Hey folks, I understand being protective about the encrypted networking and all that, but I've found next to zero information about how this works, overall. What makes it better than torrents? Why was it created? Why should I choose to use fopnu over torrents or other decentralized file sharing like what is already present in tixati's chat system?

Could you enlighten us how, exactly, this works in broad strokes? Discovery, connecting, sharing, how is it speedy when decentralized, etc.?

I can answer for my point of interest: Fopnu works in a highly filtered internet without the need of a VPN, where the DHT is not usable, and many trackers blocked.

OK, it's probably because it's new.....

Gathaka

I have been using P2P since first edonkey, year 2000 if I remember correctly.

P2P was awesome before torrents, emule was super popular and sharing files with it was as easy as having
your folder marked for sharing.

So filebased sharing is great, it allows for much easier sharing and also its harder to fight against.
Emule etc. filebased P2P networks got pretty  destroyed by antiP2P, and also because most P2P users got
what they wanted through torrents.

I have been waiting for somebody to build file/folder-based decentralized P2P program, and at the moment
Fopnu seems to have everything. However I dont know enough how it works and whats the future, but I really
hope it gets popular and that developers implement features to make it perfect.

Filebased P2P is VERY important to protect free flow of information, for sharing materials from whistleblowers etc.
It eliminates any need for publishing information on public internet, and makes searching easy because its included
in the software. And it makes people share files much longer time, at least rare files.

HEAR HEAR!

I also remember the days of programs like AudioGalaxy and Napster; back then it was great for getting rare recordings of obscure artists, but then they got busted and everything went on to Torrents.

This was fine for a while (and thank god TPB is still going) but the constant raids meant it slowly turned into a secret, closed and somewhat elite form of filesharing, and at odds with the spirit of bit torrent.

The issue with BitTorrent is that you need to take the time to package up what you want to share, upload it to a site and write the description, often jumping through hoops to make sure the description matches the template and that the encoding is allowed. It's a lot of hassle.

I've got high hopes and a good feeling about Fopnu; as long as it scales well with increased users/traffic. All being well I predict it will herald a return to the "good old days" of p2p sharing; where you could just get the program to scan your library, and people could then find it themselves.

Fantastic work by the author (I'm a long time Tixati user) and long may it continue. :)

But the only way to share anything then via swarm would be for others to have exactly the same file, yes? Or is it simply napster reborn where you download directly from one person at a time?

I am surprised, no one has mentioned SoulSeek, fopnu reminds me of SoulSeek which I really enjoy and have been using since it's early days.  I don't really understand why so many ppl ae confused by fonu and what it is attempting to accomplish (but then maybe I'm just old).

Anyway, if fopnu works as advertised, maybe I've found my SoulSeek replacement.

To the authors of fopnu, check out SoulSeek for ideas, though I don't know you need any! :)

Great job ppl!

i didn't mention it because the less said about it, the fewer people know about it. The fewer people qwho know about it, the longer it will last on the scene before it's either banned or commercialized.
It basically functions just the same as napster did which is why i didn't see the need to mention it.
i was under the impression that this was a bittorrent replacement program, but i'm guessing that it's not now.