9 ms·

SkyTransfer – Free, Open-Source, Decentralized and Encrypted File-Sharing

92 points by spamalot159 5y ago

RamRodification 5y ago
How is it decentralized if step one is to upload the file to the central file-sharing service?
- gralx 5y ago
  From "Skynet Basics"[0], > Behind the scenes, a Skynet portal is a Sia renter that rents and stores data for its users and can retrieve files from storage being rented by other portals. I think you're describing one such portal. [0]https://support.siasky.net/getting-started/skynet-basics https://support.siasky.net/getting-started/skynet-basics
- Saris 5y ago
  The back end might be because it's using Sia, but I think it's misleading to call this web app decentralized.
- Taek 5y ago
  siasky.net is a portal. skytransfer.hns.siasky.net is one way to access this service. skytransfer.hns.skyportal.xyz is another way to access this service. Or you could run your own portal (it takes about a weekend to set up and about $50 of siacoin), and access the service from there. The magic is that any file you upload to one portal is instantly (within about 5 seconds) available on any other portal. The portals themselves aren't running any sort of DHT or federated network - if you upload a file to a portal, then all portals go offline simultaneously, then you spin up a brand new portal, that brand new portal will still be able to see the file you uploaded.
  - eps 5y ago
    > ... of siacoin From "looks interesting" to "close tab" in one word.
    - Taek 5y ago
      If you've got a suggestion for an alternative way to build Skynet, I'm all ears.
    - cyphermoon 5y ago
      this is just silly. do you have any specific issues? or are you just prejudicial against the whole crypto space? highly recommend you visit https://siasky.net https://siasky.net and see for yourself
      - iad 5y ago
        > How to mine Siacoin > Siacoin can be efficiently mined with ASIC mining machines. Not sure why you implied there was any need to look further into this. It seems to be based on proof of waste.
        cyphermoon 5y ago
        https://squareup.com/us/en/press/bcei-white-paper https://squareup.com/us/en/press/bcei-white-paper You seem to have a very definitive and final opinion on proof of work - would love to hear your opinion on this paper
joenathanone 5y ago
Interesting name choice, hopefully they don't get sued ala SkyDrive https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/microsoft-officially-rebrands-skydrive-to-onedrive/ https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/microsoft-officially-rebra...
- tvb12 5y ago
  I think the developers of the game No Man's Sky faced a similar lawsuit.
degenerate 5y ago
Another app that does the same thing is SkySend: https://skysend.hns.siasky.net https://skysend.hns.siasky.net However the difference I am seeing with SkyTransfer -- it operates more like Dropbox/GDrive; your uploaded files are displayed on a shareable download link, rather than only supporting one-off uploads like SkySend. Both services are identical in that they encrypt files before storing them (somewhere) on Sia Skynet for approximately 3 months: https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-data-remain-on-skynet https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-d...
dkarras 5y ago
For the current incarnation of this site: I uploaded something and am able to download it. Cool. My question is: Who is paying for it?
- X6S1x6Okd1st 5y ago
  https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-data-remain-on-skynet https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-d... Uploading files to Skynet is free, but without a user account, most portals will store your files for a minimum of 3 months. Storage expenses are paid by Skynet Portals, which use a cryptocurrency called Siacoin on the Sia network. Portal operating costs are paid by operators, but we encourage users to support portal operators, developers, and content creators by signing up for a user account. Like many crypto currencies the current operation is heavily funded by subsidy from minted coins.
  - jeroenhd 5y ago
    Aaaaand it's a crypto scheme. It always has to be crypto schemes.
    - mekster 5y ago
      And your point is?
    - lachstar-x 5y ago
      Damn those crypto schemes that give away free usable file storage and bandwidth! Making it easier to share files on the internet, grr!
      - viraptor 5y ago
        The same thing would be cheaper to operate without the crypto backend. And it wouldn't raise the awareness/price for Sia.
        5y ago
incompatible 5y ago
I have more success with https://skyportal.xyz/ https://skyportal.xyz/, since after upload it gives a visible link for download. The "Copy Link" buttons never work for me for some reason, probably because of Linux clipboard differences.
- kamy22 5y ago
  We will work on it. I opened an issue on GitHub.
- Markoff 5y ago
  Save you a click - 1 GB file size limit which they don't mention anywhere on site, until you try to upload something bigger, how hard is to mention it clearly in advance?
  - kamy22 5y ago
    SkyTransfer is the result of an hackathon. It is open source so feel free to create an issue on GitHub for that or submit a PR for adding more information in the About section. As we wrote, "SkyTransfer is still in development. Please report any issues, new ideas or bugs". You know, our time is limited and we are doing our best.
em-bee 5y ago
i'd like a service that doesn't make me upload anything elsewhere, but serves the data directly from my computer. and only uses a server to help the sender and receiver find each other and potentially bridge the connection if a direct connection doesn't work. bittorrent does that, but it is to much effort to create and share a torrent. i'd like to click or run a script "share this.file" and get back an URL with a key, which i can share by email. then the recipient clicks that link and downloads the file without needing any software except a standard browser.
- chessmango 5y ago
  https://www.sharedrop.io/ https://www.sharedrop.io/
  - kamy22 5y ago
    > *Devices need to have the same public IP to see each other. ShareDrop assumes you are in the same network. It's a big limitation.
    - chessmango 5y ago
      That's when used without any identifiers - use a specific URL: https://www.sharedrop.io/rooms/d602bb4d-5277-413d-b302-62d5f5bf10b7 https://www.sharedrop.io/rooms/d602bb4d-5277-413d-b302-62d5f... And cross-network transfer is doable :P
      - kamy22 5y ago
        Cool thing! Thanks for sharing it, I have to try it :) ShareDrop looks like a great AirDrop alternative. Regarding SkyTransfer, we created it for fun and to prove that Skynet and Sia technology work and people can create cool stuff with it. We strongly believe in technology behind SkyTransfer (not the value of the coin in the markets). File can be downloaded at any time, you just need the link. If a portal is down, you can simply switch to a different one. Obviously there is much more behind it, but it makes no sense to dwell on these discussions.
mm983 5y ago
Why did my submission on this, with the exact same title and 7 hours earlier, only get 3 upvotes and this one got 80? At least pick an original title dude
- dang 5y ago
  The answer is randomness. It's largely random which submission of a story gets liftoff from /newest. That's why we allow reposts—we want good stories to get multiple cracks at the bat. I realize it's frustrating when your submission 'loses' and someone else's 'wins', but since it's random, it at least evens out in the long run if you submit lots of good stories. Eventually we'll implement some sort of karma sharing to take care of this.
Markoff 5y ago
what is the file size limit and minimal storage period? can't see it anywhere on homepage or in About section
- kamy22 5y ago
  > what is the file size limit The actual file size limit of the portal is 1GB. SkyTransfer file size limit is ~700MB. Since the encrypted data are Base64 encoded and the Base64 encoding has an overhead of 33%, the encrypted data are correspondingly larger compared to the unencrypted data. This limit will be increased as soon as possible. > minimal storage period Files uploaded to Skynet will remain available as long as a portal pins the skyfile (agrees to pay from it). The rule-of-thumb for a minimum time is 3 months, but this will vary from portal to portal and could depend on if you have a user account with the portal. You can pin files yourself by running your own portal, and any portal can pin any file that already exists on the network. https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-data-remain-on-skynet https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-d...

