BitComet

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BitComet
Developer(s)BitComet Development Group
Initial releaseAugust 6, 2003
Stable release
0.99. / February 1, 2008
Preview releaseNone (n/a) [±]
Operating systemWindows 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Available in43 languages
TypeBitTorrent client
LicenseProprietary freeware
Websitewww.bitcomet.com

BitComet (originally named SimpleBT client from versions 0.11 to 0.37) is a cross-protocol BitTorrent, HTTP and FTP client written in C++ for Microsoft Windows and available in 43 different languages. Its first public release was version 0.28 and the current preview release comes bundled with the BitComet FLV Player. The current BitComet logo has been used since version 0.50.

Overview of the BitComet Client

The BitComet client is a P2P file-sharing program compatible with the BitTorrent protocol, one of the most popular P2P protocols designed for high-speed distribution of large files. BitComet supports simultaneous downloads, HTTP and FTP downloading, webseeding, search for additional HTTP and FTP sources when downloading through the BitTorrent client, download queuing, selected downloads inside a torrent package, fast-resume, Mainline DHT, protocol encryption, disk cache, speed limits, port mapping, peer exchange (PEX), UDP NAT traversal, proxy, and IP filtering. BitComet contains an embedded Internet Explorer window for the purpose of allowing users to search for torrents within the client.

Since version 0.90, BitComet has included a plugin to transfer files using the eD2K protocol. The plugin is a modified version of the GPL eMule program, but no source is provided. It is integrated with the main program and is configured to automatically connect to an eD2K server.

Features and Accessories

BitComet

The following are the features of BitComet, according to the official website:

  • BitTorrent Download
    • The first and last portions of media files are prioritized, allowing for file previews.
    • Configuration is automatically set to match the user's connection type.
    • Memory cache is used to reduce the read/write frequency of the user's hard drive.
    • Users behind a NAT can connect with each other by UDP.
    • Auto-configures certain firewalls and NAT devices using UPnP.
    • Prioritization of individual files.
    • BitComet uses the Kademlia (mainline) DHT to operate even when the tracker is offline.
    • Support for Multi-tracker, utf-8 extension, and UDP tracker Protocol v2.
  • HTTP/FTP Download
    • Multi-language web pages and encoded URLs can be correctly handled.
    • Stopped download tasks can be resumed from where they left off from both HTTP and FTP servers.
    • Global and Per-Task Speed Limit, for Both Upload and Download.
    • Bandwidth Scheduler
  • Other
    • BitComet includes a user-friendly tool for assisting translators of the program, and it also helps publish these translations online.
    • Internet Explorer is embedded in BitComet, allowing for web browsing.
    • BitComet includes a download manager, with browser plugins for Internet Explorer and Maxthon

Advertisements

Depending which version is downloaded, BitComet contains different amount of ads:

  • From the first release to version 0.84, BitComet does not contain ads.
  • In versions 0.85 to 0.97, an IFrame displays a page from BitComet's server that displays a web search and a single ad on the right side of the client window and Google Toolbar is installed by default. The user can disable the IFrame in the view menu and the user can choose not to install the toolbar.
  • Versions 0.98 and above only contain advertisements on the web-based portions of the program.[1]

BitComet FLV Player

BitComet FLV Player version 1.3

On November 18, 2006, the BitComet Team introduced the BitComet FLV player, an application to play Flash Video files (.flv and .swf files). It is bundled with the BitComet client and is also available as a standalone program. It also has partial support for playing FLV files directly from the web. The current version is 1.4.

BitCometTracker

BitComet.com offers a BitTorrent tracker available for download from the official site.

Controversy and Criticism

Hash reporting

In all versions after 0.86, the BitComet client is able to report hash values of torrents being downloaded to a bitcomet.com server, for use in a stat-tracking, screenshot and discussion feature. Before version 0.99, it was impossible to disable this behavior due to a bug. The features are enabled by default, but can easily be disabled in Options. [2]

Adware

The official BitComet website claims that "BitComet does not contain any adware or spyware"[3]. However, versions 0.85 to 0.97 contained advertising[4]. Therefore, by definition[5], those versions are adware. The current versions no longer contain advertising, except in the web-based search window[1].

