Dat is a decentralized data tool for distributing datasets small and large.

Windows	Mac/Linux

This is the Dat 1.0 pre-release candidate. We want to make Dat into a data versioning, forking, and syncing tool. The first feature set we are working on is easy file distribution.

Key features:

• Live sync folders by sharing files as they are added to the folder.
• Distribute large files without copying data to a central server by connecting directly to peers.
• Intelligently sync by deduplicating data between versions.
• Verify data integrity using strong cryptographic hashes.
• Work everywhere, including in the browser and on the desktop.

Dat embraces the Unix philosophy: a modular design with composable parts. All of the pieces can be replaced with alternative implementations as long as they implement the abstract API.

Please note that previous versions of Dat (alpha, beta) are incompatible with the 1.0 pre-release.

To install the 1.0 Pre-release from npm:

npm install dat -g

If you receive an EACCES error read this guide.

Clone this repository and in a terminal inside of the folder you cloned run this command:

npm link

This should add a dat command line command to your PATH. Now you can run the dat command to try it out.

There are two main commands in dat:

1. Share data: dat share <directory>
2. Download data: dat <dat-link>

Share a directory by typing dat share <directory>:

$ dat share my_data/
Creating Dat: my_data/
  [Done] readme.txt
  [Done] data.csv

Files: 2  Size: 1.44 kB
[Sharing] 2bede435504c9482910b5d4e324e995a9bc4d6f068b98ae03d97e8d3ac5f80ea
[Status]
  Watching my_data/...
  Waiting for connections...

You are now publishing that data from your computer. It will be publicly accessible as long as your terminal is open. The hash is a secret hash, your data is visible to anyone you send the hash to. As you add more files to the folder, dat will update and share the new files.

Your colleague can get that data like this:

$ dat 2bede435504c9482910b5d4e324e995a9bc4d6f068b98ae03d97e8d3ac5f80ea

It will start downloading the data into the current folder. Anyone who gets access to the unique dat link will be able to download and re-host a copy of the data. It's distributed mad science!

For more information, see the full project documentation here.