README

WebTorrent CLI

The streaming torrent client. For the command line.

WebTorrent is the first BitTorrent client that works in the browser, but webtorrent-cli, i.e. THIS PACKAGE, is for using WebTorrent from the command line.

webtorrent-cli is a simple torrent client for use in node.js, as a command line app. It uses TCP and UDP to talk to other torrent clients.

NOTE: To connect to "web peers" (browsers) in addition to normal BitTorrent peers, use webtorrent-hybrid which includes WebRTC support for node.

To use WebTorrent in the browser, see webtorrent.

Features

Use WebTorrent from the command line!
Insanely fast
Pure Javascript (no native dependencies)
Streaming
- Stream to AirPlay, Chromecast, VLC player, IINA, and many other devices/players
- Fetches pieces from the network on-demand so seeking is supported (even before torrent is finished)
- Seamlessly switches between sequential and rarest-first piece selection strategy
Supports advanced torrent client features
- magnet uri support via ut_metadata
- peer discovery via dht, tracker, and ut_pex
- protocol extension api for adding new extensions
- Check all the supported BEPs here

Install

To install a webtorrent command line program, run:

npm install webtorrent-cli -g

Usage

$ webtorrent --help
               _     _                            _
 __      _____| |__ | |_ ___  _ __ _ __ ___ _ __ | |_
 \ \ /\ / / _ \ '_ \| __/ _ \| '__| '__/ _ \ '_ \| __|
  \ V  V /  __/ |_) | || (_) | |  | | |  __/ | | | |_
   \_/\_/ \___|_.__/ \__\___/|_|  |_|  \___|_| |_|\__|

Usage:
  webtorrent [command] <torrent-id> [options]

Examples:
  webtorrent download "magnet:..." --vlc
  webtorrent "magnet:..." --vlc --player-args="--video-on-top --repeat"

Default output location:
  * when streaming: Temp folder
  * when downloading: Current directory

Specify <torrent-id> as one of:
  * magnet uri
  * http url to .torrent file
  * filesystem path to .torrent file
  * info hash (hex string)

Commands:
  webtorrent download [torrent-ids...]      Download a torrent                             [default]
  webtorrent downloadmeta <torrent-ids...>  Download metadata of torrent
  webtorrent seed <inputs...>               Seed a file or a folder
  webtorrent create <input>                 Create a .torrent file
  webtorrent info <torrent-id>              Show torrent information
  webtorrent version                        Show version information
  webtorrent help                           Show help information

Options (streaming):
      --airplay     Apple TV                                                               [boolean]
      --chromecast  Google Chromecast                                                 [default: all]
      --dlna        DNLA                                                                   [boolean]
      --mplayer     MPlayer                                                                [boolean]
      --mpv         MPV                                                                    [boolean]
      --omx         OMX                                                              [default: hdmi]
      --vlc         VLC                                                                    [boolean]
      --iina        IINA                                                                   [boolean]
      --smplayer    SMPlayer                                                               [boolean]
      --xbmc        XBMC                                                                   [boolean]
      --stdout      Standard out (implies --quiet)                                         [boolean]

Options (simple):
  -o, --out        Set download destination                                                 [string]
  -s, --select     Select specific file in torrent                             [default: List files]
  -t, --subtitles  Load subtitles file                                                      [string]
  -h, --help       Show help information                                                   [boolean]
  -v, --version    Show version information                                                [boolean]

Options (advanced)
  -p, --port            Change the http server port                         [number] [default: 8000]
  -b, --blocklist       Load blocklist file/url                                             [string]
  -a, --announce        Tracker URL to announce to                                          [string]
  -q, --quiet           Don't show UI on stdout                                            [boolean]
  -d, --download-limit  Maximum download speed in kb/s                 [number] [default: unlimited]
  -u, --upload-limit    Maximum upload speed in kb/s                   [number] [default: unlimited]
      --pip             Enter Picture-in-Picture if supported by the player                [boolean]
      --verbose         Show torrent protocol details                                      [boolean]
      --playlist        Open files in a playlist if supported by the player                [boolean]
      --player-args     Add player specific arguments (see example)                         [string]
      --torrent-port    Change the torrent seeding port                   [number] [default: random]
      --dht-port        Change the dht port                               [number] [default: random]
      --not-on-top      Don't set "always on top" option in player                         [boolean]
      --keep-seeding    Don't quit when done downloading                                   [boolean]
      --no-quit         Don't quit when player exits                                       [boolean]
      --on-done         Run script after torrent download is done                           [string]
      --on-exit         Run script before program exit                                      [string]

To download a torrent:

$ webtorrent magnet_uri

To stream a torrent to a device like AirPlay or Chromecast, just pass a flag:

$ webtorrent magnet_uri --airplay

In addition to magnet uris, webtorrent supports many ways to specify a torrent:

magnet uri (string)
torrent file (buffer)
info hash (hex string or buffer)
parsed torrent (from parse-torrent)
http/https url to a torrent file (string)
filesystem path to a torrent file (string)

webtorrent-cli

Usage no npm install needed!