qbitsearch

A command-line tool that searches multiple torrent sites simultaneously using qBittorrent search plugins, with an interactive picker that sends results straight to Transmission.

Version 2.0

Screenshots

Run with no arguments and just type a search:

Results open in an interactive picker — browse, then press Enter to send a torrent to Transmission:

Pick a download directory with tab completion (your last choice is remembered):

Press / to run a new search without leaving the picker:

Features

• Searches 8 engines concurrently: EZTV, LimeTorrents, The Pirate Bay, Solid Torrents, TorLock, torrents-csv, Nyaa, AudioBook Bay
• Interactive TUI picker — browse results and add them to Transmission with one keypress
• No-arguments mode — run python qsearch.py and type your search at a prompt
• Search again from the picker — press / to enter a new query without restarting
• Download-directory prompt with tab completion; last-used directory is remembered across runs
• Deduplicates results by info hash
• Sorts results by seeders (or by date with -r)
• Filter results to recent releases with -r
• Optionally saves results to a .txt file with -f
• Plain text output with -p (automatic when piped) for scripting
• No third-party Python dependencies — standard library only

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• transmission-remote in PATH for the picker's add-to-Transmission feature (Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install transmission-cli) — searching and text output work without it

Installation

git clone https://github.com/Mcm190/qbitsearch.git
cd qbitsearch
python qsearch.py --update-engines

Usage

python qsearch.py                    # interactive: prompts for a search
python qsearch.py [TERMS...] [OPTIONS]

Argument	Description
TERMS	One or more search terms, joined into a single query

Flag	Default	Description
-n N, --count N	40	Show top N results sorted by seeders
-r DURATION, --recent DURATION	off	Only show results released within a time window
-f, --file	off	Also write results to a dated .txt file
-p, --plain	off	Print results as text instead of the interactive picker
-t N, --timeout N	15 (40 with -r)	Seconds to wait for slow engines
--version	—	Show version and exit
--update-engines	—	Re-download all official engine plugins and exit
--list-engines	—	List available engine plugins and exit

Interactive picker keys

Key	Action
↑/↓, j/k	Move selection
PgUp/PgDn, g/G	Page / jump to top or bottom
Enter	Add selected torrent to Transmission
/	Type a new search and rerun without quitting
q / Esc	Quit

Duration format for -r

Suffix	Unit
m	minutes
h	hours
d	days
w	weeks

Examples: 2h, 7d, 2w, 90m

Results with no date information are excluded when -r is used.

Examples

# No arguments: prompts for a search, results open in the picker
python qsearch.py

# Basic search
python qsearch.py "breaking bad"

# Multiple terms joined into one query
python qsearch.py "the boys" "s03e01"

# Top 5 results from the last 3 days
python qsearch.py "the boys" -n 5 -r 3d

# Last week's releases, saved to file
python qsearch.py "house of the dragon" -r 1w -f

# Plain text output (for piping/scripting)
python qsearch.py ubuntu -p

# Show available engines
python qsearch.py --list-engines

# Update engine plugins from qbittorrent/search-plugins
python qsearch.py --update-engines

See USAGE.md for full documentation.

Changelog

2.0

• Interactive curses picker: results open in a browsable list; Enter adds the selected torrent to Transmission via transmission-remote, with a tab-completing download-directory prompt (last directory remembered)
• Run with no arguments to get an interactive search prompt
• Press / in the picker to run a new search without restarting
• Default result count raised from 20 to 40
• -p/--plain flag for the old text output (automatic when piped)
• -t/--timeout flag to control per-engine wait time
• --version flag

1.0

• Concurrent multi-engine search with deduplication, seeder/date sorting, recency filter, and text/file output