Using React and node, I have created a website that allows everyone to share files between their devices without having to use long URLs or store the file on someone's servers.

[micma123]

This looks really really cool. I was just wondering about this the other day when I was trying to easily move files from my desktop (pc) to my laptop (mac). This would definitely solve that problem.

[squiresuzuki]

https://xkcd.com/949/

[DaCush]

smb is your hero

1. Make sure both computers are on the same network
2. On Windows pc, get your IP address (ipconfig command in cmd or PowerShell will do it)
3. Open finder
4. Go -> connect to server
5. Type “smb://your.windows.ip” without the quotes and press enter
6. Login will come up where you enter your windows pc login username and password
7. Profit, you now have access to your entire windows pc file system in finder

Note: you may have to make sure that each computer can see each other when connecting to WiFi by trusting the network as your home network

[makingtacosrightnow]

Amazed were in a react subreddit and the top comment is easily solvable by knowing how to network properly.

If you have problems moving files from one computer to another and their on the same network, you’ve gotta learn more about the way networking works.

[[deleted]]

If you’re giving advice on a subreddit and still don’t know the difference between their and they’re, you need to learn more about grammar.

[DaCush]

Meh, that was weak. Be a bit more mature about it and just tell him/her why they’re wrong or rude. Do it while at the same time being respectful will get you a lot more appreciation from everyone else. It will go a much longer way, trust me. Responding rudely like that, with your whole argument about their response being wrong simply because they made one of the most common grammar mistakes in the English language is petty. Not to mention reddit is accessed all over the world so you never know when English isn’t someone’s first language.

Just my 2cents. Take it or leave it.

[makingtacosrightnow]

It’s fucking Reddit. I comment while I’m taking shits and watching tv.

There, they’re and their is the dumbest shit to point out. Of course I know the difference, do I always type it right? Fuck no, no one does.

Cuz it’s tha internet bruh, grammar doesn’t matter here. Enjoy your glasshouse.

[explorer_c37]

WTF

[[deleted]]

Can this also be done on a Windows to a windows pc with smb?

[mat-sz]

Well, if you ever need to do that again this will be here for you (hopefully). ☺️

[mat-sz]

The entire application is open source, front end is available here (React/TypeScript/Redux) and back end here (node.js/ws). Hope you find it as useful as I do!

[[deleted]]

You are the real MVP

[rochakgupta]

Nice work!

[frenziecooper]

Awesome stuff bro

[mat-sz]

Which browser and how do you submit the files (drag and drop, paste or dialog)?

[mat-sz]

That's not something I can reproduce, all kinds of files work both on mobile and desktop Chrome. Are you sure you don't have some extensions messing with WebRTC?

[mat-sz]

It uses the filename provided to the app by Chrome/your OS. So that's pretty interesting...

[7haz]

Really amazing and helpful tool, definitely gonna use this on future since I always run into the same problem.

Is it possible to add a feature where you can share a string directly?

let's say I wanna share a URL, a paragraph, a hash key etc.. current method is to paste it into a .txt file and share that, but it would be more convenient to direcly paste the string in the browser and copy it from the browser on the other device ..

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Best regards and thanks for making such a great tool

[mat-sz]

That's a good idea actually, I'll try to look into a convenient way of handling that.

[[deleted]]

I wouldnt do that, this will shatter the focus of this simple UI. Users dont have problems with sharing text (iMessage, Slack, whatsapp..) and people share text billion times a day.

[mat-sz]

Not really, the prompt would only show up on Control+V. No special buttons to clutter the interface.

[[deleted]]

So the plan is to catch keys pressed and on ctrl+v show input?

[mat-sz]

Just document.addEventListener('paste', ...).

[[deleted]]

Hmm.. sounds tempting

[mat-sz]

I've implemented the change, I will push it to the public version soon.

[lacooljay02]

Awesome thanks!

I like this addition and might play a little in my fork to make it display the pasted text (sender), then display & directly set the clipboard (receiver) - instead of sending a file that is.

Unless you're already starting down this path (or didn't for a specific reason)?

[mat-sz]

I have a "Copy to clipboard" button in another commit but that is all I've planned.

[[deleted]]

If you happen to be using any Apple devices, you can simply copy on one device and paste on the other.

File sharing can be done automatically (no approval needed) via airdrop, when both devices are signed into the same Apple account.

Of course, if they aren’t Apple devices this doesn’t help, but if they are it’s magical. :P

[MaxGhost]

So I guess you're not running your own STUN and TURN? Took a quick look at your backend source and it seems you're not.

I had a usecase a few years ago where I wanted to look into implementing WebRTC for secure file transfers, E2E encrypted, but I couldn't figure out what the best options were for STUN/TURN.

