Although in general, the concept of web based file sharing can be directed towards the use of 1 click FTP or HTTP file downloading, however, only the FTP allows uploading since the HTTP version is strictly downloading.

Along came the P2P and bit torrent file sharing protocols. The P2P network was the first to arrive on the scene, but unfortunately it was still a centralized file sharing network. Napster was one of these networks in which a server handles the storing of a file for others to download.

Following the P2P’s centralized network was the decentralization by the bit torrent protocol. But this was not enough for many people as their internet connection may not be fast enough for the download of a file. In response, a PHP based web server application was developed to allow someone to turn a high bandwidth server into their bit torrent client and once the file was downloaded, they could simply access it via FTP.

When this web based bit torrent client application was released, it did not have a sufficient amount of extras, so many people would make their own hacks. These hacks included the changing of lines of code as well as adding lines of code to the base PHP script. Although this issue would become overwhelming as people would add more hacks, they would also have to maintain logs of changes so they could do future hacks as well.

In response to all these issues involved with literally hacking the lines of PHP code, another person sat down and rewrote the entire install program to utilize all off the more popular hacks to this web based bit torrent client application.

This does not mean in any way shape or form that the web based bit torrent client is an attempt to recentralize the file sharing networks, but rather aide in the faster transfer of files amongst its peers. A user who has a dial-up connection, can install this bit torrent client application on a free hosted web server that offers PHP and databases, and once the download is complete, they can access it via FTP, which on some connections may be a sufficient amount faster that their standard dial-up access.

One of the major downfalls though, is the fact that using a server to download torrents of a dubious nature can make you more visible. Of course the number one reason some may opt for this selection though is not for their personal speed capabilities, but for the throttling that their ISP may do to their bit torrent connections. However you decide to access the bit torrent network, just remember that some files may be under copyright and therefore one must take into account the possibility of getting caught with pirated intellectual data.

Popularity: 77% [?]

To talk about the history of the bit torrent protocol and P2P file sharing, you cannot just simply start off with the P2P protocol, but rather like many stories, you have to start at the beginning.

1972 marked the birth of the file sharing revolution. This first form of peer file sharing was aptly known as Sneakerner due to the lack of interne access at the time. Sneakernet was exactly as it sounds, one would place a file on a floppy and deliver it in person or via mail.

It would be 6 years latter at the birth of the internet era that the first BBS would become available in 1978. Although back then the sharing of actual files was harder than it is today, the concept was there. It would not be until 2 years later that the BBS would evolve into the Usenet thanks to the development by Jim Ellis and Tom Truscott at Duke University.

1985 however, marked an important year to the file sharing idea. It was this same year that the File Transfer Protocol or FTP would be developed allowing people to share files via a centralized server.

Three years later the Internet Relay Chat was developed and replaced the MultiUser Talk protocol allowing for faster communications with others, starting the need for faster communications, this eventually led to the development of what is known as the World Wide Web today as it was developed by Tim Berners-Lee in 1990.

The next big thing in the file sharing arena was not PC, but it was Mac. Hotline was the file sharing network as it was introduced at the MacWorld Expo in 1997 and became the number one file sharing vehicle for the various Mac users around the world.

1998 marked the birth of MP3.COM as well as the release of the world’s first MP3 player which led MP3 Newswire to become the first digital media sharing website. It was with the birth of the MP3 and the need to convert music tracks to MP3 that would lead to the birth of the digital copyright infringement.

A year latter, Napster was to take the central stage as a completely illegal website that allowed someone to make a MP3 file of their favorite song and share it with others, this led to not just lawsuits, but several teenagers now have criminal records due to their downloading habits.

It was not until 2000 when the first decentralized file sharing network was developed. This decentralized network was the Gnutella-network and led to the birth of a new idealism in file sharing around the world.

Two years later, the bit torrent protocol would be debut to the world, and eventually take a choke-hold on the file sharing technology around the world.

Popularity: 94% [?]

When file sharing through a peer-to-peer network first started, it was very centralized. In other words, a user who wished to share a file with others, would then have to upload that file to a server so that others could access it through that same server. Back then, there were no nodes, one computer would not talk and download a file from another computer, unless you are counting the server as that other computer.

From there, if you were looking for a file, you would basically type in your search requirements and if it was available, you could start downloading it directly from the server as the file was located there and not on the creator’s personal computer. Napster was probably one of the most famous of these centralized servers.

Napster became immensely popular shortly after the development of the MP3 file format, and subsequently, allowed people to share their favorite song with others via the MP3 format. Unfortunately, this was piracy and illegal. Eventually Napster was shut down, and several teenage users faced criminal prosecution for their “piracy.” Since then, Napster has then changed to a paid service and now offers high quality MP3 soundtracks for it clients. Napster today is still centralized, but due to the fact that it is now a paid service, it can no longer be in the category with the peer-to-peer file sharing. Once upon a time, it was sharing of files, but today, you are buying the files.

