---
name: "buildtorrent"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "buildtorrent"
version: "0.9.1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/buildtorrent"
---

# buildtorrent(1)

a torrent file creation program.

## NAME

buildtorrent - a torrent file creation program.

## SYNOPSIS

**buildtorrent** \[*OPTIONS*\] *input output*

**buildtorrent** \[*OPTIONS*\] *-f filelist -n name output*

## DESCRIPTION

**buildtorrent** is a torrent file creation program. Given appropriate options and an input file or directory, **buildtorrent** generates an output *.torrent* file that can be used by torrent clients.

## OPTIONS

- **-a** *announce***, --announce=***url*

  Announce URL.  Can be omitted for trackerless torrents (BEP-5).

- **-f** *filelist***, --filelist=***filelist*

  A text file (or *-* for standard input) containing a list of files to add to the output torrent file, together with the path to use inside the torrent.  One file is given per line, use */* as path separator for the torrent path, use *\|* to separate the filesystem path from the torrent path.  Backslash *\\* can be used to escape newlines and *\|* characters inside names.  For example:

```
/data/files/linux.iso|bin/linux.iso
/data/files/linux.txt|doc/linux.txt
```

Using this option requires that the *--name* option be used.

- **-n** *name***, --name=***name*

  Specify the name for the torrent.  Usage of this option is required when the *--filelist* option is used, in which case it specifies the name of the torrent directory. Usage without a file list overrides the name of the directory or file given on the command line.

- **-A** *announces***, --announcelist=***announces*

  Additional announce URL list (BEP-12).  Use *,* to separate outer level lists, and *\|* to separate inner level items; for example:

*a,b1\|b2,c*

- **-N** *nodes***, --nodes=***nodes*

  DHT nodes list (for trackerless torrents) (BEP-5). Use *,* to separate items, and *\|* to separate host from port; for example:

\>RS *127.0.0.1\|6881,example.com\|1337*

- **-w** *webseeds***, --webseeds=***webseeds*

  Additional WebSeed URL list (BEP-19).  Use *,* to separate items; for example:

*a,b,c*

- **-l** *length***, --piecelength=***length*

  Piece length in bytes (default 262144).

- **-L** *length***, --piecesize=***size*

  Use 2^size as piece length (default 18) (overrides *-l* ).

- **-c** *comment***, --comment=***comment*

  User comment (omitted by default).

- **-p** *private***, --private=***private*

  Private flag (either 0 or 1) (BEP-27).

- **-d** *timestamp***, --date=***timestamp*

  Override *creation date* field with a UNIX timestamp (number of seconds since 1970 epoch).

- **-D, --nodate**

  Omit the *creation date* field entirely.

- **-b** *creator***, --createdby=***creator*

  Override *created by* field.

- **-B, --nocreatedby**

  Omit the *created by* field entirely.

- **-m, --md5sum**

  Add an *md5sum* field for each file.

- **-s** *sortorder***, --sort=***sortorder*

  Filename sorting method (only when in filesystem directory mode): any one of Unsorted, Alpha, Version (when available).

- **-M,***--magnet*

  Show a magnet link for the generated torrent file.

- **-q, --quiet**

  Quiet operation with reduced output.

- **-v, --verbose**

  Verbose operation with increased output (may be used multiple times for more verbosity).

- **-V, --version**

  Show the version string.

- **-h, --help**

  Show a help screen with brief usage information.

## NOTES

The previous *-s* and *-S* options have been removed; use *-v* and *-vv* instead. The previous *-C* option has been removed; use *-B* instead.

## AUTHORS

Claude Heiland-Allen (claude@mathr.co.uk)

## SEE ALSO

**createtorrent**(1), [**mktorrent**(1)](/mktorrent/1.md)

http://wiki.theory.org/BitTorrentSpecification

http://bittorrent.org/beps/bep\_0005.html

http://bittorrent.org/beps/bep\_0012.html

http://bittorrent.org/beps/bep\_0019.html

http://bittorrent.org/beps/bep\_0027.html