Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Napster alternatives

[Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

There were better programs for P2P file sharing before Napster even came
out. Napster just simplified it and added a cute name which helped it
spread faster. It also happened to be in the right place at the right
time. So while better programs existed before Napster some lessons (such
as simplified interface) were learned from Napster. Also it was probably
the first free program of it's type for Windows which brought the concept
of P2P file sharing to people who weren't familiar with it.

As I mentioned before I think Jabber is a great medium to build a
filesharing service. You already have a simple UI structure well defined
as well as flexible XML-ized backend for communicating between
clients. All you really need to do is define a structure for searches and
making files available for search and add some sort of basic file transfer
agent, which is as simple as picking from one of the already available
protocols.

Then you can join Jabber communities allowing you to chat with anyone
online in that community as well as search and share files. It's more
targeted than Napster by being in communities, there is no central server,
and it won't suffer from huge system lag because again it is limited into
communities. It'd probably be wise to allow search caches to limit net
lag. ie If a peer has a file one time then it is likely they'll have it
next time too so that fact can be remembered and that server tried before
looking elsewhere.

*^*^*^*
Have the courage to take your own thoughts seriously, for they will shape
you. -- Albert Einstein

On Tue, 13 Feb 2001, Hunter Cook wrote:

> That's right...gnapster will not save us from the upcoming napster 
> fees...They are going to charge for the login, so regardless of your client 
> you will need to pay to make it work.  But napster is junk anyway.  I mean, 
> we all use it because it's *available*, but it is seriously flawed.  One 
> file type (no vorbis?)?  Central server?  It's not only politically and 
> legally unstable, it's not particularly robust or flexible, either.  I have 
> been wondering for quite some time when we will go to the next level and 
> build some sort of open-standardized, filetype-independant, peer-to-peer, 
> secure, and fast protocol for simple file transfer.  I'm not much of an 
> expert in this arena, but if an internet "community" can build a whole posix 
> system, I don't see why we couldn't whip napster.  Anyone know of any 
> current projects in this arena?  Anyone wanna start one?
> 
> Hunter.
> 
> >From: Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>
> >Reply-To: EMAIL:PROTECTED
> >To: MLUG discussion <EMAIL:PROTECTED>
> >Subject: Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Napster alternatives
> >Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 10:57:15 -0600 (CST)
> >MIME-Version: 1.0
> >Received: from [128.206.94.75] by hotmail.com (3.2) with ESMTP id 
> >MHotMailBC52B2B1000F4004311A80CE5E4BE3280; Tue Feb 13 08:58:28 2001
> >Received: from localhost (EMAIL:PROTECTED)by mlug.missouri.edu 
> >(8.9.3/8.9.3/Debian 8.9.3-21) with SMTP id KAA21539;Tue, 13 Feb 2001 
> >10:57:14 -0600
> >Received: by mlug.missouri.edu (bulk_mailer v1.12); Tue, 13 Feb 2001 
> >10:57:14 -0600
> >Received: (from EMAIL:PROTECTED)by mlug.missouri.edu 
> >(8.9.3/8.9.3/Debian 8.9.3-21) id KAA21535for discussion-list; Tue, 13 Feb 
> >2001 10:57:14 -0600
> >Received: from taxa.psyc.missouri.edu (taxa.psyc.missouri.edu 
> >[128.206.38.235])by mlug.missouri.edu (8.9.3/8.9.3/Debian 8.9.3-21) with 
> >ESMTP id KAA21532for <EMAIL:PROTECTED>; Tue, 13 Feb 2001 
> >10:57:14 -0600
> >Received: from localhost (EMAIL:PROTECTED)by taxa.psyc.missouri.edu 
> >(8.9.3/8.9.0) with ESMTP id KAA08775for <EMAIL:PROTECTED>; 
> >Tue, 13 Feb 2001 10:57:15 -0600 (CST)
> >From EMAIL:PROTECTED Tue Feb 13 08:59:31 2001
> >In-Reply-To: <EMAIL:PROTECTED>
> >Message-ID: 
> ><EMAIL:PROTECTED>
> >Sender: EMAIL:PROTECTED
> >
> >On Tue, 13 Feb 2001, Logan a.k.a Cronix wrote:
> >
> > > you probobly know already but there is a nice little spin-off of napster 
> >for
> > > linux, its called Gnapster.  you can get it at
> > > http://www.faradic.net/~jasta/gnapster.html
> >
> >If I understand correctly, that program just allows the user to access the
> >Napster service, so it isn't an alternative to Napster.  It's really just
> >Napster with a different front end.  Right?
> >
> >Mike
> >
> >--
> >To manage your subscription, go to 
> >http://mlug.missouri.edu/members/edit.php
> >
> >Archives are available at http://mlug.missouri.edu/list-archives/
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
> 
> --
> To manage your subscription, go to http://mlug.missouri.edu/members/edit.php
> 
> Archives are available at http://mlug.missouri.edu/list-archives/
> 

--
To manage your subscription, go to http://mlug.missouri.edu/members/edit.php

Archives are available at http://mlug.missouri.edu/list-archives/