4 ms·

https://github.com/arvidn/libtorrent/pull/4123 https://github.com/arvidn/libtorrent/pull/4123 <- Once this PR is ready and merged we'll probably see a boatload

https://github.com/arvidn/libtorrent/pull/4123 https://github.com/arvidn/libtorrent/pull/4123 <- Once this PR is ready and merged we'll probably see a boatload of streaming websites streaming (web)torrents. This might just be the next era of pirate streaming coming up, considering the ease of distribution when you don't have to do it yourself. For those unaware, libtorrent powers a lot of torrent clients.

faissaloo 7y ago
PeerTube uses WebTorrent right? So does this mean we can make clients easier?
- carlhjerpe 7y ago
  I'd assume yes, but also you'd have the ability to get waaaaay more people seeding content consistently.
Pmop 7y ago
Bit off-topic but what are your thoughts on using libtorrent for content distribution such as podcasts?
- kuzimoto 7y ago
  Are you asking specifically about libtorrent, or about BitTorrent in general? I think BitTorrent is really good for content distribution, as it's spreads the burden of traffic across many peers. In a typical server-client situation, the greater the number of clients, the bigger the burden on the server. But with BitTorrent, the load is spread between all clients, reducing the load for any one "server".
- ohithereyou 7y ago
  BitTorrent was much more commonly used for podcast distribution in the first half of the 2000s, so there is some precident.
tnolet 7y ago
Popcorn Time already kinda does this and works pretty much flawlessly. You need to download their Electron app though.
- giancarlostoro 7y ago
  With the mentioned fix you wont need it. The problem with Popcorn Time became that which Popcorn Time? The original kinda disappeared and sletchy forks popped up.
  - MiroF 7y ago
    There's one main legit fork, don't remember which one though
    - thekyle 7y ago
      I believe its popcorntime.sh. That's the one listed on the Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn_Time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn_Time
- carlhjerpe 7y ago
  The problem with this though is that Popcorn Time isn't really the application you keep running in the background, whereas my torrent client is on pretty much 24/7 pushing data.
giancarlostoro 7y ago
Thats kind of cool. I had wondered if regular Torrent clients would ever support WebTorrents. Thats the only way web torrenting will work nicely. Wow I cant imagine the massive boost for sites like PeerTube. Having mirrors to videos you like streamed from people who saved them to their favorite torrent client so they can keep them.
Jnr 7y ago
If everyone switches to using webtorrent to stream things from their browser, there will be less 24/7 bittorrent clients seeding content. And the public bittorrent ecosystem won't work without seeders. As the saying goes: "sharing is caring"
- Double_a_92 7y ago
  Someone that was "altruistic" enough to seed something 24/7, probably will continue to do anyway... I guess.
- rakoo 7y ago
  There will be those who will continue seeding as before, and there will be those who merely leech and stop sharing after they're done, as before. Their number will only grow (which interestingly will actually make the torrent more lively) but I don't see why the first group would diminish in numbers
anoncake 7y ago
So a website can run a torrent without my knowledge, potentially getting me in legal trouble? I kinda like to decide when and how to violate the law myself.
- carlhjerpe 7y ago
  This has been possible for quite awhile already, if you don't want your browser to make p2p connections, disable webrtc among things.

faissaloo 7y ago

PeerTube uses WebTorrent right? So does this mean we can make clients easier?

carlhjerpe 7y ago
I'd assume yes, but also you'd have the ability to get waaaaay more people seeding content consistently.

Pmop 7y ago

Bit off-topic but what are your thoughts on using libtorrent for content distribution such as podcasts?

kuzimoto 7y ago
Are you asking specifically about libtorrent, or about BitTorrent in general? I think BitTorrent is really good for content distribution, as it's spreads the burden of traffic across many peers. In a typical server-client situation, the greater the number of clients, the bigger the burden on the server. But with BitTorrent, the load is spread between all clients, reducing the load for any one "server".
ohithereyou 7y ago
BitTorrent was much more commonly used for podcast distribution in the first half of the 2000s, so there is some precident.

tnolet 7y ago

Popcorn Time already kinda does this and works pretty much flawlessly. You need to download their Electron app though.

giancarlostoro 7y ago
With the mentioned fix you wont need it. The problem with Popcorn Time became that which Popcorn Time? The original kinda disappeared and sletchy forks popped up.
- MiroF 7y ago
  There's one main legit fork, don't remember which one though
  - thekyle 7y ago
    I believe its popcorntime.sh. That's the one listed on the Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn_Time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn_Time
carlhjerpe 7y ago
The problem with this though is that Popcorn Time isn't really the application you keep running in the background, whereas my torrent client is on pretty much 24/7 pushing data.

giancarlostoro 7y ago

Thats kind of cool. I had wondered if regular Torrent clients would ever support WebTorrents. Thats the only way web torrenting will work nicely. Wow I cant imagine the massive boost for sites like PeerTube. Having mirrors to videos you like streamed from people who saved them to their favorite torrent client so they can keep them.

Jnr 7y ago

If everyone switches to using webtorrent to stream things from their browser, there will be less 24/7 bittorrent clients seeding content. And the public bittorrent ecosystem won't work without seeders. As the saying goes: "sharing is caring"

Double_a_92 7y ago
Someone that was "altruistic" enough to seed something 24/7, probably will continue to do anyway... I guess.
rakoo 7y ago
There will be those who will continue seeding as before, and there will be those who merely leech and stop sharing after they're done, as before. Their number will only grow (which interestingly will actually make the torrent more lively) but I don't see why the first group would diminish in numbers

anoncake 7y ago

So a website can run a torrent without my knowledge, potentially getting me in legal trouble? I kinda like to decide when and how to violate the law myself.

carlhjerpe 7y ago
This has been possible for quite awhile already, if you don't want your browser to make p2p connections, disable webrtc among things.