Filetopia
Developer(s)Enrique Martin
Initial release1999
Stable release
877[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 19 March 2019
Written inJava FX
Size50 MB
Available inEnglish, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Arabic.
TypeFile sharing, chat
LicenseFreeware
Websitefiletopia.org

Filetopia is a free, multi-platform peer-to-peer file sharing client and networking tool that allows users to share files, chat with others, and send instant messages. Users can share files in public chat rooms or privately with contacts (by searching or using shared files list). As it is not a centralized system, users must connect to a network made of multiple servers in order to find each other. However all the file transfers, secure chat, etc. are conducted on a peer-to-peer basis. By default, Filetopia is not an anonymous peer to peer network: when sending or downloading files, IP addresses are not visible, but the software makes no attempt at keeping them anonymous.

History

Filetopia software development started in October 1998 and the first public beta was released in March 1999. In April 2012, development began on a project to completely rewrite the program in Java FX. This version was eventually released as Filetopia FX. The classic Filetopia software version (3.04d, 2002), is still (as of 2015) a small, but vibrant community of people sharing a wealth of data.

In 2003, Filetopia v3.04 was reviewed in PC Magazine, and rated 3/5.[2]

In 2004, the author of Filetopia was interviewed on the web site Slyck.com.[3]

Filetopia FX (from 2015)

Filetopia FX is more focused on hosting online communities than on file sharing, no longer allowing global-wide file searching and instead encouraged meeting new people. It is a complete rewrite of the original, making improvements in the following areas:

  • The maximum file size limit of 2 GB was removed.
  • Graphical chat was vastly improved; configurable chat presets, hundreds of emoticons, and the ability for users to add new emoticons and capture those they like from the chat. Users also gained the ability to post images and HTML fragments, which are filtered for security purposes. Instant messaging also borrowed technology from the graphical chat.
  • Room Walls became graphic-based, adding features like comments, votes, and moderation. The ability to notify admins and subscribers of any changes was also added.
  • The Log became graphic-based, encrypted, and was given a search function.
  • File sharing protocols were completely rewritten, allowing much higher transfer speeds and better performance. Transfers now included a graph to track download and upload speeds.
  • The Preferences menu became more user-friendly.
  • The User Interface was improved. Improvements included more than 10 new themes, draggable tabs, floating windows, a sidebar for easy access to contacts, messages, lists, multi-monitor support, and more.
  • Moderation tools were improved.
  • Network protocols were updated to improve speeds and increase capacity. Users could also host their own rooms, which are excluded from the main P2P network.

Communication

A typical chat windows with the Contacts sidebar
A Chat window showing the logo menu open
Hundreds of emoticons and custom emoticons

Filetopia FX features a graphical chat, which integrates security features, file sharing, file search, a graphic and searchable log system, and emoticons.

The chat is also fully moderated, with the ability to kick or ban users, gag users, or hide posts. There are 3 levels of room moderation: owner, admin and helper.

Public and private chats can use entry passwords. There is a secure direct chat feature, not hosted on the Filetopia Network, but in the user's computers, accessed using encrypted access data.

Wall

All public chat rooms have an associated message wall to it. It allows moderated posts, comments, and votes to be added.

Instant messaging

Filetopia also features instant messaging between users. Users are able to set their status and message other users that are offline.

List management

Lists are the basis for file sharing in Filetopia. An unlimited number of lists can be created, and assigned to different groups, users, or rooms.

Lists are fully browsable and configurable and allow users to share exactly what they want with whom they want. Users can also queue multiple downloads and download complete folders.

Transfers history
Managing a room
Transfers window in action with a graph
Registering an account

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Filetopia - Social File Sharing". Archived from the original on 22 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Filetopia 3.04 review. Archived 2017-03-09 at the Wayback Machine PCmag.com 2003
  3. ↑ "Slyck News - Filetopia Making Headway". www.slyck.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
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