Concept

Note

Bytestag shares files publicly. As a result, expert users may inspect incoming file parts.

(In the future, it may be possible files privately with only a select few.)

Sharing Files

Files are shared by publishing or replicating files to other computers.

1. A file or a collection of files is selected.
2. The software breaks the files into parts and generates a info file that describes the files.
3. The software computes the destination of each part. Then, it sends the info file and file parts to other computers. Each part has its own unique ID.
4. An ID of the info file is shared among users.

Files expire after 1 day after publication so users sharing files will need to ensure the computer is running frequently through time.

As the popularity of a file increases, the number of publishers increase. As a result, each individual publisher does not need their computer on frequently.

Downloading Files

Files are downloaded by fetching the info file and, using the information within the info file, downloads the file parts from other computers.

1. An ID of the info file is obtained.
2. The info file is downloaded using the info file ID.
3. The software reads the info file and determines possible computers with the file parts.
4. Computers send the file parts back.

Maintaining the Network

Because files are pushed to other computers, the amount of data shared is limited by the disk space and online availability of the network. As such, it is necessary that all users are prepared to donate plenty of bandwidth, disk space, and computer uptime.

Fact: If half of the world’s internet users [1] [2] each donated 1 gigabyte of disk space, then the network would hold 1000 petabytes! (That’s 172 times of Archive.org! [3])

[1]	Internet users as percentage of population, World: 30% (2010, World Bank).

[2]	Population, World: 7 billion (2011, World Bank).

[3]	At 5.8 PB. http://archive.org/web/petabox.php December 2010.