] An unofficial port of Transmission (with a command-line interface) to the iPhone OS was accomplished on March 3, 2008. [ [http://wickedpsyched.net/iphone/torrent P2P torrent on the iPhone, a sad tale of woe, misery, abject failure... and then eventually success!] by WickedPsyched.net, March 3, 2008] As of January 10, 2008, Transmission has had over 230,000 downloads.cite web|url=http://www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg01338.html|title=Re: Proposing Transmission BitTorrent client as default|last=Kerr|first=Charles|date=January 10, 2008|publisher=mail-archive.com|language=en|accessdate=2008-05-04] It is the most popular BitTorrent client downloaded from Mac software website MacUpdate.

Transmission uses a smaller amount of system resources than many other BitTorrent clients (such as Vuze).cite web|url=http://torrentfreak.com/transmission-bittorrent-client-ubuntu-080130/|title=Transmission Becomes Default BitTorrent Client for Ubuntu|date=January 30, 2008|publisher=TorrentFreak|language=en|accessdate=2008-05-04] The project aims to strike a balance between providing useful functionality without feature bloat. Keeping the interface simple and intuitive on all platforms is a key design goal.cite web|url=http://www.transmissionbt.com/about.php|title=About Transmission|publisher=www.transmissionbt.com|language=en|accessdate=2008-05-15]

Features

Transmission, in the most general sense, allows users to download files from the Internet and upload their own files or torrents. By grabbing items and adding them to the interface, users can create queues of files to be downloaded and uploaded. Within the file selection menus, users can customise their downloads down of components of individual files. Transmission also has functionalities for seeding, which refers to the process of re-uploading downloaded content.

All Platforms

* Selective downloading and file prioritizing
* Encrypted peer connections
* Torrent file creation
* Peer exchange (compatible with Vuze and μTorrent)
* Automatic port mapping (using UPnP/NAT-PMP)
* Fast Resume - with peer caching
* Dynamically bans bad peers, and can use an IP blocklist
* Single listening port for all torrents
* Global/individual bandwidth caps
* Sorting/filtering options
* HTTPS tracker support

Mac OS X specific

* Transfer Management
** Downloading and seeding queues
** Basic scheduling
** Auto-seeding options
** Groups
* Dock and Growl notifications
* Quick Look technology built-in.
* Customizable toolbar
* Advanced progress box
* Automatic updates using Sparkle
* Universal Binary

Development

Daily Mac OS X build and source tarballs are [http://www.transmissionbt.com/development.php available online] . The project has a forum where users can discuss [http://forum.transmissionbt.com/viewforum.php?f=4 support issues] and make features requests. They also have an IRC channel, #transmission, located on Freenode.

libTransmission

The Transmission back-end (libTransmission) also serves as the basis of the shareware Mac client Xtorrent, and the Transmission daemon. The daemon supports a web front-end called Clutch. Older versions have been ported to form the basis of the update system for the video game Metal Gear Solid on PS3, [ [http://forum.transmissionbt.com/viewtopic.php?p=22905#22905 Transmission used in PS3 Metal Gear Solid Beta] , Transmission forums] , as well as the backend for ImageShack's [http://tor.imageshack.us/tor/ BitTorrent service] . libTransmission also utilizes some third party libraries, including libevent, libcrypto, [http://miniupnp.free.fr/ miniupnpc] , [http://miniupnp.free.fr/libnatpmp.html libnatpmp] and libcurl.

Early criticism

Version 0.6.1 of Transmission did not strictly adhere to the complete BitTorrent specification. This resulted in the banning of that version from many private trackers. The issues were resolved in the subsequent 0.70 release.

See also

*Comparison of BitTorrent software
*File sharing

External links

* [http://www.transmissionbt.com/ Transmission] Transmission's website

References