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How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

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Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#11

Isn’t https://wormhole.app/ the solution here? Note I haven’t used it, it’s just often brought up here as a good solution for this class of problem. Is it surprising that the author mentions a ton of solutions but not this one? I would think a deep dive of file sending applications would include this, it’s old enough and well known enough in circles that its exclusion in a comparison of file sending approaches does f…

Here is a list of open source options. This isn't the first time I have shared this on here either. Perhaps this is another sign that web search is failing us.

SnapDrop

- Site: https://snapdrop.net/

- Source: https://github.com/RobinLinus/snapdrop

ShareDrop

- Site: https://www.sharedrop.io/

- Source: https://github.com/szimek/sharedrop

FilePizza

- Site: https://file.pizza/

- Source: https://github.com/kern/filepizza

Original Wormhole

- https://webwormhole.io/

- https://github.com/saljam/webwormhole

Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#12
post #4

[flagged]

Only if there is direct connectivity (or router has port forwarding set up), there is no firewall or port is open, one computer has ssh server running, another one has ssh client jnstalled, you know the username on remote computer, you know password or have ssh key set up, and if copying from remote machine, you know exact filename or at least a location. None of that is given, especially if one of the ends is a cell phone.

Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#13
post #4

[flagged]

The OP talks about transferring from a PC to a phone (and vice versa). I have no idea how to use scp on my phone or how to move a file from my PC to my phone with scp. Honestly, if you can teach me how to do that in less than a minute, I would (no sarcasm) really appreciate it.

That's fair, the duopoly on the mobile platform is such that you are only allowed to do what google or apple deigns to allow, so I suppose one must take it up with them

Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#14
I made my own site for this. https://filepush.kevincox.ca/

It uses WebPush notifications to set up a WebRTC data channel. So full E2EE with no website-run server in the middle (unless you need TURN). The actual domain is just a static site.

It is similar to a lot of the other WebRTC based solutions but it works better for me because the push notification means that I only have to navigate to the site on one device. Then on the other I can just click the notification. And other than initial setup there is no need to manage pairing codes or similar each time.

I mostly use it for between my phone and desktop. But has also come in useful for transfering files to and from my partner's Steam Deck and various other situations.

(Although last I checked it was having trouble on Chrome due to some weird interaction between the Chrome push server and the CORS proxy on Deno. It used to work and Firefox doesn't need a CORS proxy so that still works. I should probably get around to filing a bug against Chrome to enable CORS on their push server)

Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#15
I understand why AirDrop doesn't get full ticks here, but I have to say it has saved me hundreds of hours over the last few years transferring literally anything from phone(s) laptop(s) laptop(s) phones(s) at the drop of a hat.

I would not be happy if I had to give it up.

Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#16

Isn’t https://wormhole.app/ the solution here? Note I haven’t used it, it’s just often brought up here as a good solution for this class of problem. Is it surprising that the author mentions a ton of solutions but not this one? I would think a deep dive of file sending applications would include this, it’s old enough and well known enough in circles that its exclusion in a comparison of file sending approaches does f…

Here is a list of open source options. This isn't the first time I have shared this on here either. Perhaps this is another sign that web search is failing us. SnapDrop - Site: https://snapdrop.net/ - Source: https://github.com/RobinLinus/snapdrop ShareDrop - Site: https://www.sharedrop.io/ - Source: https://github.com/szimek/sharedrop FilePizza - Site: https://file.pizza/ - Source: https://github.com/kern/filepizza…

Nice thanks. I think the exclusion of some of these is especially egregious because the author identifies three criteria and then says that none of the solutions they explored fully meet all three. But at least from an early glance at least one or two of the solutions you mentioned do, as well as the solution I linked. Which kind of invalidates the entire point the article was trying to make, that there are not good solutions for this. There are, the author just didn’t consider them.

Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#17
post #12
post #4

[flagged]

Only if there is direct connectivity (or router has port forwarding set up), there is no firewall or port is open, one computer has ssh server running, another one has ssh client jnstalled, you know the username on remote computer, you know password or have ssh key set up, and if copying from remote machine, you know exact filename or at least a location. None of that is given, especially if one of the ends is a cell…

I agree. The state of mobile tools is severely hamstrung by the fact that the overwhelming majority of the ecosystem is on closed platforms

I'm not sure how you would propose to solve the other problems, such as "the computers can't communicate directly" or "you don't know where the file you want is" but that doesn't seem like a problem with there being proper tools available

Re: How to copy a file between devices? (2022)

#20
post #8

Most people should run a static HTTP/1.1 webserver (after port forwarding 80) on their home PC so they can dump files into a directory to share them by sending the http://your.ip.address.here/directory/ link via email or whatever. When you use directories and files your OS itself is the natural interface and everything just works.

Most people can’t.
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