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https://github.com/vindarel/cl-torrents

Searching torrents on popular trackers - CLI, readline, GUI, web client. Tutorial and binaries (issue tracker on https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents/)
https://github.com/vindarel/cl-torrents

1337 1337x common-lisp pirate-bay torrents tutorial web-scraping

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Searching torrents on popular trackers - CLI, readline, GUI, web client. Tutorial and binaries (issue tracker on https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents/)

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README

        

[[https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents][file:https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents/badges/master/pipeline.svg]]

This is a little app to search for torrents on popular trackers and
to open them with a local or a remote client.

It comes as:

- a *lisp library*,
- a *command line* interface,
- a terminal *readline interface*,
- a simple *GUI*.
- The *[[https://github.com/vindarel/cl-torrents-web][Web UI]]* works too.

We currently scrape [[http://1337x.to][1337x.to]] (since v0.9), [[https://www.torrentdownloads.me][torrentdownloads.me]]
(v0.10) and [[https://torrent-paradise.ml][torrents-paradise]] (v0.11) and present the results sorted by seeders.

Download for GNU/Linux 64 bits: see [[https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents/tags][Releases]] (/23MB, self-contained
executable/).

NOTE: torrents-paradise has a rich collection, a simple website as in KISS, it works on IPFS and has
it offers an API… frankly, I want to use its web service and click on its adds.

#+html:

#+html:

#+html:

With the new default Yaru theme (and [[https://lisp-journey.gitlab.io/blog/pretty-gui-in-common-lisp-with-nodgui-tk-themes/][there are more]]):

#+html:

** Installation

The library is on Quicklisp (february 2019) and [[http://ultralisp.org/][Ultralisp]].

: (ql:quickload "torrents")
: (torrents:search-torrents "tears of steel")

Note: the master branch needs [[https://github.com/libre-man/cl-transmission/][cl-transmission]] which was added
to the Quicklisp distribution of december, 2019.

See the download link of the binary above. It is a self-contained executable for
GNU/Linux 64-bits. You do /not/ need to install a Lisp
implementation. It's a 23MB binary.

To build the readline app, do:

: make build

To build the Tk GUI:

: make build-gui

then run

: ./torrents --help
: ./torrents-tk &

_Troubleshooting_

The Tk GUI needs [[https://notabug.org/cage/nodgui/][nodgui]] newer than march, 2019.

If a search doesn't work with a =CRYPTO_num_locks= error message:

#+BEGIN_EXPORT ascii
> ./torrents matrix
searching '(matrix)' on 1337... no results.
error: The alien function "CRYPTO_num_locks" is undefined.
searching '(matrix)' on DOWNLOADSME... no results.
error: The alien function "CRYPTO_num_locks" is undefined.
#+END_EXPORT

You might need to upgrade your OpenSSL version. See [[https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents/issues/5][this issue]].

** Usage

We can use this little app both in a Lisp REPL (Slime) and in a
terminal, as a command line tool or from its embedded interactive prompt.

Results are cached in =~/.cl-torrents/cache/=. Delete this
directory if you want new results.

*** Lisp REPL

Search for torrents:

#+BEGIN_SRC text
(use-package :torrents)
(search-torrents "matrix")
[...]
6: The Matrix Revolutions (2003) BRRip [Dual Audio] [Hindi+Eng]
5: Matrix (1999)Blu-Ray 720p Dublado PT-BR - mo93438
4: The Matrix Trilogy (1999-2003) BDRip 1080p Dual Audio [ Hind
3: The Matrix Trilogy (1999-2003) BluRay BDRip 1080p AC3
2: The Matrix Trilogy (1999-2003) + Extras 1080p BluRay x264 Du
1: The Matrix Reloaded (2003) FullHD, Dual Audio: English + Spa
0: Matrix FRENCH DVDRIP 1999 COOL
#+END_SRC

To help finding the most relevant results (the website sometimes is
a bit relaxed with our search terms), each keyword is printed in a
different color:

