Cross-seed downloads multiple .torrent files before proper validation, wasting FL tokens and failing to cross-seed

[fjordnode]

Description

When cross-seed finds multiple candidates that pass the initial 5% size tolerance filter, qui downloads ALL .torrent files from the indexer to compare individual file sizes. On private trackers like Orpheus/
RED, downloading a .torrent file marks it as "snatched" and consumes Freeleech tokens - even if qui ultimately rejects the torrent.

Steps to reproduce

1. Have a completed torrent from tracker A (e.g., Redacted)
2. Cross-seed search finds multiple releases on tracker B (e.g., Orpheus) within 5% size tolerance
3. qui downloads all matching .torrent files to compare individual file contents
4. FL tokens are consumed for each download, regardless of whether the cross-seed succeeds

Environment

- qui: v1.12.0 (docker)
- qbittorrent: v5.1.4 (docker)

Relevant logs

Search found 21 results, filtered to 4 candidates within size tolerance:                              
  {"level":"debug","torrentName":"The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) [FLAC]","totalResults":21,"releaseFiltered":8,"sizeFiltered":9,"finalMatches":4,"tolerancePercent":5,"time":"2026-01-10T15
:34:46Z","message":"[CROSSSEED-SEARCH] Search filtering completed"}                                     
                                                                                                        
  Candidate 1 - Added as partial-in-pack, but recheck failed:                                           
  {"level":"debug","targetTitle":"The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) {XLCD 114}","existingTorrent":"The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) [FLAC]","instanceID":2,"instanceName":
"qbit-music","matchType":"partial-in-pack","time":"2026-01-10T15:34:49Z","message":"Found matching torrent with required files"}
  {"level":"info","instanceID":2,"instanceName":"qbit-music","torrentName":"The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) {XLCD 114}","torrentHash":"f63c87919ae2deef9729e25c9e37ebedc22f7655","matchedHas
h":"1e9d471e9813d9ff10c4cbe7d8fa7783d4cc6d18","matchType":"partial-in-pack","baseCategory":"lidarr","crossCategory":"lidarr.cross","isEpisodeInPack":false,"hasExtraFiles":false,"time":"2026-01-10T15:34:49Z","m
essage":"Successfully added cross-seed torrent (auto-resume pending)"}                                  
  {"level":"warn","instanceID":2,"hash":"f63c87919ae2deef9729e25c9e37ebedc22f7655","elapsed":3602111.155769,"time":"2026-01-10T16:34:51Z","message":"Recheck resume absolute timeout reached, removing from queue
"}                                                                                                      
                                                                                                        
  Candidate 2 - Rejected after download due to file size mismatch:                                      
  {"level":"debug","targetTitle":"The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation [7243 8 39813 2 8] (1994) [FLAC]","existingTorrent":"The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation (1994) [FLAC]","instanceID":2,
"instanceName":"qbit-music","matchType":"partial-in-pack","time":"2026-01-10T15:34:52Z","message":"Found matching torrent with required files"}
  {"level":"warn","instanceID":2,"instanceName":"qbit-music","torrentHash":"91c14797a79ca2b7e54b88fcc30491825f9e65cb","matchedHash":"1e9d471e9813d9ff10c4cbe7d8fa7783d4cc6d18","matchType":"size","mismatchedFile
s":["The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation [7243 8 39813 2 8] (1994) [FLAC]/01 - The Prodigy - Intro.flac","The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation [7243 8 39813 2 8] (1994) [FLAC]/02 - The Prodi
gy - Break & Enter.flac",...],"time":"2026-01-10T15:34:52Z","message":"Cross-seed rejected: content file size mismatch - refusing to proceed to avoid potential data corruption"}

  Candidates 3 & 4 - Rejected after download (no matching existing torrent):
  {"level":"trace","targetTitle":"The Prodigy - [1994] Music for the Jilted Generation (Explicit) [634904011482] [FLAC]","sourceIndexer":"","instancesSearched":1,"totalMatches":0,"time":"2026-01-10T15:34:55Z",
"message":"Found existing torrents matching title"} 
  {"level":"trace","targetTitle":"Music For The Jilted Generation [XLLP 114] (FLAC)","sourceIndexer":"","instancesSearched":1,"totalMatches":0,"time":"2026-01-10T15:34:58Z","message":"Found existing torrents m
atching title"}                                     

  Result: 4 .torrent files downloaded from Orpheus (8 FL tokens consumed), 0 successful cross-seeds.

Checklist

• I have searched existing discussions and issues
• I have checked the documentation

[AndyBodnar]

This is a frustrating limitation with how cross-seed validation works. The fundamental issue is that .torrent metadata alone cant tell you if files will match - you need the actual file list with sizes.

Possible mitigations:

1. Tighter size tolerance - Reduce from 5% to 1-2%. Fewer false candidates = fewer wasted tokens

2. Prioritize exact matches - If one candidate has exact size match, skip downloading others

3. Dry-run mode - Some cross-seed tools have a mode that shows what WOULD be downloaded without actually fetching torrents

4. Cache .torrent files locally - If youve already downloaded a torrent file once, dont count it again

5. Feature request for qui: Pre-filter by checking if tracker API exposes file lists without downloading the .torrent. Some trackers do.

For music specifically, the catalog number variations (XLCD 114 vs 7243 8 39813 2 8) are the killer - same album, different pressings, different file sizes. Consider excluding certain naming patterns.

This might be worth opening as a feature request for smarter candidate filtering before .torrent download.

[s0up4200]

Thanks for the report! Matching non-scene from RED/OPS specifically hasn't received much love yet, sorry.
I'm planning on integrating Nemorosa-like logic for those trackers in the future, which would eliminate the need to download torrent files to get a match.