Lately, I was in need to listen to a particular song I heard on the radio to decide whether I should buy the CD or not. However I knew of no one that could lend me the CD to hear it.

I had heard of KaZaa in the past, but since I am using Linux I never tested filesharing tools before. My first dig on Google brought me to giFT, and I loved it because it extends to multiple sharing networks and not only KaZaa. Hence this short article, in the hope that more users will try it.

Introduction

giFT is the internet File Transfer tool, an interface between users and filesharing networks. It differs from other filesharing tools by its modular architecture, which separates network operation from the user interface.

Its modular architecture also allows giFT to connect to multiple network types via plug-ins. At this time, it already supports OpenFT, Gnutella, FastTrack (KaZaa network), and e-Donkey support is coming soon. In that way, it is related to MLdonkey, another tool which also supports multiple networks via plug-ins.

(click on image to enlarge)

Overview

The giFT server, called giftd, runs in the background on a computer connected to the Internet. Users use giFT clients to send search requests and file transfer requests to giftd.

When a request is received from a client, giftd forwards it to all the protocol plug-ins. There can be multiple protocol plug-ins loaded at once, for instance FastTrack (KaZaa), Gnutella and OpenFT.

All plug-ins process the request on their respective networks, and the results are collected by giftd and sent back to the giFT clients.

Components

giftd, the giFT server daemon

the core of a giFT installation: it loads plug-ins at start-up, it forwards requests coming from clients to plug-ins, and it forwards answers from plug-ins to clients.

protocol plug-ins

library extensions to giftd which bring additional network connectivity to the server. Several plug-ins are available:

• OpenFT (the giFT sharing protocol)
• Gnutella
• FastTrack (protocol used by KaZaa and Grokster)

giFT clients

user interfaces to giftd. Several clients are available:

• giFTcurs, a text mode interface for Unix, based on the curses library.
• poisoned, a graphical interface for MacOS X on the Macintosh.
• KCeasy, a graphical interface for MS Windows, which very much resembles the KaZaa client.

Other clients are available, too.

Downloading and Installation

You can get giftd, and the OpenFT and Gnutella plug-ins here.

The FastTrack (KaZaa) plugin is available separately.

See the ongoing efforts for an e-Donkey plugin here.

Links to clients project and download pages can be found here.

Documentation is available there.

Running under Linux

1. Before the first run, configure giftd with:

     $ gift-setup
   

2. Launch giftd :

     $ giftd -d
   

3. Launch your favorite giFT client:

     $ giFTcurs
   

Simple !

giFT is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.