DuckieTV: The Ultimate Guide for BeginnersDuckieTV is a lightweight, open-source application designed to help TV show enthusiasts track episodes, manage watchlists, and automate downloads. It integrates with torrent clients and indexers to give users a streamlined workflow for following shows from discovery to viewing. This guide walks you through what DuckieTV does, how to set it up, how to use its core features, and tips for getting the most out of it.
What is DuckieTV?
DuckieTV is a desktop/web application that focuses on helping users track TV shows and notify or automate the process of obtaining new episodes. It emphasizes simplicity and speed, offering an intuitive calendar-style interface and compatibility with many download backends. While other tools like Sonarr provide full-featured media management and metadata handling, DuckieTV is attractive for users who want a lightweight, quick-to-use tracker without heavy setup.
Key features
- Episode calendar and season overviews
- Watchlist management (add, remove, prioritize)
- Automatic episode notifications
- Integration with torrent clients (qBittorrent, Transmission, Deluge, etc.)
- Support for magnet links and direct torrent downloads
- Search and discover shows with built-in indexer integration
- Lightweight and fast; runs in a browser or as a desktop app (Electron)
- Customizable auto-download rules and filters
Installation and setup
DuckieTV can be used either as a web app or installed as a desktop application using Electron. Below are general installation steps; specific steps may vary depending on your OS and package sources.
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Download or run:
- For desktop: download the latest Electron build from the project’s releases (GitHub or project site) and run the installer for your platform.
- For web: open DuckieTV in a compatible browser or run a hosted instance.
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First launch:
- Create or allow a local profile where DuckieTV stores watchlist data and settings.
- The app may ask for permissions to connect with local torrent clients and to open magnet links.
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Connect your torrent client:
- Open Settings → Download Clients.
- Choose your client (qBittorrent, Deluge, Transmission, rTorrent, etc.).
- Enter connection details (host, port, username, password) and test the connection.
- Enable automatic adding of magnet links or torrents.
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Configure indexers/search providers:
- DuckieTV can search a variety of indexers. In Settings → Search Providers, enable the providers you prefer and provide any required API keys or credentials.
- Optionally, configure torrent/magnet filters (size limits, quality tags, language).
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Set notifications:
- Configure desktop notifications or integration with third-party notification services if available.
Using DuckieTV: core workflows
Adding shows
- Use the search bar to find a show by name. DuckieTV queries its configured providers and displays results.
- Click “Add” to add a show to your watchlist. Choose the quality/profile and preferred language if options appear.
Viewing your calendar
- The calendar view displays upcoming and recently released episodes. Each entry shows episode number, title, and status (watched, unwatched, in-progress).
- Use filters to show only unwatched, wanted, or specific show types.
Auto-download rules
- Define rules to automatically start downloads for new episodes:
- Minimum/maximum file size
- Preferred quality (720p, 1080p, HDTV, WEB-DL, etc.)
- Release group or codec filters
- Assign these rules per-show or globally.
Manual downloading and magnet links
- When DuckieTV finds a release, you can click the magnet link to send it to your connected torrent client. If auto-download is enabled, this happens automatically when a matching release appears.
Tracking and marking watched
- After an episode finishes, mark it as watched manually or configure external players/clients to report playback status if supported.
- DuckieTV keeps a history of watched episodes and can remove or archive them from the calendar view.
Integrations and compatibility
DuckieTV works best when paired with:
- Torrent clients: qBittorrent, Transmission, Deluge, rTorrent, uTorrent (with WebUI)
- Media centers/players: Kodi (with appropriate integration/plugins), VLC
- Indexers: public and private torrent indexers (depending on configured providers)
- VPN or proxy services: recommended when using torrents for privacy
Tips and best practices
- Use a VPN when downloading torrents to protect privacy.
- Configure quality and size filters to avoid poor-quality or incomplete releases.
- Regularly back up your DuckieTV profile (watchlist and settings) to prevent data loss.
- If you use a seedbox, configure DuckieTV to send magnet links to the seedbox’s torrent client instead of your local machine.
- Combine DuckieTV with a media manager (like Sonarr or Radarr for movies) if you later need more advanced metadata or renaming/organizing features.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Can’t connect to torrent client: check WebUI settings on the client, confirm host/port, ensure CORS or firewall rules allow the connection.
- Shows not found or incorrect: try alternate search providers or verify the show title spelling; some providers use different naming conventions.
- Auto-downloads failing: inspect filters and size limits; check client’s download folder permissions.
- Notifications not appearing: ensure desktop notifications are enabled in both your OS and DuckieTV.
Alternatives and when to switch
If you need more automation and advanced library management (automatic renaming, metadata fetching, season monitoring, episode priority, and long-term library organization), consider switching to or integrating with Sonarr (TV) and Radarr (movies). DuckieTV remains useful for users who want a simpler, faster tracker without heavy server-style configuration.
Final thoughts
DuckieTV is a solid choice for users who want a minimal, fast way to track TV shows and automate downloads without the complexity of full media server ecosystems. With correct setup of indexers, torrent clients, and filters, it can handle most day-to-day tracking needs while keeping a lightweight footprint.
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