Translated and edited from Baka P2P:
A free web is fantastic, but is it as user friendly as the world wide web (www)? Is it for example possible to have a discussion on Freenet? The answer is mixed. The decentralized architecture and the encryption of Freenet prevent all direct communication between two computers and makes things slow.
Frost is the so-called Freenet messaging service. Not P2P, nor instant messaging, Frost resembles more a forum with a Java interface than a messaging service. In order to get Frost to work, the computer needs to be connected to Freenet. The first function of Frost, the discussion boards, begins to function when you have filled in (or not) all appropriate information. Frost then gives you a double key (a private key and a public key) that allows you to authenticate the messages you have written on the forum. The publication of the messages depends on the nodes you are connected to, meaning your message will not appear immediately on the forums and maybe not on all the forums. As you stay connected longer, the more your messages get published.
You will find there information on FreeSites (Freenet’s websites), people asking for help and lots of “Is there anybody out there”. You will also see a search function, a familiar aspect for the P2P adept. This function allows you to locate files who are attached to the messages on the forums. After running a few tests I was able to find 4 mp3’s, not more!
Another application aiming to improve the communication between the Freenet members is called FMB (Freenet Message Board). This application is based on the mailbox principle. FMB lets you send a message to a specific user (a little like e-mail). The message is not bound to be public. You can also get information about a user, a detailed description for example or the URI of his FreeSite. The messages take time to get to their addressee, but it does not matter how regularly you are connected, the messages arrive anyway (this explains the interest in the indication of the connection time).
Let’s be clear, it won’t be tomorrow that FMB overshadows MSN or Freenet the world wide web, but it is interesting to write an article about this atypical project.
You can find the original article here: link
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