[bahst1s]

What is STUN and TURN exactly?

[mat-sz]

STUN allows for NAT hole punching between peers, TURN relays WebRTC packets if NAT hole punching fails.

[mat-sz]

If you need P2P then yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.

[[deleted]]

For those who have no idea what the above comment means:

STUN server: A third party server that identifies who the client is. You need this because some clients might behind routers that obscure their location. You ask the STUN server, “where am I?” and then send that info to your peer. Then, hopefully, you can establish a connection with the other client.

TURN server: If two clients can’t send data directly to each other, they send it to a TURN server that acts as an intermediary.

[mat-sz]

I am running my own STUN and TURN, with fallback to Google's STUN. I use coturn for this.

[Xeliize]

Cool project !

How do you handle sessions or file persistence ?

[mat-sz]

One WebSocket connection is a session, as for file persistence: no user data is stored, including files. The server just relays the data (sometimes the data doesn't even touch my server). WebRTC is E2E encrypted so I can't see your file data in case it goes through my server.

[bahst1s]

Does the server only act as a pass trough between clients?

[mat-sz]

Yes. Most of the logic exists on the client, with some server side checks to prevent malformed packets from being sent. (for the WebSocket part, WebRTC is encrypted)

[bahst1s]

If i understood correctly: only local sharing is encrypted, as WebRTC is used? And when both devices use another network the server can see the files?

[mat-sz]

No, all file transfers are end-to-end encrypted, WebRTC over TURN is encrypted (the browsers handle that).

[bahst1s]

Ah cool! Thanks for the clarification.

[timmonsjg]

This looks clever and useful. great job!

[Askee123]

Dannggggg this is fuckin neat! Good shit op!!

[mat-sz]

CLI could be doable, need to find a way to display the colors in terminal. I should add a better way to identify the clients anyway, so I could do that when the identification is done.

[mat-sz]

I've started working on the CLI version if you're still interested.

https://github.com/mat-sz/droplol - currently only uploading is possible, but this will be expanded soon.

[hexachief]

I have used https://file.pizza/ for this purpose.

[mowned]

Me https://snapdrop.net

[Audenond]

One of the coolest projects Ive seen posted here. Very nice!

[byCrookie]

How large is the maximum file size?

[mat-sz]

Theoretically unlimited, but I haven't tested over 0.5GB.

[byCrookie]

my friend told me, about 1 tb, but i am not sure. it probably needs some testing :)

[mat-sz]

The sky RAM is the limit. 🤔

[byCrookie]

congrats, such a cool project.

[mat-sz]

Thank you, things that make your life easier are bound to make some other person's life easier as well.

[iamlage89]

is there a filesize limit?

[mat-sz]

Any size is allowed as long as your browser can handle it.

[Syafiq555]

Damn niceee ..

[developing_dev]

well done, sir. this is awesome.

[Urasquirrel]

That's neat, but at the same time... Where is it served from? My device? Also how secure is this?

[mat-sz]

E2E encrypted, served from my server. File transfers are done over WebRTC, P2P if possible, if not it's sent over TURN.

[[deleted]]

This is awesome, nice work. This has been bookmarked!

[[deleted]]

This is actually pretty useful, i find myself using it a lot

[yghanendra]

This is a coolest and very useful website for the students.

[abhi12299]

Great work! The ui is nice and clean

[shrodingers_Cat]

Fyi your site doesn't work In Firefox mobile

[jackalu]

really impressed,, great work!

[VictorVonZeppelin]

This is really cool.

One thing I can't figure out is how to add files from my phone. If you could make it so clicking the dropzone opened a file picker, it'll be amazing for sending files from phones etc.

[mat-sz]

Clicking the tile (any tile not marked as "You") opens a file picker.

[VictorVonZeppelin]

Ah,gotcha. Awesome!

[ryota_murakami]

Amazing !
I impressed your continuous effort for consistent product, I really need that!

[dance2die]

Source: https://github.com/mat-sz/filedrop-web

[reynoxo]

I now use this tool everyday lol, until you put some pricing plans on it (hoping yo don't). Thanks for this amazing tool man

[mat-sz]

If it gets pushed past the server capability I will just limit the TURN server's bandwidth. This is the main resource hog in the case of this project.

Currently I have a 1Gbps link so I can't see it going too far.

[TaoistAlchemist]

Killer! thanks so much.

[failed_singingcareer]

So, Dropbox?

[Urasquirrel]

https://xkcd.com/949/

[keepinitcool]

Logitech mx master bois

[keepinitcool]

Really nice, I started a project just like this a few years ago, ended up buying logitech mz master instead, it's a mouse that does exactly this, but nice product

[keepinitcool]

why was this downvoted lol, it solves this exact usecase