Instant.io – Streaming file transfer over WebTorrent
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Submission timeline
2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderI work on some BitTorrent software and while it's a really cool protocol, it isn't designed to sequentially stream data. Some clients support streaming, but the act of prioritizing sequential chunks of data rather than chunks that are most likely to be unavailable in the future is bad behavior for the collective group of peers. I haven't personally given much thought to solving the problem of streaming, but I am surprised that the WebTorrent FAQ doesn't mention why they didn't…
Does it mean that whenever I click on a link I must be afraid that my computer will start to participate in a filesharing network? What if a website uses the technology to spread copyrighted material in the background without me knowing about it? Maybe the website had a simple XSS hole that allowed an attacker to do it? So later I will get a fine for spreading copyrighted material and I don't even know where it came from?
Been in love with this tool recently. So helpful for transferring large files between friends/devices with a simple link.
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 2
- Total points
- 533
- Total comments
- 108
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-04-17 | Instant.io – Secure, anonymous, streaming file transfer | galapago | 16 | 0 |
| 2015-05-19 | Instant.io – Streaming file transfer over WebTorrentFirst breakout | MrJagil | 157 | 40 |
| 2015-08-03 | Instant.io – Streaming file transfer over WebTorrent | getdavidhiggins | 3 | 0 |
| 2016-09-18 | Instant.io – Streaming file transfer over WebTorrentBest thread · Latest 20+ point return | zerognowl | 349 | 67 |
| 2021-03-06 | Instant.io | jarbus | 3 | 1 |
| 2021-03-09 | The full Oprah & Meghan Markle Interview in HD on WebTorrent | aminozuur | 2 | 0 |
| 2022-11-29 | Streaming file transfer over WebTorrent – Torrents on the web | Dangeranger | 2 | 0 |
| 2024-02-26 | Streaming file transfer over WebTorrent (torrents on the web) | thatxliner | 1 | 0 |