Thaw FAQ
Homepage
What is Thaw?
See
Thaw homepage.
What is required to use Thaw?
Thaw is written in Java (the GUI use Swing), so you will need at least a Jre 1.4.
For information, Thaw is mainly developed with a Jdk 1.5.
You can find the latest Sun Jre at
http://java.com/∞.
Some screenshots ?
http://jflesch.kwain.net/~jflesch/thaw/∞
How to start Thaw ?
First you must install
Java∞. Once it's done:
- If you're running Microsoft Windows (it should also work with
MacOSX) :
Just double-click on the jar file.
- If you're running GNU/Linux :
In a shell: 'java -jar Thaw.jar'
Or create a shortcut, with the command "java jar Thaw.jar" and as work directory, the directory where Thaw is.
Note: at its first startup, Thaw will create 5 files in the directory where it's started.
What are the 'Thaw indexes' ?
Thaw indexes are simply file lists, with some links to other indexes (+keywords from the files of the index + various informations).
It's a convenient way to share some files over Freenet.
(Specifications are available here:
AnotherFreenetIndexFormat)
What is the best method to add files to an index ?
If the file(s) is/are not inserted at the moment, the recommended way is:
- Right-click on the index
- Files -> Add file(s) to this index and insert them on Freenet
If the file(s) is/are already inserted, the recommended way is:
- Right-click on the index
- Files -> Add file(s) to this index
Then Thaw will just ask the node to compute the corresponding key, and will add it to the index (It's recommended to check that the key matches with what is expected).
If you have the keys of some files but not the files, you can use the following way:
- Right-click on the index
- Files -> Add specific key(s)
Note: if you use this way, the file size won't be added to the index.
Does the CHK keys depends of the file path ?
No. But it depends of the file name.
Does Thaw insert the files on-demand ?
No.
How to read the informations in the index tree ?
Index name is:
- In bold : The index has been updated by its owner
- In italic : You can write in this index (you own it or the index is writable by anyone)
- followed by a '*' : A comment has been posted on this index
- in red : Obsolete indexes. These indexes became obsolete because of an old bug in the node. Soon, they won't be available anymore. These indexes *must* be reacreated from scratch.
The "(rX)" at the end of the name indicates the index revision (how many times it has been modified).
Note : Indexes in italic (writable) have also another icon than the other ones.
How often I need to re-insert my index?
Each time you modify it, and each time that someone on Frost tell you that he/she can't download it (this second case should be rare). No more, no less.
Note: Thaw won't reinsert an index if it's currently redownloading it.
What happens if I close Thaw? Does Thaw need to remain opened to download/insert my files ?
When you start a request, Thaw sends it to your node, and the node will report regularly to Thaw all the changes. Since all requests made are persistent requests, if you close Thaw they will simply continue to run on your node.
I use Beryl, and I have only a blank window when I start Thaw
Start Thaw with the following commands:
cd [directoryWhereThawIs]
export AWT_TOOLKIT=MToolkit
java -jar Thaw.jar
Note: With java >= 1.6, it may not work anymore. Two solutions: Fall back on java 1.5, or stop using beryl and use xfce + the transparency instead (I know, it's really less fun).
The 'TrayIcon' plugin doesn't work
This plugin requires Java 1.6. On Linux, it only works with KDE or Gnome.
Why are insertions so slow?
(See the question above)
Thaw doesn't do the insertions itself. It's the node that does all the hard work, and insertions on Freenet are generally slow.
Why do I get the message "Waiting for socket availability" when I send/receive many files at the same time?
Thaw is designed to work on another computer than the node. So except if they are working on the same computer, Thaw will transfer files to/from the node as if they would be distant. In opposition to Frost, Thaw is designed to open only one socket (communication channel ; except when fetching a file from the node) with the node. So the files can only be sent to the node one by one. It's advised to let Thaw always finish direct transfers with the node.
I want to insert many files in one time
In the insertion tab, when you click on "Select file(s)", you can select many file by holding the key "Shift" or "Ctrl".
When I'm downloading/uploading a file from/to my node, some of my commands seem to be ignored, why?
In fact, they are not ignored, they are delayed until the socket is available.
(see 'Why do I get the message "Waiting for socket availability" when I send/receive many files at the same time?')
On some extremely slow connections, some big orders (for example, starting to download 100 files) can make the socket busy for a while.
There is currently no way to cancel a transfer between Thaw and the node (if you disconnect / reconnect Thaw, it will probably restart the transfer).
