Is there any way to do this? I know java applets, flash don't allow this, what about browser plugins? Other ideas?
2 Answers
Theoretically you could do this in windows by implementing an ActiveX control browser plugin. However, even if you get the user to install it, if the "browser server" is behind a firewall or proxy no client is going to be able to connect to it. And there is the problem of what DNS name do clients use to find the "browser-server?" Most likely (unless machine running the browser is actually an internet host) it won't have a DNS entry. Every machine has an IP address of course, but with DHCP, etc, IP addresses are randomly assigned so there is no way to know ahead of time what a given "browser-server's" IP is going to be.
If you're trying to create something like a multiplayer game or chat application, the better way to go about it is have all the clients connect to a server and that server relays information back and forth between the clients. Then you can implement it in Flash or Javascript/Ajax and no one has to install anything.
1 Comment
GalacticCowboy
Not to mention that it would be considered "unsafe" on multiple levels.
Opera are doing exactly this in their browser: Opera Unite: a Web server on the Web browser.
2 Comments
eeeeaaii
That's very interesting! Though I think you still have to use a server as a proxy -- from the documentation: "The URL that your friends can navigate to, to get to your services; as mentioned before, in my case it is mymac.chrismills.operaunite.com). This is in the top-right of the screen" However it looks like this does give you the power to run a service on your computer that someone else can connect to via the proxy. I wonder, do both people have to be using Opera or just the person running the service?
RichieHindle
It will connect directly when it can, and use a proxy otherwise - from the FAQ: "A proxy server is used when no direct connection is established". They are handling dynamic DNS for you as well, with this yourname.operaunite.com address.