92 points by spamalot159 5y ago

RamRodification 5y ago

How is it decentralized if step one is to upload the file to the central file-sharing service?

gralx 5y ago
From "Skynet Basics"[0], > Behind the scenes, a Skynet portal is a Sia renter that rents and stores data for its users and can retrieve files from storage being rented by other portals. I think you're describing one such portal. [0]https://support.siasky.net/getting-started/skynet-basics https://support.siasky.net/getting-started/skynet-basics
Saris 5y ago
The back end might be because it's using Sia, but I think it's misleading to call this web app decentralized.
Taek 5y ago
siasky.net is a portal. skytransfer.hns.siasky.net is one way to access this service. skytransfer.hns.skyportal.xyz is another way to access this service. Or you could run your own portal (it takes about a weekend to set up and about $50 of siacoin), and access the service from there. The magic is that any file you upload to one portal is instantly (within about 5 seconds) available on any other portal. The portals themselves aren't running any sort of DHT or federated network - if you upload a file to a portal, then all portals go offline simultaneously, then you spin up a brand new portal, that brand new portal will still be able to see the file you uploaded.
- eps 5y ago
  > ... of siacoin From "looks interesting" to "close tab" in one word.
  - Taek 5y ago
    If you've got a suggestion for an alternative way to build Skynet, I'm all ears.
  - cyphermoon 5y ago
    this is just silly. do you have any specific issues? or are you just prejudicial against the whole crypto space? highly recommend you visit https://siasky.net https://siasky.net and see for yourself
    - iad 5y ago
      > How to mine Siacoin > Siacoin can be efficiently mined with ASIC mining machines. Not sure why you implied there was any need to look further into this. It seems to be based on proof of waste.
      - cyphermoon 5y ago
        https://squareup.com/us/en/press/bcei-white-paper https://squareup.com/us/en/press/bcei-white-paper You seem to have a very definitive and final opinion on proof of work - would love to hear your opinion on this paper

joenathanone 5y ago

Interesting name choice, hopefully they don't get sued ala SkyDrive https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/microsoft-officially-rebrands-skydrive-to-onedrive/ https://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/microsoft-officially-rebra...

tvb12 5y ago
I think the developers of the game No Man's Sky faced a similar lawsuit.

degenerate 5y ago

Another app that does the same thing is SkySend: https://skysend.hns.siasky.net https://skysend.hns.siasky.net However the difference I am seeing with SkyTransfer -- it operates more like Dropbox/GDrive; your uploaded files are displayed on a shareable download link, rather than only supporting one-off uploads like SkySend. Both services are identical in that they encrypt files before storing them (somewhere) on Sia Skynet for approximately 3 months: https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-data-remain-on-skynet https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-d...

dkarras 5y ago

For the current incarnation of this site: I uploaded something and am able to download it. Cool. My question is: Who is paying for it?