Where is the Thaw configuration file?
This file is stored where Thaw is started (it should allow multiple installations if needed). The filename should be "thaw.conf.xml". The Thaw database (
HsqlDB) creates 5 others files : ' thaw.db.* '.
When I start Thaw, it just display some weird window changing all the time and consume 99% of my cpu time
It means that your node configuration is incorrect :
In 'freenet.ini' (file in the directory of your node):
'fcp.bindTo' is correctly set, but 'fcp.allowedHosts' is not.
Who legally owns Thaw?
Thaw is the legal property of "Freenet Project Incorporated".
Regarding th french law : Moi (Jérôme Flesch), ait cédé tout mes droit patrimoniaux sans exception à "Freenet Project Incorporated" (droit de reproduction, droit d'exploitation, etc).
I've found a bug!
Please fill in a report on
https://bugs.freenetproject.org/∞ .
It's best if you can load the plugin "thaw.plugins.Console" (provided with Thaw), reproduce the bug, and give the console log with your report (but don't let the console running all the time).
I have a suggestion or I've found something which is maybe a bug!
You can subscribe to the mailing list to discuss it:
http://emu.freenetproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/thaw∞
Or you can come on Frost, board "thaw".
But before suggesting anything, please check that it's not already on the bug tracker:
https://bugs.freenetproject.org/∞
Questions / Answers about Thaw 0.7
From the board 'thaw' on Frost:
----- mainframe@EBIyGk+ucHpcuGna_dfMEwjm8_k ----- 2007.05.27 - 11:10:59GMT -----
[...]
----- Jflesch@8KG66gBejSU5FGeSNg5vrILFqQQ ----- 2007.05.27 - 14:17:06GMT -----
> 1. I've got a couple of indexes in my "Your indexes" list.
> The indexes have r1/r2/r3/r4 behind there name. What does that mean?
>
'r' means 'revision'. Each time you insert (/update) an index, this revision is incremented of 1.
You can find this revision in the public key of the index:
right-click on the index -> index -> change the index settings
> 2. If I try to download a file, the thraw screen turns blank when I press the "download" button,
> then I see a "disconneced" message, then a "connected" message, then the "Transfer" tab.
> The transfer state of the file changes into "waiting", but the file isn't displayed on the
> "Transfer" tab. One of the files I tried to download finally got a "fetching" transfer state,
> and that file is now shown on the "Transfer" tab.
>
In the configuration, uncheck "Thaw and the node are on the same computer".
(I think I will uncheck this option by default ....)
> Is that all by design? Shouldn't the files with a "waiting" transfer state also
> be displayed on the transfer tab?
>
No it's a bug : When you check "Thaw and the node are on the same computer", Thaw let the node read/write the files itself. But the node run as another user than you. So if this user has not the rights to read/write your files, it disconnect Thaw (-> the window become blank).
The strange point is : why the download appeared in the transfer list ? It shouldn't (And the node shouldn't disconnect Thaw, but that's another problem)
> 3. If I close Thaw and start it again, all the files that had a "waiting" transfer
> state lose that state. I have to download them again to give them the "waiting transfer
> state. The files with the "fetching" transfer state are remembered between Thaw sessions.
>
Thaw seems to think that the node handle the downloads, and the node rejected it. But the problem comes from the point 2.
> 4. If I close Thaw, the "index loading" goes back to 0%.
>
> Is that by design? Shouldn't the files the "index loading" be remember
>
Yes, it's by design. Most of the freenet users use Frost. So I've sticked to the Frost behavior to not disturb the users.
> 5. Does "index loading: 12%" mean that 12% of all my indexes are
> loaded, or that 12% of the current index that is being loaded is loaded.
>
It means that 12% of all the indexes that you tried to fetch since the beginning have been downloaded. It only returns to 0 when it reachs 100%.
I know it's a stupid behavior. I will change it in the next version.
> 6. How can I see what the current loading index is?
>
At the moment, you can't. When I will have fixed the point 5, you will be able to.
> 7. The loading of an index takes a lot of time. I've got 6 indexes
> in my "your indexes" list, and after 12 hours it showed: "index loading: 12%".
>
You can make their downloads a little bit faster:
In the configuration:
-> Activate the advanced mode -> validate
Go back in the configuration:
-> In the index tab:
-> Uncheck "Always download of the latest versions of the indexes at each refresh"
-> Validate
> Is that just the usual freenet slowness?
>
Yes and no.