#+html:

(you need to enable ansi colors in Slime, see [[https://github.com/enriquefernandez/slime-repl-ansi-color][slime-repl-ansi-color]].
Disable this feature with =(setf cl-ansi-text:*enabled* nil)=)

We get a magnet link with:

#+BEGIN_SRC lisp
(magnet 0)
;; "magnet:?xt=urn:btih:40eca43690cf1b99b0a4d485ebf4855d20b0bac5"
#+END_SRC

We can open it with a torrent client (transmission-gtk by default):

#+BEGIN_SRC lisp
(download 0)
#+END_SRC

Download it with a remote client (only transmission-remote so far):

you need settings, see below. TODO
#+BEGIN_SRC lisp
;; in ~/.config/torrents.lisp
(setf *remote-client-url* "my.url.without.port")
(setf *remote-client-username* "transmission")
(setf *remote-client-password* "password")
;; port is 9091 by default.
#+END_SRC

#+BEGIN_SRC lisp
(remote-download 0)
#+END_SRC

And voilà :)

We may add more features, eventually. Our goal is rather to write a
tutorial to show you diverse Common Lisp topics.

**** Parameters

=*cache-p*=: if nil, don't use the cache system.

*** Command line

Use the options given below,

#+BEGIN_SRC text
$ torrents -h
CL-torrents. Usage:

Available options:
-d, --details print more details (like the torrent's url)
-h, --help print this help text
-i, --interactive enter an interactive repl
-m, --magnet ARG get the magnet link of the given search result.
-n, --nb ARG set the maximum number of results to print.
-o, --open INDEX download with a torrent client (transmission-gtk by default)
-v, --version print the version
#+END_SRC

Example: below we search for "matrix…", we display only 1 result and
we get the magnet link of the first result.

: $ torrents -n 1 matrix french 1999 cool -m 0

#+html:

*** Readline interface

Start it with =torrents -i=.

See the =help= and the help of each command.

The available commands are (use the auto-completion):

- =search=: search for torrents, print the results sorted by number of seeders.
- =magnet =, where /i/ is a result index,
- =open= or =firefox =: open the given torrent page in a web browser
- =download =: open a magnet link with a torrent client
(transmission-gtk by default)
- =filter =: show results that have this text in their
title. This reduces the tab-completion of ids for all commands.
- =highlight= (and =unhighlight=): highlight the given words in
yellow, for this session.
- =url =
- =nb-results= =n= to set the number of results to print to /n/
- =details=: toggle the display of details
- =quit= (or =C-c=)

And the available settings to change with =set= are (use =set='s autocompletion):

- =*details*=: if true, print more details below each row (like the
url). Defaults to false.
- =*nb-results*=: how many results to print. Defaults to 20.
- =*browser*=: the browser name to use to open urls. Defaults to Firefox.
- =*torrent-client*=: the desktop torrent client name. Defaults to Transmission.
- =*cache-p*=: if true (the default), use the cached results.

You can also set them in a configuration file.

Note that we are in a regular [[https://tiswww.case.edu/php/chet/readline/readline.html#SEC9][readline]] interface, so the usual keybindings and
options are available. For example, Readline obeys the =~/.inputrc=
startup file. You can change the way the TAB key does completion:

: TAB: menu-complete

if you add this, the first press on TAB will insert the first
completion candidate (VS listing all the choices, and requiring a
second keypress). For cl-torrents, it is convenient because we can
enter the first result quickly: I typically do =search foo= then
=download TAB=.

Note: I found out that =C-x C-r= re-reads the inputrc file, so you can
try without quitting cl-torrents.

#+html:

*** Configuration files (in development)

=cl-torrents= will read two configuration files. An ini-style one,
and a lispy one.

**** Ini-style config

First, it will search for a =~.torrents.conf= file
from =~/.config/.torrents.conf= and =~/.torrents.conf=. The last
one takes precedence.