X6S1x6Okd1st 5y ago
https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-data-remain-on-skynet https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-d... Uploading files to Skynet is free, but without a user account, most portals will store your files for a minimum of 3 months. Storage expenses are paid by Skynet Portals, which use a cryptocurrency called Siacoin on the Sia network. Portal operating costs are paid by operators, but we encourage users to support portal operators, developers, and content creators by signing up for a user account. Like many crypto currencies the current operation is heavily funded by subsidy from minted coins.
- jeroenhd 5y ago
  Aaaaand it's a crypto scheme. It always has to be crypto schemes.
  - mekster 5y ago
    And your point is?
  - lachstar-x 5y ago
    Damn those crypto schemes that give away free usable file storage and bandwidth! Making it easier to share files on the internet, grr!
    - viraptor 5y ago
      The same thing would be cheaper to operate without the crypto backend. And it wouldn't raise the awareness/price for Sia.
      - 5y ago

incompatible 5y ago

I have more success with https://skyportal.xyz/ https://skyportal.xyz/, since after upload it gives a visible link for download. The "Copy Link" buttons never work for me for some reason, probably because of Linux clipboard differences.

kamy22 5y ago
We will work on it. I opened an issue on GitHub.
Markoff 5y ago
Save you a click - 1 GB file size limit which they don't mention anywhere on site, until you try to upload something bigger, how hard is to mention it clearly in advance?
- kamy22 5y ago
  SkyTransfer is the result of an hackathon. It is open source so feel free to create an issue on GitHub for that or submit a PR for adding more information in the About section. As we wrote, "SkyTransfer is still in development. Please report any issues, new ideas or bugs". You know, our time is limited and we are doing our best.

em-bee 5y ago

i'd like a service that doesn't make me upload anything elsewhere, but serves the data directly from my computer. and only uses a server to help the sender and receiver find each other and potentially bridge the connection if a direct connection doesn't work. bittorrent does that, but it is to much effort to create and share a torrent. i'd like to click or run a script "share this.file" and get back an URL with a key, which i can share by email. then the recipient clicks that link and downloads the file without needing any software except a standard browser.

chessmango 5y ago
https://www.sharedrop.io/ https://www.sharedrop.io/
- kamy22 5y ago
  > *Devices need to have the same public IP to see each other. ShareDrop assumes you are in the same network. It's a big limitation.
  - chessmango 5y ago
    That's when used without any identifiers - use a specific URL: https://www.sharedrop.io/rooms/d602bb4d-5277-413d-b302-62d5f5bf10b7 https://www.sharedrop.io/rooms/d602bb4d-5277-413d-b302-62d5f... And cross-network transfer is doable :P
    - kamy22 5y ago
      Cool thing! Thanks for sharing it, I have to try it :) ShareDrop looks like a great AirDrop alternative. Regarding SkyTransfer, we created it for fun and to prove that Skynet and Sia technology work and people can create cool stuff with it. We strongly believe in technology behind SkyTransfer (not the value of the coin in the markets). File can be downloaded at any time, you just need the link. If a portal is down, you can simply switch to a different one. Obviously there is much more behind it, but it makes no sense to dwell on these discussions.

mm983 5y ago

Why did my submission on this, with the exact same title and 7 hours earlier, only get 3 upvotes and this one got 80? At least pick an original title dude

dang 5y ago
The answer is randomness. It's largely random which submission of a story gets liftoff from /newest. That's why we allow reposts—we want good stories to get multiple cracks at the bat. I realize it's frustrating when your submission 'loses' and someone else's 'wins', but since it's random, it at least evens out in the long run if you submit lots of good stories. Eventually we'll implement some sort of karma sharing to take care of this.

Markoff 5y ago

what is the file size limit and minimal storage period? can't see it anywhere on homepage or in About section

kamy22 5y ago
> what is the file size limit The actual file size limit of the portal is 1GB. SkyTransfer file size limit is ~700MB. Since the encrypted data are Base64 encoded and the Base64 encoding has an overhead of 33%, the encrypted data are correspondingly larger compared to the unencrypted data. This limit will be increased as soon as possible. > minimal storage period Files uploaded to Skynet will remain available as long as a portal pins the skyfile (agrees to pay from it). The rule-of-thumb for a minimum time is 3 months, but this will vary from portal to portal and could depend on if you have a user account with the portal. You can pin files yourself by running your own portal, and any portal can pin any file that already exists on the network. https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-data-remain-on-skynet https://support.siasky.net/key-concepts/faqs#how-long-does-d...