[p2p-hackers] iGlance is here!

[David Barrett]

Ian Clarke wrote:
> 
> On 8 Nov 2005, at 16:41, <auto43348 at hushmail.com>  
> <auto43348 at hushmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> 4.  Infrastrctureless p2p.  Not requiring a central server.  The
>> ability to bootstrap on an internal network seperated from the
>> internet.
> 
> 
> Be careful what you wish for ;-)  Skype started out with a  
> decentralised mechanism for user lookup, but later migrated to a  
> centralised solution.  Nobody is a bigger fan of decentralisation  than 
> I am, but sometimes the easiest way can also be be best.
> 
> If I was building a VoIP solution, I would centralise user lookup in  
> the interests of getting the product out the door ASAP and minimising  
> the likely number of headaches.  You can always decentralise later if  
> you find that you need to.

This is precisely the same logic I've used.

iGlance has central servers for authentication, auto-upgrade, and 
directory lookups, and I think this is appropriate.

iGlance also uses central servers for STUN/TURN type functions, but this 
is designed to be decentralized once the userbase picks up.  So it's 
inappropriately centralized in this respect at the moment, but ready to 
decentralize when the moment is right.

iGlance naturally uses direct connections for all client/client 
communications (except if one of the clients is over a relay connection, 
naturally), and I think this is appropriate use of decentralization.

-david