rtorrent is a powerful ncurses-based command-line BitTorrent client built in C++ for users who need high-performance torrent downloading without a graphical interface. Designed for efficiency and speed, it delivers a lightweight alternative to GUI-based clients while maintaining full control over your downloads.

Key Features:

Command-line interface - Direct terminal control for advanced users and server environments
High performance - Optimized C++ implementation for fast torrent processing
Minimal resource usage - ncurses-based design requires minimal system resources
Full BitTorrent support - Complete protocol implementation for reliable downloads
Scriptable and customizable - Configure behavior through configuration files

Getting Started:

The client requires libtorrent (matching version), libcurl, and ncurses libraries. Installation involves cloning the repository, installing build dependencies, and running standard autoconf/automake build procedures. Comprehensive documentation and user guides are available on the project wiki to help you configure and optimize the client for your needs.

Perfect for:

Server administrators managing torrents on headless systems, power users preferring terminal-based tools, and anyone needing a lightweight, resource-efficient torrent solution. The active development community provides ongoing improvements and support through multiple donation channels.