There are a number of services out there today offering the same centralized service, but this is not to be confused with file sharing. If you have to pay for the file, then you are not sharing it you are buying it. Some of the “Non” file sharing services now include Napster, Lime-Wire, Real and I-Pod. By technicality, these are not file sharing, as if they were sharing the file, you would not get charged for it.

File sharing is free, if you pay for it, regardless as to the price, you are paying too much.

Basically, according to these standards, you have only a few remaining protocols that can fall under file sharing. Obviously, the bit torrent protocol falls under file sharing, regardless as to the name of the application. Another is Magnet, while at the same time, another program called Ares allows for file sharing, the program is free, it allows you to not only view the movies and hear the music files, but it allows you to do this while you are in the middle of the download.

There are also a number of other protocols out there today, but the less know the protocol is, the smaller the network is. The bit torrent network is the largest in the world. On one popular file alone, you can expect to see over 1,000 if not ten times that amount of sources available.

Use your head when using a bit torrent though. If you decide to download files that you know are copyrighted, do not be surprised if some day, you get a nice little letter from the owner of that data.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Over the years of the World Wide Web, many forms of file sharing protocols have both come and gone, however, bit torrent seems to be not going anywhere any time soon. There are literally countless variables and possibilities associated with the areas of use that one could benefit from the bit torrent protocol.

If you want to see a movie, but do not have the time to go out and get it, you can simply start a download, go to bed, and when you wake up, its there waiting for you. The biggest problem though, is the simple fact that most people do not want to watch the public domain films, instead they want to see the latest blockbuster release. This becomes an issue due to the fact that the latest blockbuster release is under numerous copyright laws. By downloading this file you make yourself open to possible legal actions.

But lets forget about the movies, lets go way back to the beginning of the bit torrent protocol and its original intended use. Software! Around the world, there are literally millions of newbie software developers producing programs to make their life simpler. Once they try these programs, and are satisfied with the results, they could then offer it to the world under a GNU license. Unfortunately, if they were to pay for a server and host a website to offer this new program, they have to also fork over the money to cover the costs imposed by the ISP and webhoster.

Thanks to the bit torrent protocol and indexing websites, that same programmer, could go to the indexing site, take some time talking about their program in the comments section and then offer the program through the torrent protocol. Move ahead a couple years, and now not only can they go by the torrent way, but they can also find a free web hosting service that offers database and PHP services, place that program on the server along with an online web-based bit torrent client and they are set to go with out the massive overhead associated with the venture.

This is important as items released under GNU, are free to use and therefore, the programmer does not make the money from the program to cover the added costs. Then if you take also into account that the various bit torrent indexing websites also get frequented by the search engine bots more frequently than you could get to a personal website, you could very well be sharing your program with the world within a matter of days instead of months or years.

This is just one of the many possibilities one could come up with in using the bit torrent clients for their file sharing needs. There are many more, but due to the overwhelming number of possibilities, it is easier to just tell you about one and let you decide what areas that the bit torrent protocol will work best for your personal needs.

Popularity: 43% [?]

When peer-to-peer sharing of files first started, they utilized a centralized server to maintain the files. This was to become known as the first generation of P2P networks and is known as the server-client-protocol. When a client wanted a file, they would search the centralized server and in return the server would facilitate the client with a list of other users who have that file.

The two biggest examples of the first generation server-client-protocol P2P networks are that of Napster and eDonkey2000. Although eDonkey decided to become decentralized to update with the times, Napster instead chose the other option which was to become a paid-for service.

In general though, server-client-protocol networks were in existence long before Napster and eDonkey2000. Since the dawn of the internet era, small private communities could use a web server to store their files and facilitate the downloads to other members, but it was Napster who did this on a large enough scale to be noticed by the various copyright authorities who in-turn shut Napster down then began legal proceedings against various teenage youth who often used the network.

There have been numerous server-client-protocol networks throughout the hay day of the first generation of P2P networking. Some of these networks included Audiogalaxy who shut their doors in 2002, Napster who closed in 2001 then reopened as a pay-service, Scour Exchange who was Napster’s biggest competition but has been completely shut down as well as Soulseek which is still up and fully operational with over 120,000 members world-wide.

Although the first generation of P2P networks is considered to be out-dated, they still exist just like the old Atari consoles, their strong following and large community has allowed them to stay around for much longer than most people would have figured.

P2P networks are very popular with not just the young teenage crowd, but many people who you would never expect are involved with the various P2P file sharing networks around the world. You seriously have to think about it though. How would the average teenager get an advanced screening version of a movie before it is available in the theaters? Many of the pirated films of movies in theaters may even have been made right from the projection room.

Regardless of your age, you are always welcome to join in the P2P file sharing revolution and be part of one of the largest communities in the world, the bit torrent community. There are some internet service providers who might go as far as saying that more than 75% of the world is already active in the bit torrent P2P file sharing network. So why aren’t you? The more time goes by, the more you fall behind in the technology. It is changing almost daily and if you wait too long, you may just find yourself on a website looking up a term that is used by the program that you have no clue as to what it means.

Popularity: 25% [?]