Installing bittorrent for linux is pretty easy, and it enables you to download torrents from the command line. This works for Debian Etch.

I’ll also give instructions for using screen to keep downloads going when you logout of the machine.

1, Install the dependancies and other useful packages:

# sudo apt-get install python-wxgtk2.6 python-twisted python-crypto python-psyco python-zopeinterface screen

2, Get the bittorrent .deb file

# wget http://download.bittorrent.com/dl/bittorrent_5.0.8_python2.4.deb
# dpkg -i bittorrent_5.0.8_python2.4.deb

3, Download torrents!

You’ve now got a command line, and curses interface for bittorrent installed. To download a file, run:

# bittorrent-curses http://path/to/file.torrent
(you can also use local paths for torrent files).

To use the command line interface:

# bittorrent-console http://path/to/file.torrent

If you want to leave a file downloading while you’re logged out, use screen. Simply type screen before your preferred command above, ie:

# screen bittorrent-curses http://path/to/file.torrent

To detach from the screen, press “Ctrl+A”, then “D”, and you will be returned to the shell. To re-attach to the screen, run “screen -r”

Bittorrent downloads will be stored in “~/Bittorrent Downloads” when they are complete. While they are being downloaded, they will be in “~/.bittorrent/incomplete/”

Packages for different distributions can be found here, along with source code.