What is WASTE?
WASTE is a tool that is designed to permit secure distributed collaboration and communications for small trusted groups of people. WASTE allows users to communicate and transfer information easily and effortlessly. WASTE requires very little administration, and no central server or central administration is required.
Currently the amount of setup required for each user is significant that WASTE is designed for the more computer-literate users or "power users". Having said this, it's worth noting that the audience of WASTE is not limited to such users, as these users are "tastemakers" and will help their less experienced friends get set up.
What kind of functionality does WASTE enable?
WASTE provides a generic virtual secure private network that other services can be built upon. Currently the following services have been implemented for use on the network and are very functional:
- Instant Messaging - allows users to communicate with other users on a private WASTE network in much the same way as when using AIM/ICQ/etc. This feature is primarily accessed through the main WASTE window.
- Group chat - allows two or more users to chat on a WASTE network in much the same way as when using AIM/ICQ/IRC/etc. This feature is primarily accessed through the main WASTE window.
- Distributed presence - allows users to see what other users are currently on a private WASTE network. This feature is primarily accessed through the main WASTE window, and facilitates ease in Instant Messaging.
- File browsing - allows users to browse a virtual directory structure for each user on the network. Each user can specify a list of directories to make available to other users on the network. This feature is primarily accessed through the WASTE Browser window.
- File searching - allows users to search other users’ databases. Each user can specify a list of directories to make available to other users on the network. Currently searching for filenames and directory names is all that is supported, but full-text searching and meta-searching would be easily added. This feature is primarily accessed through the WASTE Browser window.
- File transfer - allows users to transfer files to or from other users. Files can be found via the file browsing and file searching features, or files can be uploaded to other users manually. This feature is accessed through many interfaces, and can be managed with the WASTE File Transfer window.
- Key distribution - allows hosts on the WASTE network to exchange public keys so that they can directly connect to each other (which helps the network optimize itself)
Many other services and capabilities can be added to the WASTE network, these are just the basics that have been implemented.
How does WASTE enable these services?
WASTE routes all data through a distributed ad-hoc network. The network structure can adapt for traffic, and is fairly organized based on capacity. When moving large amounts of data, the network is redundant and load-balanced (though the load balancing is currently sub-optimal, it does work). Because all data transfer is accomplished through this distributed network, firewalls do not impair function as long as there are sufficient hosts on the network that are accessible from everywhere.
WASTE keeps the private network private by only connecting or allowing connections between known users, and by using strong encryption to secure those links.
Once a WASTE network is up, users do not have to worry about IP addresses to connect to, firewalled machines, or other network topologies. As long as the user can connect to any other host on the WASTE network, the user can access all of the services of the WASTE network. All of this happens automatically.
Note: The above documentation represents and excerpt of a document provided by the nullSoft developers titled "waste design.doc" which is Copyright © 2003 nullSoft, Inc.