Azureus (Vuze)

Current Version: 2.5.0.4 (January 26, 2007) / 4.0.0.4 ("Vuze") (November 21, 2008)

Azureus is a Java application that implements the BitTorrent protocol. It comes bundled with many features for both beginners and advanced users:

• Multiple torrent downloads
• Upload and download speed limiting, both globally and per torrent
• Advanced seeding rules
• Adjustable disk cache
• Only uses one port for all the torrents
• UPnP sets the forward on your router
• Can use a proxy, for both tracker and peer communications
• Fast resume
• Can set a default download dir and move completed files
• Can import torrents automatically from a set dir
• Highly customizable interface
• IRC plugin included for quick help
• Embedded tracker: host your own torrents, automate your shares (periodic scanning of a directory)
• Distributed hash table: host on it a completely decentralised torrent and/or benefit from it when the tracker is offline

Azureus may be extended using a plugin architecture.

Version 2.5.0.4 - the latest standard version of the Azureus BitTorrent application - adds/changes the following:

• 2.5.0.4 is a maintenance release to fix up a few minor, but relatively annoying problems with 2.5.0.2.

Versions 3 and later - also known as "Vuze" - was significantly redesigned and enhanced for use with the new Vuze service, and adds/changes the following from version 2.5:

• Includes all 2.5 features
• High-resolution content platform
• Browse, share, search, discover content
• Rich streamlined interface

(The Azureus Wiki explains the differences more fully.)

Vuze version 4.0.0.4 adds the following new features:

• FEATURE: UIvz | Ability to change List modes in View menu
• FEATURE: UI | Added a 'mark all results unread' menu item
• FEATURE: UI | Added specification of data save directory to config wizard
• FEATURE: Core | Added subscription support to customisations
• FEATURE: Core | Added an 'azplug' URL protocol to allow plugins to handle URLs
• FEATURE: Core | Allow subscriptions to handle azplug protocols thus allowing plugins to be the source of subscription content
• FEATURE: Core | Allow magnet links in search results
• CHANGE: UIvz | Deleting via toolbar now lets you apply action to all selected entries
• CHANGE: UIvz | Search bar shrinks a bit when there's not enough width to display all toolbar buttons
• CHANGE: UI | Date Column auto-sizer now shows day of month (mm/dd) instead of year (yy/mm) when column is small
• CHANGE: Core | Only show feed errors after 3 consecutive fails to avoid distracting transient errors
• CHANGE: Core | Add asset hash to subscriptions and auto-associate existing content on subscribe if avail
• CHANGE: Core | Various performance improvements
• CHANGE: Core | Modify DHT size calc algorithm to take account of firewalled contact
• CHANGE: Plug | Assume buddies support chat
• BUGFIX: UIvz | "Mark All Watched" now only affects completed content (which is also what Unwatched only shows)
• BUGFIX: UIvz | Fix Global Rating column not sorting properly
• BUGFIX: UIvz | (Mac) Fixed closing sidebar entries sometimes showing a blank area instead of selecting a new sidebar entry
• BUGFIX: UIvz | Fixed bug where "My Library" info bar displayed on Downloading sidebar entry
• BUGFIX: UIvz | Fix some notification entries losing their related avatar image
• BUGFIX: UIvz | Log View's "Show Config" button wasn't going to proper config section
• BUGFIX: UIvz | Fix default visible columns, order, and sort column for new installs for "Advanced" library Lists
• BUGFIX: UI | "Show Time" state on date columns now remembered accross sessions
• BUGFIX: UI | Fix "Pieces" column in Library view not updating unless you clicked it
• BUGFIX: UI | Info tab in Torrent Details now displays more columns that it couldn't before (like share ratio)
• BUGFIX: UI | Localize the date in the subscription view correctly
• BUGFIX: Core | Synchonize access to file operations so that an close op can't be interleaved with file facade switching and bork disk channel operation
• BUGFIX: Core | Filter out duplicate skew reports to get more accurate figures
• BUGFIX: Core | Avoid NPE in chat when buddy unauthorised
• BUGFIX: Core | Preserve argument case in magnet link operations
• BUGFIX: Core | Fix mem leak when DHT router IP changed
• BUGFIX: Plug | Use UTF-8 when decoding plugin descriptions

Version 4 also makes a number of other changes and bugfixes that are described in the online release notes.