Peer-to-peer

This page describes a concept which is part of our glossary

Peer-to-peer networks are known for their robustness and reliability. The way peers connect with other instances to form the network creates a peer-to-peer infrastructure. It enables users to connect directly with each other as desired to exchange products and services without having to employ middlemen as in the current centralised 'client-server' approach.

The structure of the peer is completely open and transparent, similar to 'open source' software, of which the increasingly popular Linux computer operating system is an example. It differs from the Open Source model in that all applications derived inside the network evolve from concepts formed by users using the system, not from specialists developing program code.

State-of-the-art

Handbook of Peer-to-Peer Networking

• Xuemin Shen, Heather Yu, John Buford, Mursalin Akon,
• Springer | 2009 | ISBN: 0387097503 | 1403 pages | PDF | 10,2 MB
• torrent hash: C3BA9770 7C9E3C80 019DD55E 2207529A B876700D
• blocked in US?

Videos

• Why P2P Is Better Than Capitalism
• The Economic Viability of Peer Production
• The Potential For P2P To Unite the World
• How Peer Governance and Democracy Differ
• Michel Bauwens' Vision for the World
• Why People Are Afraid of P2P
• How P2P Can Change Our Monetary System
• Peer To Peer and Alternative Currencies
• How P2P Can Continue To Grow
• The Relationship Between the People and the Technology

See also

• Cloud
• Freenet philosophy
• What is P2P?
• Peer-to-peer (meme)
• P2P Foundation Wiki
• a java applet that does a good job illustrating p2p as it relates to bittorrent
• P2P-Based Economy: The Political Power Of Peer-To-Peer Networks
• Social, Political, And Economic Issues In A P2P World - Interview With Michel Bauwens
• P2P DNS