For example, those are the default values:

#+BEGIN_SRC conf
[default]
scrapers = 1337 DOWNLOADSME
browser = firefox
nb-results = 20
cache-p = true # use the cache system.
#+END_SRC

Moreover, you can set parameters related to the repl:

#+BEGIN_SRC text
[default]
# again, default values:
confirm-exit = true # ask with a yes/no prompt before quiting the app.
verbose = false
history = true # use the repl history.
write-history = true # read the history, but don't write to it.
#+END_SRC

You can set them for all replic-based apps in =~/.replic.conf=, or
override them in =.torrents.conf=.

/Note: we only use a "default" profile for now./

**** Lisp init file

If the file =~/.torrents.lisp= exists, it will be loaded after the
=.conf= one and before the command line arguments.

The option =--no-userinit= prevents it from loading.

You can write whatever you want there, it is just a lisp file that
will be =load='ed at startup.

/Note/: what we will eventually do then is to expose cl-torrents'
mechanism via hooks.

**** Extending the app, creating commands

One thing you can do is define additional commands to be found at the
repl. We do so by following [[https://github.com/vindarel/replic/][replic]]'s mechanism:

- define functions inside the =torrents.user= package
- define the completion choices for some functions
- =export= the functions you want to see turned into
commands. =cl-torrents=, with the help of the =replic= library, will
automatically turn them into commands available at the application
prompt.

You can copy the example below in =~/.torrents.lisp= and re-run
=torrents -i= to try this out.

#+BEGIN_SRC lisp
(in-package :torrents.user)

(defparameter *names* '()
"List of names (string) given to `hello`. Will be autocompleted by `goodbye`.")

(defun hello (name)
"Takes only one argument. Adds the given name to the global
`*names*` global variable, used to complete arguments of `goodbye`. "
(format t "hello ~a~&" name)
(push name *names*))

(defun goodbye (name)
"Says goodbye to name, where `name` should be completed from what was given to `hello`."
(format t "goodbye ~a~&" name))

;; Custom completion for goodbye:
(replic.completion:add-completion "goodbye" (lambda () *names*))

;; and export the two functions to find them as commands.
(export '(hello
goodbye))
#+END_SRC

** Ideas, todos

- [X] cache (on files) v0.3
- [X] CI
- use a local copy of TPB
- [X] build with ECL. Used [[https://hub.docker.com/r/daewok/lisp-devel/][the lisp-devel]] docker
image. Result: a 52Mo executable with a runtime error.
- [X] open an url
- download the torrent file
- [X] ini config file, to parse with [[https://common-lisp.net/project/py-configparser/][py-configparser]]
- [X] add torrent to a local torrent client
- [X] add the torrent to a remote transmission client, with
[[https://github.com/libre-man/cl-transmission/][cl-transmission]]. v0.12
- [X] self-contained web app ([[https://lispcookbook.github.io/cl-cookbook/scripting.html][doc]]). POC: [[https://github.com/vindarel/cl-torrents-web][cl-torrents-web]].
- [X] interactive prompt, with completion of commands.

** Release notes

[[https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents/tags][https://gitlab.com/vindarel/cl-torrents/tags]]

