The Concept:
A Wordpress Torrent Tracker Plugin!

The Context:
Last year I used the WCT Plugin Competition as a motivation to build my first WP Plugin - Idealien Category Enhancements. It's been downloaded over 600 times since I put it onto the WP Plugins Extend section as people have found the ability to manage (apply) category and post templates through the admin console instead of modifying .php files based on cat ID #'s to be a valuable add. Especially for those cases where you are using WP as a CMS and combining it with a plugin like More Fields which allows you to have custom write panels to match.

I have an ambition to try building another plugin for this year, but want to tackle something a little bit larger that would help push Wordpress as a viable option for other website niches that it doesn't currently support.

The Details:
Some starting code base exists for a WP torrent plugin exists

• Pre-2.5 plugin in the plugin directory - Torrentpress
• I have some experience with installation and use of a basic GPL-compatable tracker in Rivet Tracker

I believe that for this concept to get built before end of July, I would need to develop this plugin in partnership with a few other developers as I did for a small portion of ICE with a friend from phpexperts.ca. If this idea appeals to you, please contact me either through a PM here on WP Tavern, an email to jamie@idealienstudios.com or on Twitter (Idealien)

Or if you would just like to see this plugin built, please reply to the thread with that enthusiasm. Any suggestions for features or functionality are also greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jamie

I've looked through some of the Torrentpress code and the version of it (v0.1alpha) is an accurate representation. There are quite a few stub functions and no real torrent tracking functionality to speak of. It's more of a shell built to the specs of 2.5.

I guess I'm a little lost as to what this plugin would do? Is it for managing your files as visitors download them in torrent form? What type of people do you see using this?

Dan Cole, WordPress Theme Developer.

Yes, I see the ability to setup / configure / host a torrent tracker right now as being comparable to what it was like to try and host / publish a blog before Wordpress (or atleast WP v2.X). It's possible, but certainly not as easy as it should be. The ability to create torrents is baked into most torrent software, but the ability to collect that torrent information based on areas of interest is not (yet).

it would operate as a torrent tracker with configurable options to:

• Allow users to add new torrents to the tracker / WP Site.
• Allow upload capabilities to be assigned to specific users or roles.
• Allow subscribers to submit a new torrent (which editor / admin would have to publish.
• Create a separate menu area / write panel to support add / edit torrents.
• Integration with the major content delivery networks (Amazon S3, etc) for those who already leverage a separate solution.

Who do I see using this plugin?

• Podcasters who would like to reduce the bandwidth load on their server.
• Anyone producing video content who would like to minimize how much they are paying for distribution of their content.
• Musicians
• Lots of other scenarios that I cannot even begin to fathom.

My own ambition is based on helping a great podcast which I listen to regularily reduce their monthly bandwidth costs. Are others out there who recognize the value in this and are able / interested in assisting in such a project?

i like to be a part of this Coool project
i m a Wordpress designer
Contact me at : souna@zinoubi.com ===> e-mail and MSN

I think there is room for this type of plugin. I would not be surprised to see quite a few people using it after finding out it exists. Don't think I'll be able to help out in the project but I can put the call out to others via the site.

WPTavern Twitter Account | Personal Blog | WordPress Weekly Podcast

Thanks Jeffro! Finding a few people passionate about torrent hosting via WP with programming chops to tackle this concept is a very important first step to getting this project to go forward. I'm hoping my role towards this could be more of a screen designer / instigator.