BitTorrent client

A BitTorrent client is a program that manages torrent downloads and uploads using the BitTorrent protocol.

History

The first client, known as BitTorrent, was created by Bram Cohen, in October of 2002. Cohen created the client based on what he refers to as the Golden Rule: the faster a user uploads, the faster he or she can download.cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/12/technology/circuits/12shar.html?ex=1391922000&en=da75cefbee224928&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND|title=File Sharing's New Face|last=SCHIESEL|first=SETH |publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2008-10-05]

How it works

A BitTorrent client recognizes two distinct types of users. A user who is downloading is known as a "peer", while a user who is uploading is known as a "seed". The client utilizes a file that a seed has on their machine and creates thousands of copies across a network that peers can download.cite web|url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1913683,00.asp|title=Torrents |last=Norton|first=Patrick |publisher=PC Magazine|accessdate=2008-10-05]

ee also

*Comparison of file sharing applications
*Anonymous peer-to-peer
*Ethics of file sharing
*File sharing (P2P)
*File-sharing program

References

External links

* [http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=622 SourceForge's "Bittorrent" section]
* [https://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=251 SourceForge's "File Sharing" section]
* [http://torrentfreak.com/utorrent-gains-popularity-azureus-loses-ground-071216/ Article suggesting that a BitTorrent client is installed on more than 13% of Windows desktop PCs]
* [http://www.zeropaid.com/software/file-sharing/bittorrent/ User-ranked list of bittorrent clients]
* [http://pineapple.vg/howto/btguide.pdf BitTorrent - the ultimate guide]