qBittorrent - Kubuntu BitTorrent Client
By SaltwaterC
Published: July 10, 2008
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qBittorrent

qBittorrent is another KDE native BitTorrent client. To be honest, this was the first time when I used this thing. It did well.

Unlike the KTorrent client, qBittorrent isn't available into the official repositories, thus you have to get dirty on your hands and add a unofficial repository in order to install this client without the source compiling hassle.

Open up the terminal (K menu → System → Konsole), then paste and run this command:

kdesudo kate /etc/apt/sources.list

Provide your password as this editor is launched with superuser rights. Basically you need to add a couple of lines to this file. The only downside is the fact that the binaries are available only for the 32-bit architecture. If you're a 64-bit user, then you have to build the package all by yourself. Add this text to the end of the file:

deb http://hydr0g3n.free.fr/qbittorrent/hardy/ ./
deb-src http://hydr0g3n.free.fr/qbittorrent/hardy/ ./

Save the file, then close the Kate text editor. Then run this command:

sudo apt-get update

After the repositories update is finished, you can install qBittorrent by running this command:

sudo apt-get install qbittorrent

Wait till it finishes and you're ready to start using qBittorrent. You can find it under the same location as KTorrent: K menu → Internet.

Unlike KTorrent, the tabbed implementation of qBittorrent is a little bit different, but the whole purpose remains quite the same. The usage by itself is quite the same. Even the features are quite the same.

After you get the .torrent file and you have the client running on your desktop, you need to open the BitTorrent file from the client's interface. This is as easy as clicking the 'Open' button from the interface (the blue directory icon), picking the 'Open' item from the 'File' menu. You can even use a keyboard shortcut which is 'Ctr+O'.

 

Pick the .torrent file and open it. The save dialog should open up. Under normal circumstances, besides the save path, the default options should be OK.



The client should start downloading as soon as the peers from the swarm are connected. The basic usage should be completed after one additional step. By default, qBittorrent doesn't go to the system tray when its window is closed, but the feature exists. Go to the Options menu, and open the Preferences item. The option is located under the 'General' tab. Check 'Close to tray' and you're done. No more annoying behavior.

 

 

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Unlike Ubuntu which is packaged with Gnome, for the KDE desktop that comes with Kubuntu is a little bit harder to find native clients, or clients which fit good on your desktop. However, there are a couple of clients which are accesibile: KTorrent and qBittorrent. There is another client which fits with Kubuntu, but being available only as source package makes it to be appropriate for the advanced users. If you're OK with the source code compiling, then go ahead for FatRat, otherwise, stick to the already existing clients.

Unlike Ubuntu which is packaged with Gnome, for the KDE desktop that comes with Kubuntu is a little bit harder to find native clients, or clients which fit good on your desktop. However, there are a couple of clients which are accesibile: KTorrent and qBittorrent. There is another client which fits with Kubuntu, but being available only as source package makes it to be appropriate for the advanced users. If you're OK with the source code compiling, then go ahead for FatRat, otherwise, stick to the already existing clients.

Although under Linux you won't find BitTorrent clients such as uTorrent and BitComet which are popular under Windows OS, or at least you can't run them under as native binaries, however you can find very good alternatives. Since I am going to write about Ubuntu clients, thus appropriate for the Gnome desktop environment, I am not going to mention the clients which are typical for KDE. Under Gnome there are some popular clients such as Deluge, Transmission, and Azureus. However, Deluge and Azureus have Windows builds, thus for some of you, these clients might not be a brand new thing.

Although under Linux you won't find BitTorrent clients such as uTorrent and BitComet which are popular under Windows OS, or at least you can't run them under as native binaries, however you can find very good alternatives. Since I am going to write about Ubuntu clients, thus appropriate for the Gnome desktop environment, I am not going to mention the clients which are typical for KDE. Under Gnome there are some popular clients such as Deluge, Transmission, and Azureus. However, Deluge and Azureus have Windows builds, thus for some of you, these clients might not be a brand new thing.