5 ms·

Ever notice how most things P2P aren't really P2P? Like here for example, there are still servers involved running IPFS and Tor.

deleted 3y ago
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holmesworcester 3y ago
(Quiet founder here) We actually don't use any of that server-based IPFS infrastructure at all. Since Quiet is built on closed, private IPFS networks that are specific to each community we don't touch the global IPFS network. I think it's fair to call Tor a peer-to-peer network, especially if you don't use the exit nodes, which we do not. Yes, it's a peer-to-peer network with some special roles and generous volunteers who run always-on nodes, often on professional infrastructure. But Tor's design is peer-to-peer and Tor has paid thorough attention to the job of limiting the power of each node to harm the network, spy on users, etc. But yes, it's an excellent observation, and I totally agree with you that building real-world peer-to-peer networks with today's Internet and the world as it exists right now does require some compromises! The trick is to make sure those compromises are worth it and don't harm the goals you are trying to achieve. For us we're pretty confident they don't. Right now, Quiet lets you download a client and have a shared community space on the Internet with others that does not depend on any one entity's infrastructure. And no one, including us, has any special kind of technical control over what you do or say there. And you don't have to bring your own server (or have a friend with a server) to benefit from this freedom and power. These properties seem very significant to me, and that motivates me to keep chipping away on Quiet, despite the fact that things aren't always as pure as we might like them to be :)
benlivengood 3y ago
There are still intermediate third-party routers between ISPs in any P2P system with less than a full mesh wireless network. Ham radio and audible conversation through the atmosphere are probably the only pure P2P connections.

deleted 3y ago

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holmesworcester 3y ago

(Quiet founder here) We actually don't use any of that server-based IPFS infrastructure at all. Since Quiet is built on closed, private IPFS networks that are specific to each community we don't touch the global IPFS network. I think it's fair to call Tor a peer-to-peer network, especially if you don't use the exit nodes, which we do not. Yes, it's a peer-to-peer network with some special roles and generous volunteers who run always-on nodes, often on professional infrastructure. But Tor's design is peer-to-peer and Tor has paid thorough attention to the job of limiting the power of each node to harm the network, spy on users, etc. But yes, it's an excellent observation, and I totally agree with you that building real-world peer-to-peer networks with today's Internet and the world as it exists right now does require some compromises! The trick is to make sure those compromises are worth it and don't harm the goals you are trying to achieve. For us we're pretty confident they don't. Right now, Quiet lets you download a client and have a shared community space on the Internet with others that does not depend on any one entity's infrastructure. And no one, including us, has any special kind of technical control over what you do or say there. And you don't have to bring your own server (or have a friend with a server) to benefit from this freedom and power. These properties seem very significant to me, and that motivates me to keep chipping away on Quiet, despite the fact that things aren't always as pure as we might like them to be :)

benlivengood 3y ago

There are still intermediate third-party routers between ISPs in any P2P system with less than a full mesh wireless network. Ham radio and audible conversation through the atmosphere are probably the only pure P2P connections.