Project FreeFTP Started.

One project done, next one just getting started.

Problem:
Both me and my friend David are used to Windows environments and all the graphical convenience that comes along with it. When switching over to GNU/Linux we have both discovered the lack of satisfying FTP clients for the platform. The convenience just is not there any more. Either you have to give up your freedom to click what you like to download or upload, Or you have to struggle trying to install applications using meters of text to help guide you through the process. But even worse, If you still want that same feeling as in windows, you have to struggle with emulation through Wine to get your old friend from windows to work.

There is of course some alternatives that are not so hard to install and quite user friendly. But instead they lack support for such obvious things as TLS or SSL. This is somewhat standard now-a-days as people become more and more aware of the security issues and absolute threats against their systems. This does not leave many options left when it comes to usability.

Vision:
The decision has been taken to try to produce an FTP client that is platform independent, free for use and free to alter and redistribute. Most likely the GNU GPL license will be used, or an equivalent to it, to support the legal issues when releasing the application. The language of choice is Java because of its platform support, which basically supplies the possibility to run the application on any platform.

The plans are as of right now quite abstract, but the goal is to have the first stable version out somewhere around late fall 2007. More specifically have the first release of the software around Dreamhack Winter 2007, to represent the school with our creation.


Why Free Software?
Why not, really? Money is something that rolls in when you work. This gives a better platform for the CV later in life any how. I would rather see the application getting used by someone for free, than getting ripped and released.

Why Java?
Platform independence and general knowledge about the language. Free software gives you the possibility to do what you like with the software. So why not aim at a language that is commonly taught in schools around the world, and give as many people as possible the freedom to play with the software?

Any new cool features?
We will try to if not in the first release, but later on, give the ftp server a web-interface for searching and administration. This should of course come with authorization, and be fully customizable since its free software. So if all goes well there will be some sort of apache integration and a java-applet utility to administer the software remotely. And these are just the basic ideas. Stay tuned for more.

//Niklas