In our last tech rendezvous, we delved into the realm of Simple Servers and got cosy with sockets-based communication - the unsung heroes behind the scenes. But let’s face it, when it comes to writing servers today, it’s the dynamic duo of HTTP and HTTPS taking centre stage!

Picture this: the entire digital cosmos, with terabytes of data zipping around every second to the gadgets in our hands - it’s mostly all orchestrated by the magic of HTTP and WebSocket. But here’s the kicker - how do they tango with sockets? How is HTTP evolving, and is WebSocket just a fancy cousin of the classic socket?

Hold on tight as we demystify these web wonders! I’ll be your guide, unravelling the tech tapestry with real-world examples and steering clear of unnecessary tech mumbo-jumbo. Let’s embark on a tech exploration where complexity meets simplicity! 🚀🌐💡

Buckle up for a swift journey! This blog is your ticket to setting up the most basic server on your computer. We’ll blend theory with easy-to-follow code explanations, breaking down the magic of socket-based servers. Get ready to unravel the secrets of the simplest sockets in no time! 🌐💡 read more...

NpChat, a Multimedia Sharing Application over NDN

an NDN based multimedia sharing app

In a cyber universe dominated by giants like Google and Facebook, our everyday internet travels often lead to their massive servers. From E-commerce to Social Media and Web Streaming, it’s a giant corporation’s world, and we’re just browsing in it. But here’s the catch - our precious user data gets stored and played by their rules, often buried in the terms of service we hastily agree to.

But what if there’s another way? NpChat steps in as a practical, experimental alternative - a decentralized, end-to-end encrypted social multimedia app. No glorification, just a straightforward exploration into the possibilities of a more secure, user-centric design. Are you ready for a digital shift that puts control back in your hands? Let’s delve into the practicalities. 🚀🌐💻

NpChat (from NDN+ Snapchat) is an Android application that allows users to capture and share multimedia with friends in a secure and fully decentralised way, while still giving users complete control over their data. It is based on Named Data Network, a proposed evolution of the IP architecture that uses data-names(identifiers) as a kind of address and not just IP addresses. NDN aims to change the network fundamentally from end to end communication to content-based, wherein, not only IP address but also the data identifier and only the identifier can also be used to exchange information. More on NDN read more...

Android App Improvement

Introduction

NpChat is a photo and file-sharing application built on Android and is inspired by Snapchat. It runs over the Named Data Network (NDN) and focuses on decentralised information sharing architecture. It stands as one of the best examples of Android application developed on the new Internet architecture.

The project description can be found here. During Google Summer of Code 2019, I contributed to the project and developed several features to improve the NpChat app, its supporting library(Jndn) and the Identity Manager.

Work

During the GSoC period, I worked on the following, read more...