WebTorrent Deployment and Usage Guide

Prerequisites

Node.js (version 14 or higher)
npm (version 6 or higher)
Git for cloning the repository
WebRTC-compatible browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Safari) for browser usage

Installation

For Development

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/webtorrent/webtorrent.git
cd webtorrent

Install dependencies:
```
npm install
```

For Production Use

Install WebTorrent as a dependency in your project:

npm install webtorrent

For Command Line Usage

Install the WebTorrent CLI globally:

npm install webtorrent-cli -g

For Browser Usage

Include the minified script directly in your HTML:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/webtorrent@latest/webtorrent.min.js"></script>

Or use a module bundler like Browserify or Webpack:

npm install webtorrent

Configuration

Environment Variables

WebTorrent doesn't require specific environment variables for basic operation. However, you can configure:

Peer ID: Set a custom peer ID by passing it in the options when creating a WebTorrent client:
```
const client = new WebTorrent({ peerId: 'your-custom-peer-id' })
```
Port Configuration: The client automatically selects ports, but you can configure torrent ports:
```
const client = new WebTorrent({ torrentPort: 6881 })
```

Browser Configuration

For browser usage, ensure your environment supports WebRTC. WebTorrent works in Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari without plugins.

Build & Run

Development

Start the development server:
```
npm run dev
```
Run tests:
```
npm test
```

Production

For production usage in Node.js applications:

const WebTorrent = require('webtorrent')
const client = new WebTorrent()

// Add a torrent via magnet link or torrent file
client.add('magnet:?xt=...', (torrent) => {
  console.log('Torrent ready')
})

For browser applications:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/webtorrent@latest/webtorrent.min.js"></script>
<script>
  const client = new WebTorrent()
  client.add('magnet:?xt=...', (torrent) => {
    console.log('Torrent ready')
  })
</script>

Deployment

Node.js Applications

Deploy your WebTorrent application to any Node.js hosting platform:

Vercel (for serverless functions)
Railway (for full Node.js applications)
Heroku (traditional Node.js deployment)
DigitalOcean App Platform

Example deployment to Railway:

Install Railway CLI:
```
npm install -g @railway/cli
```
Initialize Railway project:
```
railway init
```
Deploy:
```
railway up
```

Browser Applications

For browser-based WebTorrent applications, deploy to any static hosting service:

Vercel
Netlify
GitHub Pages
Cloudflare Pages

Desktop Applications

For desktop applications using WebTorrent Desktop, download pre-built binaries from the WebTorrent Desktop repository.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

WebRTC Not Supported
- Ensure you're using a WebRTC-compatible browser
- Check browser console for WebRTC errors
- Verify that WebRTC is not blocked by extensions or network policies
Connection Issues
- Check firewall settings that might block torrent ports (6881-6889)
- Verify that your network allows P2P connections
- For browser usage, ensure you're connecting to WebTorrent-compatible peers
Performance Issues
- Use a wired connection instead of WiFi when possible
- Limit the number of concurrent torrents if experiencing slowdowns
- Check for bandwidth throttling by your ISP
Installation Issues
- Ensure you have the correct Node.js version (14+)
- Clear npm cache if installation fails:
```
npm cache clean --force
npm install
```
Browser Compatibility
- WebTorrent works in Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Safari
- Mobile browsers may have limited support
- Test in multiple browsers if you encounter issues

Debug Mode

Enable debug logging to troubleshoot issues:

DEBUG=webtorrent:* npm test

Or in browser:

localStorage.debug = 'webtorrent:*'

Getting Help

Join the WebTorrent Discord for community support
Check the GitHub Issues for known problems
Review the WebTorrent documentation for API reference

Security Considerations

WebTorrent uses WebRTC which is generally secure, but always validate torrent sources
For production applications, consider implementing rate limiting and user authentication
Be aware of potential copyright issues when downloading torrents

How to Deploy & Use webtorrent/webtorrent