Shareaza is a free, open-source file-sharing client for Windows for finding, downloading and sharing files. It connects to Gnutella, Gnutella2 and eDonkey2000, and also handles BitTorrent transfers. Network searches sit alongside a library for organizing shared material and a built-in player for audio and video. There is no separate paid edition.
File searches
A Shareaza search starts with keywords and an optional file type, such as audio or video. Results include file information and a source count, so a matching name is not the only information available when choosing a download. Selecting a result reveals its metadata; picture and movie previews, comments and ratings provide further information where available.
Each search has its own results window. You can keep one set of matches open while running another query, or stop a search once it has returned what you need. Unicode support allows searches and filenames to use characters from different writing systems.
Multi-source downloads and file hashing
Shareaza can connect to several supported P2P networks simultaneously and retrieve a file from multiple sources. The Transfers view brings downloads together with progress bars, while the home screen provides a shorter view of current activity. Completed downloads also become accessible through the library.
File hashing checks the data being received and allows Shareaza to detect and repair corruption before a transfer finishes. Some incomplete audio and video files can be previewed during the transfer, although not every file can be played before completion.
BitTorrent swarms
BitTorrent works differently from Shareaza’s searchable networks. Opening a .torrent file supplies the information for a particular file or group of files. Shareaza contacts the torrent’s tracker to locate other participants, then exchanges data with peers in that swarm. BitTorrent does not provide a network-wide file search inside this process.
Shareaza can also seed files you already have. The Seed option checks the matching files in the library before offering them to other torrent participants. Those files must be available where Shareaza can find them; moving or renaming the content can prevent reseeding. A download also depends on peers continuing to provide the required data.
Shared library
The library has two ways to browse the same material. Physical view follows the shared folders on disk. Organizer view builds virtual folders from file metadata, allowing music to appear under a genre or album without moving its files into a different disk location.
Adding a folder to sharing causes Shareaza to hash its contents and make those files available to other users. The library also gives access to recent downloads, detailed file information and a rating control for contributing your own assessment.
Shareaza Collections
A Shareaza Collection packages links to related files with accompanying pages. An album collection, for example, can present a track list alongside cover art and descriptive material. The collection can refer both to files already in your library and to files you have yet to download.
When a collection is added to the library, Shareaza places it in the virtual folder tree using its metadata. Its HTML-based view can provide actions to play or queue a local file, or download a missing item.
Media playback
The integrated player opens media from the library, partial downloads and playlists. Its playlist controls add or remove files and save the resulting list, while video or audio visualizations appear in the main display. Files can also be opened with their default external player.
Playback depends on the relevant codecs and Windows DirectShow filters being available. A supported filename extension tells Shareaza to try its player, but does not itself supply the decoder needed to play that file.
