BitTorrent v2 (blog.libtorrent.org)

Article summary

The BitTorrent v2 protocol has been released, introducing several new features, including support for SHA-256 hashes, merkle hash trees, and a more efficient encoding for directory structures. This new protocol aims to improve the security and efficiency of BitTorrent downloads. The libtorrent library has been updated to support BitTorrent v2, and other clients are expected to follow. The new protocol is designed to be backwards compatible, allowing for hybrid torrents that can participate in both v1 and v2 swarms.

Main themes

• BitTorrent v2 protocol
• SHA-256 hashes
• merkle hash trees
• directory structure encoding
• backwards compatibility
• security and efficiency
• adoption and fragmentation
• legal implications and privacy concerns

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that BitTorrent v2's features, such as per-file hashes, may actually make it easier for authorities to identify and prosecute users sharing illegal content.
• Others argue that the new protocol's benefits, such as improved security and efficiency, outweigh any potential drawbacks.
• A few commenters think that the changes in BitTorrent v2 are not significant enough to justify the costs of adoption.
• Some argue that the use of SHA-256 hashes and merkle hash trees could potentially be used to create a more secure and private file sharing system.
• There is disagreement over whether the new protocol's design is an improvement over the old one, with some arguing that it is too complex and others arguing that it is a necessary step forward.
• Some commenters are skeptical about the adoption of BitTorrent v2, citing the lack of major players supporting it and the potential for a fragmented user base.
• Others believe that the use of hybrid torrents and backwards compatibility will help to ease the transition to the new protocol.