What is IPFS ?
It is a protocol and network designed to create a content-addressable, peer-to-peer method of storing and sharing hypermedia in a distributed file system.
IPFS is a tool in the Blockchain category of a tech stack.
Who uses IPFS ?
Companies
12 companies reportedly use IPFS in their tech stacks, including cloudless, node-on-fhir, and Gitcoin.
Developers
74 developers on StackShare have stated that they use IPFS .
Decisions about IPFS
Here are some stack decisions, common use cases and reviews by companies and developers who chose IPFS in their tech stack.
We are interested in decentralized data science infrastructure and networks. For example, imagine Pachyderm built on top of dataproject or IPFS or Beaker browser. We are specifically thinking about the protocols required to minimally share something like a data-puller (scraper, API script) and the data that is already pulled.
The space is growing, and it is not easy to see a clear winner here. We are looking for minimal approaches just to kick something along, and also to other people and groups thinking about this. I'm aware of qri.io.
IPFS 's Features
- IPFS is a peer-to-peer distributed file system that seeks to connect all computing devices with the same system of files. In some ways, IPFS is similar to the World Wide Web, but IPFS could be seen as a single BitTorrent swarm, exchanging objects within one Git repository. In other words, IPFS provides a high-throughput, content-addressed block storage model, with content-addressed hyperlinks.[11] This forms a generalized Merkle directed acyclic graph (DAG). IPFS combines a distributed hash table, an incentivized block exchange, and a self-certifying namespace. IPFS has no single point of failure, and nodes do not need to trust each other not to tamper with data in transit.
IPFS Alternatives & Comparisons
What are some alternatives to IPFS ?
Ethereum
A decentralized platform for applications that run exactly as programmed without any chance of fraud, censorship or third-party interference.
Hyperledger Fabric
It is a collaborative effort created to advance blockchain technology by identifying and addressing important features and currently missing requirements. It leverages container technology to host smart contracts called “chaincode” that comprise the application logic of the system.
Ripple
It is an open source protocol which is designed to allow fast and cheap transactions.
BigchainDB
It is designed to merge the best of two worlds: the “traditional” distributed database world and the “traditional” blockchain world. With high throughput, low latency, powerful query functionality, decentralized control, immutable data storage and built-in asset support.
Web3j
It is a lightweight, highly modular, reactive, type safe Java and Android library for working with Smart Contracts and integrating with clients (nodes) on the Ethereum network. This allows you to work with the Ethereum blockchain, without the additional overhead of having to write your own integration code for the platform.