DHT Exploit Controversy

During version 0.60, BitComet received bad publicity because its implementation of the DHT feature, which was new at the time, could be exploited to not respect the private flag of a tracker. This allowed users to avoid download and upload ratio restrictions, which are common on private trackers. Many private trackers responded to this by banning BitComet version 0.60.[6] BitComet developer RnySmile reverted the client back to version 0.59 in response to the banishment.[7]

The DHT exploit was fixed in version 0.61.[8][9]

Super-seeding

In early 2007, John Hoffman, the creator of super-seeding and author of the BitTornado client, harshly criticized BitComet for using abusive tactics to "game" and "cheat" super-seeding at the expense of other peers: "Since BitComet has proven itself to be a harmful codebase, and since they have forced me to take steps I’d rather not have, I will also be banning connections from that client to my own client and tracker codebases." [10]

Padding Files

Starting with version 0.85 (Early 2007), BitComet added an option (on, by default) to its torrent maker that ensures that no two data files in a multi-file torrent occupy the same BitTorrent "piece." This helps enable BitComet to download different parts of a multi-file torrent from non-BitTorrent sources such as http/ftp servers or the ED2K network. To accomplish this, BitComet fills the remainder of each last "piece" with an intervening padding file. While these small and harmless files are transparent to the BitComet user, they can be an annoyance to users of other clients who must deal with them both during and after the download. [11]

Validity of criticism

The validity of claims made against BitComet is disputed, and is often accused of being based on unconfirmed accusations and bugs that only exist in certain older versions of the client, and that have long-since been fixed.

Professional networking specialist Robb Topolski conducted an independent analysis of accusations leveled against BitComet, and found all but one of the claims to be false or unverifiable. He found that BitComet is not detrimental or malicious to the download or upload speeds of a BitTorrent swarm or the tracker.[12]

The one claim he verified as partially correct was that, "BitComet is a poor peer due to no upload slot control; upload bandwidth is stretched too thin." Topoloski's tests indicated that BitComet does lack upload slot control, but only when BitComet is initially seeding a torrent—that is, when BitComet is the only seeding peer in a swarm, it tends to seed less efficiently than the two other clients he tested. Topoloski asserts that when BitComet is not the only seeding peer in the swarm, or when it is a non-seeding peer, upload slot control is managed exceptionally well.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b UKOrbit (2008). "No advertisements in current versions". Retrieved 2008-02-10.
  2. ^ BitComet.com (2008). "Hash Reporting Bug Fixed". Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  3. ^ BitComet Team (2006). "Official Website". Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  4. ^ Sniperfx70 (2007). "ADDS". Retrieved 2008-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Microsoft (2002). "Microsoft Security Glossary". Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  6. ^ Thomas Mennecke (2005). "BitComet Banned". Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  7. ^ Thomas Mennecke (2005). "BitComet Reverts to Version .59". Retrieved 2007-01-15.
  8. ^ Thomas Mennecke (2006). "BitComet .62 and You". Retrieved 2006-12-03.
  9. ^ Thomas Mennecke (2006). "BitComet .64 Released". Retrieved 2006-01-15.
  10. ^ TorrentFreak.com (2007). "BitTornado Bans All BitComet Users". Retrieved 2007-01-07.
  11. ^ Ernesto (08-23-2007). "BitComet Pollutes BitTorrent with Junk Data". TorrentFreak. Retrieved August 24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Rob Topolski (2007-08-02). "STUDY: 'Examining the Myths and Facts Concerning BitComet Behavior'". ZeroPaid. Retrieved 2008-02-07. [Regarding the claim that] BitComet seems to favor uploading to other BitComet clients, even when getting faster download speeds from other clients … In dozens of observed sessions using BitComet, I see no such preference being given to BitComet peers. … BitComet is a worthy download client, providing some advantageous features not found in any other current BitTorrent client. Some of these features are confusing and are poorly implemented, but they are not detrimental to a BitTorrent swarm, nor do they take unfair advantage. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Topoloski. “If the BitComet user is the initial seeder, that user will take more time and bandwidth to seed a torrent than any other BitTorrent client I have ever used. (Tests: BitComet 200% to 255%, MainLine 145% to 175%, uTorrent with Super-Seeding 105% to 115%). However, when BitComet is a non-seeding peer, it has exceptionally intelligent slot control. BitComet adjusts the speed of each upload slot individually, providing more upload bandwidth to peers that reciprocate with more upload bandwidth of their own. … BitComet is an exceptionally poor upload client and should be avoided if the user will be the initial uploader to a swarm. … This is not an issue if the BitComet user is a seeder in an already-seeded swarm.”

See also

External links

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