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Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
71–80 of 272 posts
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#72It's so strange that this should have been a solved problem decades ago, but somehow a robust and secure non-commercial solution never gets off the ground. Speaking of which, how is the IPFS project doing these days?
XKCD from a decade ago, and we still can't figure it out ;(
Recently I had to send file from Whatsapp to Telegram, because apparently it is forbidden to download file from the Whatsapp and it's a "feature". Facepalm....
PS: afaik IPFS doesn't guarantee file storage, a separate paid middleman is required for that.
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#73I keep a long list of browser based and CLI p2p file transfer tools[1]. LimeWire (which now has its crypto currency probably) has been on a rampage recently aquiring some of really good tools including ShareDrop and SnapDrop. https://pairdrop.net/ is the last one standing so far. [1]: https://gist.github.com/SMUsamaShah/fd6e275e44009b72f64d0570...
https://wormhole.app/ has been spared and is pretty good. Encrypted, dl can start before up is finished, decent size limit. Unrelated to the wormhole python cli tool and associated file sharing protocol.
Both not to be confused with Web Wormhole, which is also pretty good: https://webwormhole.io/
Slightly different approach – "P2P first", i.e. both sender and receiver need to be online simultaneously throughout the transfer, but there's a TURN relay, so it should work in almost all network constellations.
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#74These are neat but... it's 2025, and there is still no first class standardized ways to move files over the Internet between PC/mobile/edge devices.
> no first class standardized ways to move files over the Internet between PC/mobile/edge devices
FTP? You can open an app on your phone, start an FTP server, use UPnP to poke a hole in the router, show their public IP address, send a text message to your friend with the IP, port, username & password in a single URL, connect, send/receive files.
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#75I wish there was a way to do local peer discovery with WebRTC. Right now both endpoints need an active Internet connection and a shared identifier (in this case a special URL) in order to find each other. Can't do offline local sharing.
Sharing identifier maybe we could do with qrcode, chirp audio protocol, nfc tap. Ios has peerconnectivity that works really as p2p network but sadly no web api and doesn't work android (not sure someone reverse engineered protocol)
Somebody indeed has, but since it uses a custom low-level 802.11 variant, I don't think it's feasible on (at least non-rooted) Android devices: https://github.com/seemoo-lab/opendrop
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#76These are neat but... it's 2025, and there is still no first class standardized ways to move files over the Internet between PC/mobile/edge devices.
That's on purpose. Imagine being able to just send a file from an Android phone to an iPhone without a centralized service and an Internet connection (i.e. like we could in the time of feature phones and early smartphones via Bluetooth)... Please think of the shareholders and the lawful interceptors before you suggest something as subversive!
There's a dozen apps that will open an FTP server on your phone, then the other phone connects over the network with any FTP client.
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#77It still needs middle out compression imo
"Uh...the answer's not in the box, it's in the band".
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#78>filepizza Horrible name dude
i like the name. pizza invokes thoughts of sharing anyway
Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#79Opera browser used to have P2P file transfers as a short lived feature in ~2010, called Unite. I remember it also had skeuomorphic GUI of a 'fridge' where users could put post-it style notes that could be seen by others. One of many everything-and-the-kitchen-sink features Opera Presto had during its heyday. Others included a separate Bittorrent client, desktop widgets that could be moved outside of the browser windo…
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Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser
#80It's so strange that this should have been a solved problem decades ago, but somehow a robust and secure non-commercial solution never gets off the ground. Speaking of which, how is the IPFS project doing these days?
Peer to peer sharing doesn't really have much opportunity for commercialization. The closest thing I can think of is bluetooth file sharing, which can still be a painful experience in some circumstances
Not only sharing, bluetooth in general can be a painful experience in some circumstances.