The Interplanetary File System (IPFS) is designed to make data sharing decentralized and resistant to censorship. It’s different from blockchain technology but has much in common and could form the basis of Web3.
To access and use the IPFS, you need to set up an environment that supports the protocol on your computer, and this is how you do it.
How to Set Up IPFS
All you need is a computer and an internet connection to set up theIPFS. Depending on the platform you choose (desktop or browser), you’ll need to follow a few prescribed guidelines to set it up.
How to Set Up IPFS on a Desktop
To set up IPFS on the desktop, you’ll install the IPFS Desktop application, which gives you a simple user interface for interacting with the network.
At this point, the IPFS application is fully installed and ready for use.
How to Set Up IPFS on Brave Browser
Besides the desktop version, you can set up IPFS on a browser, preferably Brave, which is already configured to support the protocol. To do so, follow these steps.
At this point, your Brave Browser is IPFS enabled, and you can start using it.
How to Use IPFS
Below are a few ways to use IPFS.
1. Access Files Online
While most browsers require an IPFS extension, Brave and Opera natively support IPFS browsing. You only need to activate IPFS, paste the IPFS URL into the search tab, and access the page directly.
Here’s an example of an IPFS URL leading you to the Distributed Wikipedia Page (ipfs://bafybeiemxf5abjwjbikoz4mc3a3dla6ual3jsgpdr4cjr3oz3evfyavhwq/wiki/).
This method allows you to access the files through a public gateway. Alternatively, if you’ve installed a local IPFS node, you can access content offline if you’ve accessed and downloaded it onto your node.
Uploading images to IPFS is a straightforward process. When a file is uploaded, the image is temporarily stored in your local node and can be shared with any IPFS user with access to the IPFS URL of the image.
Besides, you’re able to also access the CID (Content Identifier), pin, download, rename, or delete the image.
3. Pinning Files
On the IPFS ecosystem, pining means marking the file to be persistently stored on a particular IPFS node. It instructs the node to keep a local copy of the file, ensuring it remains available even when the internet is disconnected. To pin a file, follow these steps.
Once your file has been successfully pinned, as long as you are running the IPFS app and the node is active, anyone you give access to the IPFS URL of the file can access it.
Use Cases of IPFS
IPFS offers many use cases that optimize its decentralized, content-addressed, and peer-to-peer nature. Here are the three most practical cases of IPFS
1. Hosting Websites and Apps
A major disadvantage of the existing internet infrastructure is that it predominantly relies on centralized servers. This structure creates single points of failure that are vulnerable to hacks, data loss, and censorship.
IPFS provides an alternative web and app hosting infrastructure that is decentralized and hence resistant to censorship, hacks, and data loss. It distributes files across multiple nodes, making it difficult to take down. Moreover, it makes files accessible even if the original node goes off by allocating unique CIDs.
2. Sharing Sensitive Information
If you need to share sensitive information through the internet as it is, you can easily be traced back through yourIP address. That’s because the current nature of the internet addresses files based on their location.
IPFS is different. It addresses files based on their content, which provides an extra layer of privacy. The files cannot reveal the identity or location of the original owner. In addition, IPFS allows you to encrypt files before uploading them, ensuring only the intended recipient can access and decrypt the information. Hence, you’re more safe sharing sensitive information.
3. Hosting NFTs
The most popular application of IPFS isNFT hosting. NFTS are unique digital assets recorded on a blockchain and used to certify authenticity and ownership. IPFS is an ideal storage layer for NFTs due to its content-addressing, immutability, and distributed nature.
By leveraging IPFS for NFT hosting, creators can maintain control over their assets while benefiting from its decentralized and robust infrastructure. Some of the top NFT companies using IPFS include;OpenSea,Rarible, andDecentraland.
Challenges of Using IPFS
While IPFS offers many advantages, you’ll encounter a few challenges while using the relatively new technology. Here are some.
Despite these concerns, the IPFS community is actively addressing these limitations and improving the overall usability and performance of the system.
Learn To Use IPFS
IPFS could shape the future of the internet. It checks most of the boxes today’s internet users care about; decentralization, privacy, immutability, and censorship-resistant. While it’s far from perfect and might take time to rival the traditional internet in terms of adoption, it’s well-positioned to empower individuals and organizations to control data, promote open access, and foster innovation. You can learn how to use it and develop innovative solutions for problems on the current web.
