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Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

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Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

#113

Opera 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…

I remember this fondly. How much more beautiful the web could have been if google had not killed everything else.

Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

#114
post #6

There is also Magic Wormhole [1] which is not in-browser. [1] https://github.com/magic-wormhole/magic-wormhole

There is: https://wormhole.app/ for the browser if one needs it.

Not to be confused with https://webwormhole.io/, which is open-source

Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

#116

> Because data is never stored in an intermediary server, the transfer is fast, private, and secure. But WebRTC needs a TURN server for when hole punching/STUN doesn't work when both clients are behind NAT. Data is never stored in an intermediate server, but it can pass through . How is the privacy and security ensured that the TURN server won't/can't read your data? Do you just have to trust them? Or is a form of E2…

But you can punch holes even when both clients are behind NAT.

Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

#117

I 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...

Not sure if it's p2p, but I also find that this exist: http://xkcd949.com

Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

#118
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Where do you get the FTP client and server from without an Internet connection, and how do you create a network between the two?

And would you say that this is comparable in terms of complexity with e.g. Airdrop or selecting "send via Bluetooth" and picking the recipient's device name?

Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

#119

I 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...

Probably you can also add Dragit[1], which is a desktop p2p file sharing tool for local network with automatic host discovery. Currently supporting Linux and Windows. (author & maintainer here) I'm not sure if I should keep on working on the tool, considering the length of the list so far. :D

[1]: https://github.com/sireliah/dragit

Re: Peer-to-peer file transfers in the browser

#120
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

I meant modern -- you can use FTP over stuff like ZeroTier or Tailscale but otherwise you can't do P2P with it (firewalls, V4 NAT) and it's not secure. TS has some facility for transfer but again-- TS-specific, not available everywhere, not standard, and not suitable for all cases. I also meant things regular people can easily use and that can be used as conveniently as e.g. Apple's AirDrop (which is nice but only wo…

> firewalls, V4 NAT That's why they added 'use UPnP to poke a hole in the router'. Which will work on most networks, though CGNAT will still break it if IPv6 isn't available.

There are plenty of other tools out there that can send files between devices. Google+Samsung's Nearby Share work pretty much everywhere. KDE Connect works on any device I can think of. I wish Google+Samsung would make it an open standard but I'm guessing they won't do it so they can rewrite the app whenever they please.

The biggest, and IMO only, problem for AirDrop competitors is that they're not pre-installed on iPhones and iPads while AirDrop is. AirDrop is nothing special in itself, though Apple did implement it in a rather weird way. All you need to mimic it is Bluetooth (BLE if you're fancy) for handshakes and WiFi Direct for transfers.

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