*** WIP
- added: a simple Tk GUI (search, open in browser, download with
torrent desktop client).

*** v0.12
- june, 2021: added [[https://torrent-paradise.ml][torrents-paradise]] API.

*** v0.11
- november, 2019: added connection to transmission-remote
- added rarbg scraper (needs new tests)
- june, 2019: changed the location of the lisp init file from
=~/.torrents.lisp= to =~/.config/torrents.lisp=.
- added: a =filter= command, to only display results whose title
contains a given string. It reduces the TAB-completion of ids (but
doesn't constrain it).
- added: all functions can now TAB-complete the list of ids.
- added: scrape and display torrents' size.
- fixed =-d= cli arg.
- added: load =~/.torrents.lisp=, create new commands from the
=torrents.user= package.
- added the ability to read an ini-like config file,
=~/.torrents.conf=. All exported variables from the =:torrent= package
can be overriden. They are written without earmuffs:
#+BEGIN_SRC lisp
:*nb-results*
:*browser*
:*torrent-client*
:*cache-p*
#+END_SRC
gives
#+BEGIN_SRC text
# ~/.torrents.conf
# those are the defaults.
[default]
nb-results = 20
browser = firefox
torrent-client = firefox
cache-p = true
#+END_SRC
See more on replic.
(all parameters need more tests)
- added missing =-o= option to download with a torrent client (transmission-gtk).
- =cl-torrents.conf= configuration file:
- choose the list of scrapers.
- =download= command (open magnet link with transmission by default).
- use the [[https://github.com/vindarel/replic/][replic]] library to build the repl, the commands and their completions.
- -> new builtin =highlight= and =unhighlight= commands,
- -> better error handling (don't exit the repl on an error).
- fix cli usage without a keyword search, print help.

*** v0.10

- added [[https://www.torrentdownloads.me][torrentdownloads.me]] scraper.
- new parameter, =*cache-p*=: if nil, don't use the cache.

*** v0.9

- added [[http://1337x.to][1337x.to]] scraper.
- removed piratebay.to, katcr.co, torrent.cd, they're down :/

*** v0.8

- added a readline-based repl with some commands: =search=, =magnet=,
=open=, with their completion. See =help=. Built with [[https://github.com/mrkkrp/cl-readline][cl-readline]],
but might use [[https://github.com/vindarel/replic][replic]] anytime soon.

*** v0.7

- fix cache not created by binary
- create cache in =~/.cl-torrents/cache/=

* Dev

Clone cl-torrents in =~/quicklisp/local-projects=,

now you can =(ql:quickload :torrents)=.

We use our [[https://github.com/vindarel/replic/][replic]] library to automatically build the readline repl.

Unit tests:

: make test

End-to-end tests (checking that the websites respond and our scrapers still work):

: make test-end2end

Try the Ltk GUI: load =gui-tk.lisp= and run =(main)=.

* Resources

Don't miss these good resources:

- http://lisp-lang.org/
- [[Https://github.com/CodyReichert/awesome-cl][Awesome-cl]]
- [[https://lispcookbook.github.io/cl-cookbook/][the Common Lisp Cookbook]]
- http://quickdocs.org/
- (my) [[https://lisp-journey.gitlab.io/][lisp-journey]]: introductory posts, lists of resources, selection
of screencasts.

** Tutorial

*update, 2021*: this tutorial is one of the first things I wrote
when discovering CL and it probably bitrot a bit. I'd recommend the
Cookbook now as I ported most of its useful content there.

Writing a little web scraper like this one is not
difficult. However, I had to spend some time to find out the right
libraries and resources. It is also not trivial at first to start
a Lisp project. So the first thing we did is write a tutorial. It
is a mix of hopefully useful stuff:

- web scraping,
- async web scraping,
- trying out things at the REPL,
- where to find documentation,
- creating and loading a project,
- basic data structures and gotchas,
- some useful libraries,
- unit tests, with mocks, running tests from the shell, continuous integration,
- parsing command line arguments, creating executables, continuous delivery,
- basics of error handling,
- ...

It will eventually tackle more topics and features (more settings,
working with a local copy of TPB…) but in the meanwhile, read

the [[https://vindarel.github.io/cl-torrents/tutorial.html][tutorial]] !

It was built with https://github.com/fniessen/org-html-themes.

** Bypassing ISP blocking

Some Internet Service Providers block access to torrent sites, as it's
the case in France. They currently don't block the HTTP version of
torrents-paradise, but that one works on IPFS anyways. You can bypass
them by using other DNS servers than your ISP's.

Here's how to do it on Ubuntu: https://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/dns (french)

You can use [[https://www.opennic.org/][OpenNIC]] addresses or again the ones of the [[https://www.fdn.fr/actions/dns/][French Data Network]] association.

* Licence

MIT.