P2P File Sharing Application Overview

This project is a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) File Sharing Application designed to facilitate file sharing among multiple peers in a decentralized network. The application includes features like file search, downloads, peer management, and exclusion settings, all presented with a user-friendly graphical interface.

Features

• File Search: Search for files across connected peers.

• File Download: Download files in chunks from peers.

• Peer Management: View, add, or remove peers dynamically.

• Exclusion Settings: Exclude specific files or folders from sharing.

• Robust Networking: Uses UDP for peer discovery and TCP for reliable file transfer.

• GUI: Easy-to-use graphical interface for managing files and peers.

Application Architecture

The project is structured into multiple layers to separate concerns:

Core Components:

• File Manager: Manages shared files and directories.

• PeerManager: Handles peer-related operations.

• DownloadManager: Coordinates file downloads using chunk-based transfers.

Networking Components:

• UDP Broadcaster: Broadcasts peer availability using UDP.
• UDPListener: Listens for peer requests and responses.
• TCPFileServer: Serves file chunks via TCP.
• TCPFileClient: Requests file chunks from peers.

Utilities:

• HashUtil: Generates unique SHA-1 hashes for files.
• ChunkManager: Splits files into chunks and reassembles them.

User Interface:

• P2PFileSharingUI: Provides the graphical user interface for managing the application.

Requirements

Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 or higher.

Docker (optional, for containerized deployment).

Visual Studio Code or any other Java IDE (for local development).

How to Run

Using Docker

• This application is containerized for ease of setup. Follow the steps below:

• Open a terminal in the project directory.

• Run the following commands:

• docker-compose build

• docker-compose up

• The application will build and start in the Docker environment.

• To stop the application, use: docker-compose down

Without Docker

To run the project locally without Docker:

• Ensure Java is installed on your system.

• Open a terminal in the project directory.

• Compile the project using: mkdir -p /app/bin && javac -d /app/bin $(find /app/src -name "*.java")

• Start the application using: java -cp /app/bin P2PFileSharingUI

• The application will launch, opening the graphical user interface.

Usage Instructions

Set Shared Folder:

• Define a folder to share files with other peers.
• Exclude specific files or folders using the exclusion settings.

Connect to Network:

• Use the Connect button to discover and connect to peers.

• Search for Files: Enter the file name in the search bar and click Search. Results will appear in the Found Files section.

• Download Files: Select a file from the results and download it to your destination folder.

• Manage Peers: Use the List Peers option to view active peers. Disconnect from the network using the Disconnect button.

Key Components

DownloadManager

• Coordinates downloading files in chunks from peers. Manages active downloads and ensures completion using a round-robin strategy for chunk requests.

HashUtil

• Computes a unique SHA-1 hash for files to ensure integrity and avoid duplicates.

TCPFileClient and TCPFileServer

• Enables reliable file transfer using TCP for chunked data exchange between peers.

P2PFileSharingUI

• Provides an intuitive graphical interface for managing file sharing, peer connections, and file downloads.