Task 2 - Topic [C] - Shared Repositories

Repository is a place where data are stored and maintained. "Shared Repositories", we are talking about the technology/program/website where multiple databases or files are located for distribution over a network. A team use for sharing all sorts of information files, each team member allows to upload/download files from the main server/provider. Here is some examples:



Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/

YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. YouTube was created in mid-February 2005 by three former PayPal employees.The San Bruno-based service uses Adobe Flash technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips and music videos, as well as amateur content such as videoblogging and short original videos. In October 2006, Google Inc. announced that it had reached a deal to acquire the company for US$1.65 billion in Google stock. The deal closed on November 13, 2006.



Google 3D Warehouse [SketchUp] - http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/

SketchUp is a 3D modeling program designed for professional architects, civil engineers, filmmakers, game developers, and related professions. Sketchup may also be used to design buildings to be displayed on Google Earth. It was designed to be more intuitive, flexible, and easier to use than other 3D modeling programs, which often require steep learning curves. Several features allow designers to play with their designs, unlike what is possible in other 3D CAD programs. It is marketed as an easy-to-use conceptual tool with a simple interface. A well known feature in the SketchUp World is the 3D Warehouse. Users can use their Google Accounts to upload models, and then browse the 3D Warehouse for many components and models.



Filefront - http://www.filefront.com/

FileFront is a computer game and video game download service that provides patches, demos, modifications and other user generated game related content. It was first launched in December 2001, and created by I/O Error Development.



Fileplanet - http://www.fileplanet.com/

FilePlanet is a video game download service that provides free game patches, mod files and media downloads to its users. FilePlanet was launched, and is run by, GameSpy, which is now a subsidiary of IGN, and is one of the most used video game download sites on the internet. Users can either subscribe for a fee to access high-speed servers or use a free registration to access public servers, which usually have wait times before downloading. FilePlanet contains many different types of files such as game demos, trailers, and patches.
They have been criticized for making users pay to get new content like betas or demos. For example, with the Crysis beta, players could pay and subscribe, but were not guaranteed a spot in the beta.


These websites are the most common use of shared repositories on the world wide web, however, each of them have restricted the files to particular file types, such as Youtube for videos, Google 3d warehouse for SketchUp model files on google earth, Filefront and FilePlanet for computer/video game resources/patches, etc... In this case, they only good for public sharing but not for a team project file sharing. A good project team respository should have a large or suitable storage size, efficient and friendly user-interface and allow all sorts of file types to upload. therefore i have chosen 4shared for our team file sharing base, it has 5GB storage, max 100MB per file upload and allow all file types. Well, the main reason is that it's FREE and easy to setup and use.



Another good repository will be FTP (File Transfer Protocol). FTP is a commonly used protocol for exchanging files over any TCP/IP based network to manipulate files on another computer on that network regardless of which operating systems are involved (if the computers permit FTP access). There are many existing FTP client and server programs. FTP servers can be set up anywhere between game servers, voice servers, internet hosts, and other physical servers.
The objectives of FTP, as outlined by its RFC, are:

• To promote sharing of files (computer programs and/or data).
• To encourage indirect or implicit use of remote computers.
• To shield a user from variations in file storage systems among different hosts.
• To transfer data reliably, and efficiently.

and one more advantage of FTP is that it allows data has more privacy and security by setting up different user-levels and password, our FBE emustore server is one of the good example.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki, http://www.youtube.com/, http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/, http://www.filefront.com/, http://www.fileplanet.com/, http://www.4shared.com/ - accessed on 01 Apr 08