You might have heard of BitTorrent, an online file sharing protocol that allows multiple users to download a file from each other (known as a peer-to-peer arrangement). Rather than sit on the sidelines while others are downloading files, we'll show you how to get started using BitTorrent, and give you our top four Bittorrent applications you should try. 

What is BitTorrent, and how does it work?

BitTorrent is a network protocol that defines how files are transmitted across multiple peers. Mumbo jumbo aside, it basically defines how many computers can transmit chunks of data together in the most efficient way possible. BitTorrent operates a bit like a bike wheel.

Users start by downloading a tiny "torrent" file, which contains the signature of the file to be downloaded and the location of a "tracker." All the "peers" on the outside of the wheel connect to a central "tracker," which tells the peers the location of the other peers, and where to get the pieces of the file each peer is looking for.

Peers then start transferring data between each other, without ever directly involving the tracker. Files aren't transmitted linearly; instead pieces of the file that could be at the beginning, end, or middle, are transferred in the most efficient way possible. This nebulous approach enables many small hands to carry a heavy load of large files.

The result is that large files can be downloaded quickly. Typically these large files are media or software. Sites like Revision3 who offer online video usually offer BitTorrent downloads, since the torrents save Revision3 on gigantic bandwidth bills for distributing lots of high definition video. Many other places use BitTorrent to distribute files, and software and media pirates tend to prefer BitTorrent as a public distribution method.

While there is a company called BitTorrent, Inc., no company specifically owns the BitTorrent protocol, and anyone can create a BitTorrent tracker or use BitTorrent software without spending any money. BitTorrent, Inc. primarily licenses the technology to larger companies looking to efficiently distribute files around the web.

BitTorrent applications

Now that you understand exactly how BitTorrent works, lets talk about individual applications for BitTorrent users.

µTorrent

One of our favorite BitTorrent applications is µTorrent (pronounced MuTorrent, sometimes written uTorrent). µTorrent takes the approach of providing a fully featured BitTorrent client in as small of a package as possible. One gripe we have about many common BitTorrent clients — even some on this list like Vuze — is the amount of system resources it takes for them to operate. BitTorrent is a complex protocol that when implemented poorly can sap a system of precious resources. µTorrent's stated goal is to operate with a small amount of system resources, so the user won't even notice whether the program is running or not.

µTorrent's biggest downfall is its lack of platform compatibility. Windows users will find it the best BitTorrent client around, however everyone else on Macintosh and Linux platforms are left out of the loop. µTorrent's development team promises a Mac version soon, and says that the program operates pretty well under Wine, but we're still hoping the team makes good and ports this wonderful app outside of the Windows world.

Transmission

On the other side of the BitTorrent coin is a Mac-only client called Transmission. While not as lightweight as µTorrent, weighing in at multiple megabytes instead of 220 Kilobytes, Transmission is one of the best BitTorrent clients for Mac. The interface is fairly easy to use and doesn't clutter up the interface with ads or other annoying features. The program also integrates with Growl, which Mac nerds recognize as a notification engine. One of our favorite features of Transmission is its web client. Users can open Transmission's web client and use it as if they were using the program on the desktop. The web interface is really slick and well done.

Transmission isn't perfect, however. We have had some resource issues with Transmission when using a large number of torrents, though those problems seem excusable in the absence of better Mac BitTorrent applications.

Deluge

A cross platform BitTorrent app, Deluge works in a similar manner to other BitTorrent applications on our list, but aims to take the small and lightweight approach of µTorrent to other operating systems. Deluge is particularly useful for Linux users, who are normally stuck with less pretty ports of other BitTorrent applications. Deluge is fairly simple to use and works effectively.

While using the actual application is pretty simplistic, Mac users will need to execute four lines of terminal code to install the application. It's not a big deal to do, though it is a bit more scary than simply dragging the application to the applications folder as so many people are used to.

Vuze (Formerly Azureus)

For users looking for more than a simple BitTorrent client, there's always Vuze. Built up originally as Azureus, one of the most popular cross platform clients, Vuze now takes an approach that adds HD media streaming into the application. Presumably, the developers have dropped their altruistic (and penniless) quest to become the best BitTorrent application, and instead have started to focus on becoming a revenue generating machine. Vuze's focus doesn't lie solely in simply downloading torrent files anymore; now the program has a media streaming focus which aims to match users up with content.

Our biggest gripe with Vuze — and with its predecessor Azureus — is resource usage. Vuze is based on Java, which is known for taking more memory than it needs, needlessly slowing down the rest of the system. Vuze, if left open with many torrents running, will slow down a system to a crawl. That being said, the video library is starting to evolve nicely, though we still prefer the likes of Boxee for media consumption.

Do you use BitTorrent? What are your favorite sites for finding BitTorrent content? Sound off in the comments and help everyone else get started.

[Image: NRKBeta, Seuss] 

More digital home features

• Ditch your cable box: an Obsessable guide
• LCD vs Plasma vs DLP: What's the difference?
• HDTV buying guide
• Home audio and video connections guide
• DVD Ripping 101: What you need to know to get video on your machine
• Surround sound 101: The basics
• Video codecs 101: What are they, and how do I play back my video?
• BitTorrent 101: How it works, and our top four applications