transmission-show

Display metadata for a specific torrent

$ transmission-show [path/to/file.torrent]

$ transmission-show [[-m|--magnet]] [path/to/file.torrent]

$ transmission-show [[-s|--scrape]] [path/to/file.torrent]

transmission-show [options] <torrent-file(s)>

-m, --magnet
    Prints the magnet URI for the torrent.

-i, --info
    Prints the info hash of the torrent.

-s, --size
    Prints the total size of all files in the torrent.

-c, --comment
    Prints the comment field from the torrent metadata.

-f, --files
    Prints a detailed list of all files contained within the torrent, including their paths and sizes.

-t, --tracker
    Prints a list of all tracker URLs associated with the torrent.

-v, --version
    Displays the transmission-show version number and exits.

-h, --help
    Displays a help message outlining command usage and options, then exits.

transmission-show is a command-line utility bundled with the Transmission BitTorrent client. Its primary function is to parse and display detailed metadata contained within one or more .torrent files. Unlike the main Transmission application, transmission-show does not initiate downloads or manage torrents; it solely provides an inspection capability. Users can quickly view information such as the torrent's name, total size, individual file names and sizes, tracker URLs, creation date, comment, and info hash. This tool is invaluable for verifying torrent contents before adding them to a client, checking for malicious content, or simply getting a quick overview without launching the full GUI application or connecting to a daemon. It operates locally on .torrent files provided as arguments, making it a powerful diagnostic and preview tool for BitTorrent users.

transmission-show only works with local .torrent files. It cannot retrieve information from magnet links directly, nor can it inspect torrents that are currently active in a Transmission client without first downloading their .torrent file. It's a read-only utility; it does not modify torrent files or interact with the BitTorrent network.

transmission-show offers a quick, non-interactive way to inspect torrents. It's useful for scripting, automation, or simple command-line checks without resource overhead. Its ability to display specific fields (like magnet URI, info hash, files, trackers) makes it highly versatile for various inspection needs.

transmission-show is an integral part of the Transmission BitTorrent client project, which was first released in 2005. Designed from the outset to be lightweight, simple, and resource-efficient, Transmission quickly gained popularity, especially among Linux users. The transmission-show utility was developed alongside the main client to provide users with a quick and easy way to inspect .torrent files without needing to open the full application or daemon. Its functionality has remained consistent, focusing on its core purpose of torrent metadata display, making it a reliable tool for pre-download verification and general torrent file analysis within the Transmission ecosystem.

transmission-cli(1), transmission-daemon(1), transmission-remote(1), transmission-qt(1), transmission-gtk(1)