bandnet.org Forums

I've come to a point where I can't decide how downloading should be allowed.

Obviously direct links are by far the easiest way of downloading a file. However, downloading a file through a web browser means it isn't being shared as a source on a filesharing network.

The alternative is that files can only be downloaded through a filesharing client. This would not be a huge change, as magnet links are always generated anyway, but it would mean people are limited to using only filesharing clients to download files, and so will put people off using the site due to the difficulty in downloading files.

The best compromise would be to encourage users to use filesharing applications to download files as much as possible. How could this best be done?

Any ideas of any other alternatives?

i know this is an old thread but ...

i think file share'n progs are the way people, eventually will download everything from the net

there is so much information out there and filesharing progs help distribute that (obiously)

and its cheaper for corporations to utilize other peoples' bandwidth than their own

might as well tap in now

The thread is not that old .

It is true that filesharing is the future. The aim of this site is to be something to promote filesharing so we want to do that while not making it hard for users that don't fileshare.

I think a lot of features I want to write are going to be a lot easier to write if I'm only using one download method. This will also mean less load on the system.

I'm taking out the links to download directly and will only supply magnet links from now on. These will always include a link to the source tracker, which will save this downloader as a source for future requests from other downloaders. The source tracker will, in most cases, supply a chunk of the file on request.

I'm having my doubts, though, as to whether removing the direct download link is the best way to go. Some people might get frustrated with not being able to download the file straight away and so might think the site is difficult to use for getting files...

Right, I think I've got it suitably laid out to encourage people to download using the magnet link, and therefore Shareaza or other magnet supporting client, if it is installed. The usual download via browser option is still there, too.

How do you think this suits?

I'm probably going to need to provide more information about Shareaza somewhere so people don't get too confused...

Right, now instead of providing the magnet straight off it goes to another page that automatically sends the magnet link to the client. If the change doesn't work it'll hang on to that page for a bit longer to allow the user to click the link provided there before moving on.

How does this suit? The reason is because now it makes it easier for me to provide a personalised magnet link which will allow me to provide certains features such as rewards to users using magnets, and so becoming a source for the file.