snapdrop VS owl

rather worried that it's going to go the same fate as [Sharedrop](https://github.com/ShareDropio/sharedrop) and [Snapdrop](https://github.com/SnapDrop/snapdrop) where they recently got taken over by LimeWire the crypto/AI company.

If the constraint is that you don't want to install any software, there are a bunch of these web based AirDrop clones, besides the ones mentioned here are two more:

https://pairdrop.net/

https://snapdrop.net/

I've tried PairDrop, it works well.

I love Snapdrop [0] for that use case, since it doesn't require downloading/installing an app.

[0] https://snapdrop.net/

Snapdrop is very easy to use but does not work with a VPN, nor does it support infinite file size and WebRTC relaying.

> My fave is https://snapdrop.net

it's so funny how everyone have a favorite. They all use standardized hacks on top of hacks, just because ISP do not want to let you serve content and will fight for NAT, which is their only line of defense from everyone else messing with their precious IGMP multicast hacks so they can subsidize their TV business on your internet bill. it's all so funny.

but the best joke is how microsoft and apple both tried to "make things work" in the late 90s (?) with their special zero-conf-by-other-names trainwreak of network protocols.

There's no end in sight.

Learn More: Snapdrop

I guess that wouldn't be convenient because they'd have to press several buttons. Possibly also Airdrop is faster? It uses direct wi-fi transfer (and bluetooth at the same time, somehow). Seems there are open-source reverse-engineered implementations written in C and Python: OWL in C, OpenDrop in Python.

The only working airdrop compatible is opendrop which makes use of AWDL reverse engineer OWL

Nope, it depends on this project and they specifically mention that WSL doesn't work because they need direct access to Wi-Fi card.

Two clicks further: https://github.com/seemoo-lab/owl

"it is unlikely that a non-Apple device has hardware support for adhoc wireless connections between devices. This makes implementation of AirDrop directly on non-Apple devices practically impossible without additional hardware. Instead we’ll implement a proxy..."

I get what they mean here, but it has been done. It does require a Wi-Fi card with support for monitor mode and frame injection. OWL did it with an Atheros AR9280.

See OWL:

https://github.com/seemoo-lab/owl

And Open drop:

https://github.com/seemoo-lab/opendrop

There’s an open source implementation called OWL — https://github.com/seemoo-lab/owl — it’s experimental, requires certain features to be supported by the wireless driver on Linux and no support for Windows.