PEERWIRE
========

PeerWire is a distributed file sharing system implemented in C++. It eliminates reliance on a single server by allowing peers to both download and upload file chunks concurrently.


OVERVIEW
--------

The system follows a tracker-based architecture. Peers register themselves and discover other peers sharing the same file. Each file is divided into fixed-size chunks, and each chunk is verified using cryptographic hashes (SHA-256) to ensure data integrity.


FEATURES
--------

* Decentralized file transfer (P2P)
* Tracker-based peer discovery
* Parallel chunk downloading
* Cryptographic data verification
* Cross-platform support (Windows/Linux)


BUILD INSTRUCTIONS
------------------

Prerequisites
* C++17 compliant compiler
* CMake 3.10 or higher

Building
You can use the provided Makefile or scripts:

  Using Make:
  make

  Using Script:
  scripts/build.sh

The executables (tracker and peer) will be placed in the build/bin directory.


USAGE
-----

TUI Client & Daemon
Use the convenience scripts in the scripts/ directory to run the application components:
* scripts/run_tracker.sh: Starts the Tracker.
* scripts/run_daemon.sh: Starts the Daemon.
* scripts/tui.sh: Starts the TUI Client.

Once the application is running:
1. Enter your listening port (e.g., 9001) when prompted.
2. Default tracker is 127.0.0.1:8080. Use "tracker <IP> <Port>" to change it.
3. Use commands:
   * seed <file>
   * download <hash> <outfile>
   * help

CLI Mode (Legacy)

1. Start Support Server (Tracker)
The tracker coordinates peers.
  ./build/bin/tracker

2. Seeding a File
To share a file, start a peer in seed mode.
  ./build/bin/peer <MyPort> <TrackerIP> <TrackerPort> seed <FilePath>

  Example:
  ./build/bin/peer 9001 127.0.0.1 8080 seed mydata.txt

3. Downloading a File
To download a file, start a peer in download mode using the file hash obtained from the seeder.
  ./build/bin/peer <MyPort> <TrackerIP> <TrackerPort> download <FileHash> <OutputFileName>

  Example:
  ./build/bin/peer 9002 127.0.0.1 8080 download a1b2c3... downloaded_data.txt


TESTING
-------

Unit Tests
The project includes unit tests for core utilities (SHA256).
  ./build/bin/unit_tests

Integration Tests
A Python script is provided to verify the full flow (Tracker + Seeder + Downloader).
  python run_tests.py

  Note: This script requires Python 3 and builds the project automatically if needed.


DOCUMENTATION
-------------

See the docs/ directory for detailed information:
* Detailed Walkthrough: docs/walkthrough.md
* System Architecture: docs/architecture.md
* Architecture & Design Refactor: docs/design_refactor.md
* Communication Protocol Specification: docs/protocol.md
* Project Tasks: docs/tasks.md