DC++ is a free and open-source, peer-to-peer file-sharing client that can be used for connecting to the Direct Connect network or to the ADC protocol. It is developed primarily by Jacek Sieka, nicknamed arnetheduck.
History and background
DC++ is a free and open-source alternative to the original client, NeoModus Direct Connect (NMDC);1 it connects to the same file-sharing network and supports the same file-sharing protocol. One of the reasons commonly attributed to the popularity of DC++ is that it has no adware of any kind, unlike NMDC.2
Many other clients exist for the Direct Connect network, and most of these are DC++ "mods": modified versions of DC++, based on DC++'s source code. A partial list of DC++ mods is given below. Some of these clients were developed for specialized communities (e.g. music-sharing communities), or in order to support specific experimental features, or perhaps features that have been rejected from inclusion in DC++ itself. An example of an experimental feature is hashing, which was initially implemented in BCDC++ and later adopted by DC++.
As of 2008[update], DC++ had around 90% market share of the Direct Connect community.3
Forks
An advantage of the free and open-source nature of DC++ is that several mods have been released which add features to the original client.
Many users send patches to DC++ which are included in future releases, but some features are rejected by the developer. Stated reasons for rejecting a patch are because they are coded poorly, or that the feature is frivolous, abusable or overly specialized, and does not belong in the main client. Examples include: upload bandwidth limiting (many users feel that upload bandwidth limiting is a form of cheating, while other users not using a full-duplex network connection can only achieve reasonable download speeds by limiting uploads), colorized chat, specialized operator functions (e.g. client/share checking).
The developers of some forks contribute features and bug fixes back upstream to DC++.
Client software comparison
General
| Client | FOSS | Software license | Active | Release date (latest version) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirDC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | Yes | 2023-08-27 (v4.21) |
| AirDC++ Web Client | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | Yes | 2024-12-07 (v2.13.2) |
| ApexDC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | No | 2018-12-25 (v1.6.5) |
| DC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | Yes | 2024-11-09 (v0.882) |
| EiskaltDC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv3 or later | Yes | 2021-03-03 (v2.4.2) |
| FlylinkDC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | Yes | 2023-12-31 (r601 build 23343) |
| LinuxDC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | No | 2011-04-17 (v1.1.0) |
| RSX++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | No | 2011-04-14 (v1.21) |
| StrongDC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | No | 2010-12-27 (v2.42) |
| TkDC++ | Yes | GNU GPLv2 or later | No | 2010-11-29 (v1.3) |
Operating system support
| Client | Windows | Linux | macOS | BSD | Haiku |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirDC++ | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| AirDC++ Web Client | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| ApexDC++ | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| DC++ | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| EiskaltDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FlylinkDC++ | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| LinuxDC++ | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| RSX++ | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| StrongDC++ | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| TkDC++ | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Interface and programming
| Client | GUI | CLI | WebUI | Programming language | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirDC++ | Yes | No | Yes | C++ | StrongDC++ |
| AirDC++ Web Client | No | Yes | Yes | C++ | AirDC++ |
| ApexDC++ | Yes | No | No | C++ | StrongDC++ |
| DC++ | Yes | No | No | C++ | - |
| EiskaltDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | C++ | DC++ |
| FlylinkDC++ | Yes | No | Yes | C++ | ApexDC++/StrongDC++ |
| LinuxDC++ | Yes | No | No | C++ | DC++ |
| RSX++ | Yes | No | No | C++ | StrongDC++ |
| StrongDC++ | Yes | No | No | C++ | DC++ |
| TkDC++ | Yes | No | No | C++ | StrongDC++ / DC++ bzr |
Features
| Client | Magnet URI | UPnP | NAT traversal | DHT | Encryption | IPv6 | IDNA | Plugin | Proxy | Hash algorithms | Protocol support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS | |
| AirDC++ Web Client | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS | |
| ApexDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Lua, C++ | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS |
| DC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS | |
| EiskaltDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Lua, Qt Script, QML | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS |
| FlylinkDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS | |
| LinuxDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS | |
| RSX++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Lua, C++ | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS |
| StrongDC++ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Tiger Tree Hash | TIGR, ADCS |
See also
- Free and open-source software portal
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to DC++.- DC++ (Official website)
- DC++ Webhelp
References
"What Are Direct Connect Protocol And DC++? How To Use DC++ For File Sharing?". Fossbytes. 2017-02-16. Archived from the original on 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-02. https://fossbytes.com/direct-connect-protocol-dc-plus-how/ ↩
Annalee Newitz (July 2001). "Sharing the Data". Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper. Metro Publishing Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2006-12-21. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.12.01/work-0128.html ↩
Fredrik Ullner (January 2008). "PC Pitstop and its P2P-report". DC++: Just These Guys, Ya Know?. Archived from the original on 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2008-03-19. http://dcpp.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/pc-pitstop-and-its-p2p-report/ ↩