A Desperate Plea for a Free Software Alternative to Aspera (2018)
12 hours ago
- #data-transfer
- #open-source
- #big-data
- HTTP is slow for transferring very large files, while proprietary FASP protocol (Aspera) offers speeds up to 1000x faster, making it essential for big data applications.
- Aspera is widely used by major organizations but is proprietary, raising concerns about privacy, security, and lack of transparency since the source code is not accessible.
- A free software alternative to Aspera could revolutionize big data transfers across fields like science, technology, business, file-sharing, and journalism by enabling faster, open-source solutions.
- Two possible approaches to creating a free alternative are reverse engineering the existing protocol or designing a new clean-room protocol, each with its own trade-offs in feasibility and legal considerations.
- The author encourages developers to lead this project, highlighting potential benefits like grant opportunities, skill development, and the chance to impact the future of data transfer.