DC++

DC++ is a free and open-source, peer-to-peer file-sharing client that can be used for connecting to the Direct Connect network or to the ADC protocol. It is developed primarily by Jacek Sieka, nicknamed arnetheduck.

DC++

DC++ 0.777 running on a Windows 7 Installation
Developer(s)	Jacek Sieka
Stable release	0.868 / November 12, 2018
Written in	C++
Operating system	Windows
Type	Peer-to-peer
License	GNU GPLv2 or later
Website	dcplusplus.sourceforge.net

As of 2008, DC++ had around 90% market share of the Direct Connect community.[1]

DC++ is a free and open-source alternative to the original client, NeoModus Direct Connect (NMDC); it connects to the same file-sharing network and supports the same file-sharing protocol. One of the reasons commonly attributed to the aforementioned popularity of DC++ is that it has no adware of any kind, unlike NMDC.[2]

Many other clients exist for the Direct Connect network, and most of these are DC++ "mods": modified versions of DC++, based on DC++'s source code. A partial list of DC++ mods is given below. Some of these clients were developed for specialized communities (e.g. music-sharing communities), or in order to support specific experimental features, or perhaps features that have been rejected from inclusion in DC++ itself. An example of an experimental feature is hashing, which was initially implemented in BCDC++ and later adopted by DC++.

Forks

Chart showing DC++ and its forks[3]

An advantage of the free and open-source nature of DC++ is that several mods have been released which add features to the original client.

Many users send patches to DC++ which are included in future releases, but some features are rejected by the developer. Stated reasons for rejecting a patch are because they are coded poorly, or that the feature is frivolous, abusable or overly specialized, and does not belong in the main client. Examples include: upload bandwidth limiting (many users feel that upload bandwidth limiting is a form of cheating, while other users not using a full-duplex network connection can only achieve reasonable download speeds by limiting uploads), colorized chat, specialized operator functions (e.g. client/share checking).

The developers of some forks contribute features and bug-fixes back upstream to DC++.

Client software comparison

General

Client	FOSS	Software license	Active	Release date (latest version)
AirDC++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	Yes	2019-11-17 (v3.60)
ApexDC++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	Yes	2018-12-25 (v1.6.5)
DC++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	Yes	2018-11-12 (v0.868)
EiskaltDC++	Yes	GNU GPLv3 or later	Yes	2021-01-24 (v2.4.1)
FlylinkDC++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	Yes	2017-01-20 (r504)
LinuxDC++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	No	2011-04-17 (v1.1.0)
RSX++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	No	2011-04-14 (v1.21)
StrongDC++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	No	2010-12-27 (v2.42)
TkDC++	Yes	GNU GPLv2 or later	No	2010-11-29 (v1.3)
Client	FOSS	Software license	Active	Release date (latest version)

Operating system support

Client	Windows	Linux	macOS	BSD	Haiku
AirDC++	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
ApexDC++	Yes	No	No	No	No
DC++	Yes	No	No	No	No
EiskaltDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
FlylinkDC++	Yes	No	No	No	No
LinuxDC++	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
RSX++	Yes	No	No	No	No
StrongDC++	Yes	No	No	No	No
TkDC++	Yes	No	No	No	No
Client	Windows	Linux	macOS	BSD	Haiku

Interface and programming

Client	GUI	CLI	WebUI	Programming language	Based on
AirDC++	Yes	No	Yes	C++	StrongDC++
ApexDC++	Yes	No	No	C++	StrongDC++
DC++	Yes	No	No	C++	-
EiskaltDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	C++	DC++
FlylinkDC++	Yes	No	Yes	C++	ApexDC++/StrongDC++
LinuxDC++	Yes	No	No	C++	DC++
RSX++	Yes	No	No	C++	StrongDC++
StrongDC++	Yes	No	No	C++	DC++
TkDC++	Yes	No	No	C++	StrongDC++ / DC++ bzr
Client	GUI	CLI	WebUI	Programming language	Based on

Features

Client	Magnet URI	UPnP	NAT traversal	DHT	Encryption	IPv6	IDNA	Plugin	Proxy	Hash algorithms	Protocol support
AirDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No		Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
ApexDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Lua, C++	Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
DC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No		Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
EiskaltDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Lua, Qt Script, QML	Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
FlylinkDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes		Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
LinuxDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No		Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
RSX++	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Lua, C++	Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
StrongDC++	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No		Yes	Tiger Tree Hash	TIGR, ADCS
Client	Magnet URI	UPnP	NAT traversal	DHT	Encryption	IPv6	IDNA	Plugin	Proxy	Hash algorithms	Protocol support

See also

• NeoModus Direct Connect protocol (NMDC)
• Advanced Direct Connect (ADC)

References

1. Fredrik Ullner (January 2008). "PC Pitstop and its P2P-report". DC++: Just These Guys, Ya Know?. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
2. Annalee Newitz (July 2001). "Sharing the Data". Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper. Metro Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-01-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

Official

• DC++ (Official Website)
• DC++ Webhelp

Unofficial

• DC++ FAQ