The Raspberry Pi is an awesome little computer, whose capabilities won’t stop increasing. As such, you should make sure that you have the best apps installed on it. Whether you’re running Raspberry Pi OS (formerly known as Raspbian) some apps are unmissable. Here are best apps for your Raspberry Pi. QBittorent is one of the most popular torrent clients that you can use on the Pi. It has become known for its relatively stable platform and good feature set that works well on limited-resource devices like the Raspberry Pi. It is a perfect alternative to other torrent clients such as Deluge or Transmission.
In this post we will tell about how to run popular torrent client uTorrent on Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi 2 and Raspberry Pi 3 are based on ARM microprocessor which is not supported by uTorrent. But it is possible to run uTorrent on Raspberry Pi 2 using virtual machine called ExaGear Desktop which allows to run x86 apps on Raspberry Pi 2/3. Below is simple instruction how to run uTorrent on your RPi and make from your RPi uTorrent server. |
Raspberry Pi test stand configuration
Model | Raspberry Pi 2 Model B |
Frequency | 900 MHz |
Memory | 1 GB RAM |
Operating System | Raspbian from May 2015 |
Software | uTorrent Server 3.3 Eltechs ExaGear Desktop for Raspberry Pi 2 v1.1 |
uTorrent installation instruction
Install ExaGear Desktop
1. Download ExaGear Desktop archive with installation packages and license key. Open command-line Terminal and unpack downloaded archive using the following command:
2. Install and activate ExaGear on your ARM device by running install-exagear.sh script in a directory with deb packages and one license key:
Launch guest x86 system
3. Enter the guest x86 system using the following command:
4. Now you are in x86 environment that can be checked by running ‘arch’ command:
5. It is recommended to update apt-get repositories on the first launch of the guest system:
Install uTorrent
6. Download the latest uTorrent Server from here: http://www.utorrent.com/downloads/linux
You need to download uTorrent Server for Debian 32-bit.
7. Extract uTorrent Files to the /opt directory:
8. Set permission on uTorrent Server folder:
9. Run the command to link uTorrent Server to the /user/bin directory:
Run uTorrent
10. Start uTorrent Server:
Note: If you get an error about libssl.so package missing, run the command below to install it, then try starting uTorrent Server again:
11. Open Firefox and browse to the URL: http://localhost:8080/gui
The username is admin and leave the password field empty.
Final notes
It is worth to note that with ExaGear Desktop you can run other x86 apps on Raspberry Pi 2. ExaGear also supports first generation of Raspberry Pi and another ARM-based devices such as Odroid, Banana Pi, Beagleboard, Cubox, Jetson, Cubieboard etc.
The Raspberry Pi is an awesome little computer, whose capabilities won’t stop increasing. As such, you should make sure that you have the best apps installed on it. Whether you’re running Raspberry Pi OS (formerly known as Raspbian) some apps are unmissable.
Here are best apps for your Raspberry Pi.
Doesn’t Raspberry Pi Come With Apps Preinstalled?
Before proceeding you’re probably thinking “hold on, my copy of Raspberry Pi OS already has a bunch of apps installed.” No doubt you’re thinking of VLC media player, Scratch, and LibreOffice.
With three editions of Raspberry Pi OS to choose from, though, you won’t be surprised to find that those apps aren’t included on them all. The Lite version comes with little to talk of, not even a desktop, and is aimed at project builders. Meanwhile the “Raspberry Pi OS with desktop” comes with VLC media player and the Chromium Web Browser, but little else.
The “Raspberry Pi desktop and recommended software” version, meanwhile, is jam-packed full of everything you could need. But it’s a bit of a big download, so you might prefer to avoid it.
Whatever the case, we’ve chosen the best 10 Raspberry Pi apps that you don’t already have installed. Let’s take a look at them.
So, add VLC media player and Scratch as required
1. Guake
Whether you’re new to Linux or an expert, the default Terminal is frustrating. It’s plain, obscures the desktop, and, overall, the Terminal application is difficult to appreciate.
Consider a replacement: Guake. With a Quake-style semi-transparent interface, Guake can be installed via the Add/Remove Software tool.
After installation, you’ll find it in Applications > System Tools > Guake. Once you see the notification that Guake is running, tap F12 to summon it. Guake will drop down from the top of the screen when called.
Guake lets you see what is happening elsewhere on the desktop. You can also right-click inside the Guake window to alter the Preferences, which includes tweaking the appearance.
2. Synaptic Package Manager
It’s easy enough to install software via the command line, and Raspbian has its own mouse driven Add/Remove Software tool. But sometimes that’s not enough. If you’re looking for something more expansive, try Synaptic.
Unlike the native tool, Synaptic uses more specific software categories, helping you to find the tools you need. Synaptic (one of several Linux package managers) also ensures you’re using the current version of apps installed on your Pi. All you need to do is click Reload and then Apply to run the updates.
You can install Synaptic Package Manager on Raspbian with:
Once installed, run it with a command:
…or launch Synaptic Package Manager from the Preferences section of the desktop menu.
3. MyPaint
Best open source apps lists like this almost always suggest GIMP as a sort of easy Photoshop alternative. While this is a good option, it’s often preinstalled on Raspberry Pi OS. For something a little different, try MyPaint.
