4 ms·

If only we had something like AirDrop that reliably worked cross-platform. Proximity-based sharing just makes significantly more sense than uploading files to

If only we had something like AirDrop that reliably worked cross-platform. Proximity-based sharing just makes significantly more sense than uploading files to some server miles away, then immediately redownloading them back when the computer was two feet away from you the whole time.

mkotowski 3y ago
Maybe LocalSend? https://localsend.org/ https://localsend.org/ Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and macOS. Seems quite cross-platform. Can confirm it works smoothly for Linux and Android at the very least.
- lifestyleguru 3y ago
  Most people will happily install entire ad package from Meta and Google, but not some unknown "LocalSend app".
  - Eisenstein 3y ago
    I know that Meta and Google make money from data, but they are also competent, so they can be trusted to at least not get breeched or sell the data to the an aggregator.
    - ogurechny 3y ago
      “But they feed us for free in our competent concentration camp!”
      - Eisenstein 3y ago
        If the choice was between 'the competent concentration camp' and 'the concentration camp run by one dude in his spare time', then if the question is 'which one is more likely to feed me', then yes, that is apt.
- happymellon 3y ago
  Seconded for LocalSend. Works a treat for me.
  - ryandrake 3y ago
    Insane that we need a third party application for something as basic as this. This is as bad as an OS not shipping with a file browser.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
- mrpotato 3y ago
  I just tried it and it works as expected for Windows <--> Android. I was using syncthing but this will replace it for one offs. EDIT: I checked out another app in the comments and their website mentioned that it didn't work with a VPN. I can also confirm that LocalSend works when connected to VPN.
- geophile 3y ago
  Never heard of it. Just tried it. Easy to install and run, copied one file in each direction (Linux/iOS). Seems to good to be true. Are we sure this isn't malware?
XorNot 3y ago
Pairdrop was posted on HN a little while back and I setup an instance on my home network. Doesn't work everywhere obviously but it does seem to effectively solve this problem within my household. https://github.com/schlagmichdoch/PairDrop https://github.com/schlagmichdoch/PairDrop
- esafak 3y ago
  It dropped files midstream for me. Name checks out, I guess.
- Jolter 3y ago
  Does it require self-hosting a service?
  - fimdomeio 3y ago
    no, you can use https://pairdrop.net/ https://pairdrop.net/
akshayt 3y ago
Nearby share maybe. It is being merged with quick share from samsung.
NotPractical 3y ago
Syncthing tries to send over the LAN if it's available, and only uses Internet relay servers if it can't establish LAN connectivity. This is why it's (usually) blazing fast. Not sure why the OP thinks this is a misuse of the tool. In fact, it's probably one of the intended purposes of it.

mkotowski 3y ago

Maybe LocalSend? https://localsend.org/ https://localsend.org/ Windows, Linux, Android, iOS and macOS. Seems quite cross-platform. Can confirm it works smoothly for Linux and Android at the very least.

lifestyleguru 3y ago
Most people will happily install entire ad package from Meta and Google, but not some unknown "LocalSend app".
- Eisenstein 3y ago
  I know that Meta and Google make money from data, but they are also competent, so they can be trusted to at least not get breeched or sell the data to the an aggregator.
  - ogurechny 3y ago
    “But they feed us for free in our competent concentration camp!”
    - Eisenstein 3y ago
      If the choice was between 'the competent concentration camp' and 'the concentration camp run by one dude in his spare time', then if the question is 'which one is more likely to feed me', then yes, that is apt.
happymellon 3y ago
Seconded for LocalSend. Works a treat for me.
- ryandrake 3y ago
  Insane that we need a third party application for something as basic as this. This is as bad as an OS not shipping with a file browser.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
mrpotato 3y ago
I just tried it and it works as expected for Windows <--> Android. I was using syncthing but this will replace it for one offs. EDIT: I checked out another app in the comments and their website mentioned that it didn't work with a VPN. I can also confirm that LocalSend works when connected to VPN.
geophile 3y ago
Never heard of it. Just tried it. Easy to install and run, copied one file in each direction (Linux/iOS). Seems to good to be true. Are we sure this isn't malware?

XorNot 3y ago

Pairdrop was posted on HN a little while back and I setup an instance on my home network. Doesn't work everywhere obviously but it does seem to effectively solve this problem within my household. https://github.com/schlagmichdoch/PairDrop https://github.com/schlagmichdoch/PairDrop

esafak 3y ago
It dropped files midstream for me. Name checks out, I guess.
Jolter 3y ago
Does it require self-hosting a service?
- fimdomeio 3y ago
  no, you can use https://pairdrop.net/ https://pairdrop.net/

akshayt 3y ago

Nearby share maybe. It is being merged with quick share from samsung.

NotPractical 3y ago

Syncthing tries to send over the LAN if it's available, and only uses Internet relay servers if it can't establish LAN connectivity. This is why it's (usually) blazing fast. Not sure why the OP thinks this is a misuse of the tool. In fact, it's probably one of the intended purposes of it.