File-sharing program
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A file-sharing program is used to directly or indirectly transfer files from one computer to another computer over a network (e.g. the Internet). While the term may be used to describe client-server disk sharing (also known as shared file access or disk mounting), it is more commonly used to describe file sharing using the peer-to-peer (P2P) model.
Peer-to-peer file sharing typically operates using a network, such as Gnutella or BitTorrent. There are trade offs to using one network over another network. A variety of file-sharing programs are available on these different networks. It is common for commercial file sharing clients to contain abrasive advertising software or spyware.
[edit] Categories of clients
- Centralized Clients: OpenNap
- Decentralized clients: Gnutella
- Benefits: Usually more reliable and rarely shut down
- Negatives: Generally slower than centralized systems
- Decentralized tracker-based clients: BitTorrent
- Benefits: Very fast due to concentration of bittorrent networks on a single file, is principally used to offer new, large files for download, many tracker sites available
- Negatives: Not centrally searchable, tracker sites are often closed down from legal suits or fail, not truly anonymous
- Multi-network clients
- Benefits: allows connection to more than one network, almost always on the client side.
- Negatives: often playing catch-up to individual networks' changes and updates.
- Anonymous peer-to-peer: Freenet, GNUnet, MUTE, I2P
- Benefits: allows for the uncensored free flow of information and ideas
- Negatives: due to anonymity it allows for questionable or illegal material to be exchanged easier than other networks, often slower than regular p2p because of the overhead
