LeechCraft

The LeechCraft application packs in a lot of functionality. You can use it to stay in touch with friends via IM and email, to download files via BitTorrent, surf the web, read RSS feeds, and several other things. The feature set depends on the modules you install – because LeechCraft is a cross-platform module live internet client.

You can use LeechCraft on UNIX-like systems, on Mac OS X-powered machines, and on Windows-powered PC. The installation file for Windows is close to 50MB in size. Run this file once the download completes and you will be presented with a setup wizard that will ask you to choose between a full installation (core files, plugins, translations), a minimal installation, or a custom installation. Moments later LeechCraft will be installed and you’ll be able to start using it on your PC.

There is a catch though – LeechCraft for Windows is unstable and experimental. On top of that, LeechCraft on Windows has fewer features compared to other operating systems. You will be notified about this fact when you run the application for the first time, and every time afterwards if you keep hitting OK instead of Cancel in the notification prompt.

LeechCraft uses a simple, tabbed interface that can be customized. On the left you have buttons for all the functions the application has to offer, at the top you have the tabs for all the functions you can access. It is a fairly simple layout that you will be able to use with ease.

The functionality you get from LeechCraft depends on the operating system you’re on (as mentioned above, Windows is not a good choice for running the application) and on the modules you install (also as mentioned above, LeechCraft is a modular live environment). Here are some of the things you can do with LeechCraft: IM, email, read RSS and ATOM feeds, browse the web, download files via BitTorrent, play media, and more. Since LeechCraft is released under a GNU Genera Public License, you have free access to all the functionality this application has to offer.

LeechCraft packs a lot of functionality and offers it for free. It is truly an impressive application.