This is an open source graphics editor for digital painting, rather than image manipulation. Closer to Corel Painter or Krita than Photoshop, it includes layers, brush settings, scratch pad, and brushstrokes that differ based on the angle and zoom. Many other features can be found on the project’s GitHub page.
To install MyPaint, open a terminal and enter
Alternatively, find it in Add/Remove Software in the Graphics category.
4. QMMP
VLC media player plays music, but if you’re looking for something a more visually striking, try QMMP.
With support for all the usual audio formats (MP3, FLAC, Ogg FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, WAV, CD Audio, etc.), it also delivers equalization settings and visual effects.
Various plugins are also supported, adding functionality. This ranges from playing music from YouTube to playing chiptunes (music created on or for 8-bit systems).
Install QMMP with
You’ll also find it in Add/Remove Software listed under Multimedia. Once installed, simply launch it from Menu > Sound & Video and open your favorite tunes.
5. DOSBox
The Raspberry Pi isn’t exactly short of games. Amateur developers and have created hundreds of homebrew games; some Linux titles run on the Pi, too. It’s also an excellent platform for playing retro games.
Various types of emulation are possible with the Raspberry Pi, from 8-bit home computers to consoles. But if your preference is for classic PC games, try DOSBox.
Capable of running all software from the MS-DOS era, DOSBox lets you play PC games from the 1980s and 1990s.
To install DOSBox on the Raspberry Pi, open Preferences > Add/Remove Software and search for it. Once installed, head to your Home directory and create a new folder, dosgames. This is where you should save the extracted contents of downloaded games to, ready to use them.
DOSBox itself can be launched from Menu > Applications > Games > DOSBox Emulator. See our guide to using DOSBox for help on configuring the application and finding and installing games.
6. Arduino IDE
Planning to pair your Raspberry Pi up with an Arduino for some maker fun? If so, you’ll need Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment). The IDE makes it simple to write and upload code to any Arduino connected to your Raspberry Pi.
You can install Arduino IDE on your Pi via Preferences > Add/Remove Software.
Once installed, launch via Applications > Programming > Arduino IDE. Use the Tools > Boards menu to select the correct Arduino model (Arduino Uno and clones are selected by default).
From here, you can check File > Examples for some useful example scripts for the Arduino. You can also extend its capabilities via new libraries. You’ll find information on these at www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/Libraries. Meanwhile, our detailed guide to Arduino will help you get started.
7. NixNote
Using a different computer doesn’t mean you won’t need to keep notes from time to time. NixNote is an open source client for Evernote, easily installed in Add/Remove Software.
Once installed, NixNote gives you access to your existing Evernote archive of ideas, jottings, lists, and so on. It can export as PDF, and the data can be backed up and restored as needed.
In short, this is a useful notebook client that syncs with Evernote on your other devices for unified notetaking.
8. Deluge
Best Torrent Client For Raspberry Pi 4 2019
First things first: Deluge is a BitTorrent client. This doesn’t mean that it is illegal; BitTorrent itself isn’t illegal. Rather, the misuse of the peer-to-peer networking technology to download copyright-protected movies and games is illegal.
For instance, many Linux operating systems (including Raspbian) can be downloaded over BitTorrent. This provision reduces the overhead on hosting the distribution on a dedicated server. Our guide to BitTorrent explains this in more detail.
Why might you need a BitTorrent client on your Raspberry Pi? Well, it depends how you’re using the computer. If you utilize it as a repository for personal data, Deluge can download data from your Pi wherever you are. Full details on how to this can be found on the Deluge Wiki.
You’ll find Deluge in Preferences > Add/Remove Software. If you want to use the torrent app in headless mode, connect via SSH and run:
Once this is done, Deluge is ready to run. Pi desktop users can launch it in Menu > Internet.
9. OpenVPN
Every computer should connect to the internet via a VPN. While there are no VPN clients for the Raspberry Pi, there is OpenVPN.
This is a VPN client app that lets you connect to your preferred VPN server using existing account credentials. For example, you can connect to ExpressVPN VPN servers using the configuration files they provide.
Install OpenVPN with
Be sure to download the OVPN configuration file for your preferred server and save it on your Pi. Most VPN services provide OpenVPN support so this should be straightforward.
Check our guide to setting up a VPN on the Raspberry Pi for configuration tips.
Best Raspberry Pi 4 Project
10. Steam Link
While the Raspberry Pi doesn’t have the hardware to run standard PC games, it is good enough to stream them. This is possible thanks to the Steam Link software from Valve, which lets you stream games from a PC.
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With the games you want to play installed on your PC and streaming enabled, setup is simple. Just connect your Raspberry Pi to your TV and run
Learn more in our guide to Steam Link for Raspberry Pi.
Awesome Raspberry Pi Apps You Can Install Today
Along with the apps already installed on your Raspberry Pi, a wealth of alternatives is available. They bring new functionality, improve privacy, deliver gaming, improve productivity, and more.
Which apps you install will determine how you use your Raspberry Pi. Explore the possibilities further in our guide to the best Raspberry Pi projects.
Read the full article: The 10 Best Apps to Install on Your Raspberry Pi