--- /dev/null
+Title: VLC bittorrent plugin still going strong, new upload 2.14-4
+Tags: english, video, verkidetfri
+Date: 2023-12-31 10:45
+
+<p>The other day I uploaded a new version of
+<a href="https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/vlc-plugin-bittorrent">the VLC
+bittorrent plugin</a> to Debian, version 2.14-4, to fix a few
+packaging issues. This plugin extend VLC allowing it to stream videos
+directly from a bittorrent source using both torrent files and magnet
+links, as easy as using a HTTP or local file source. I believe such
+protocol support is a vital feature in VLC, allowing efficient
+streaming from sources such at the 11 million movies in
+<a href="https://archive.org/">the Internet Archive</a>. Bittorrent is
+one of the most efficient content distribution protocols on the
+Internet, without centralised control, and should be used more.</p>
+
+<p>The new version is now both in Debian Unstable and Testing, as well
+as Ubuntu. While looking after the package, I decided to ask the VLC
+upstream community if there was any hope to get Bittorrent support
+into the official VLC program, and was very happy to learn that
+someone is already working on it. I hope we can see some fruits of
+that labour next year. In the mean time we can use the plugin, which
+is already
+<a href="https://qa.debian.org/popcon.php?package=vlc-plugin-bittorrent">installed
+by 0.23 percent of the Debian population</a> according to
+popularity-contest.</p>
+
+<p>It is worth noting that the plugin store the downloaded files in
+<tt>~/Downloads/vlc-bittorrent/</tt>, which can quickly fill up the
+user home directory during use. Users of the plugin should keep an
+eye with disk usage when streaming a bittorrent source.</p>
+
+<p>As usual, if you use Bitcoin and want to show your support of my
+activities, please send Bitcoin donations to my address
+<b><a href="bitcoin:15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b">15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b</a></b>.</p>