Aktie
Introduction
About Aktie
Aktie is a peer to peer client, designed to run and use forums, and attach files to. The principle looks like the software OFS.
Aktie is experimental, its developer is not part of the official I2P developers team.
Features :
- Forums (read, write, create)
- Forums can be public or private (the forum admin can grant membership), writable for members/subscribers or in blog mode
- File sharing (by attaching a file to a message in a community (a forum), posting file(s) to a forum, or sharing a folder to a community (forum))
- Communities : a community is the name of a forum + files attached to the messages of this forum + files shared in this forum
- Private messaging: Users can send encrypted private messages to other users.
- Programmed in Java (this allows Aktie to run on Windows, GNU/Linux, Mac OS X)
- Automatic upgrade over its network (getting the update file from other peers, then the user must restart Aktie)
Initial release: 2015. This page may interest you too: Aktie changelog.
Suggested reading: section "Introduction" of the wiki page OFS, because they have the same design principles.
Screenshot
(Feature showed: reading a forum)
Aktie Web Viewer (web-based read-only gateway to Aktie)
To see what is going on in Aktie without running the Aktie application itself, you can visit the following eepsite. It allows viewing the public communities, shared files (file info only, no download) and posts available in Aktie as well as to read the posts.
http://webviewer.aktie.i2p/ (http://gvofjbuvkl65f2npmyyig6wmi4ryvzdyli2pj4ufu56vtabc5pmq.b32.i2p/)
Comparisons between Aktie, OFS, and others
Read the page WOT forums, this will help you to understand faster what Aktie is.
Quick start guide
How to get Aktie
Get Aktie from official clearnet website
Download it from the official clearnet website, the URL is at the section 'External links' (you may use the Tor browser to hide your IP).
Get Aktie from unofficial eepsite
Download it from inside I2P. However, it is an unofficial eepsite that is not run by the developers: http://aktie.i2p/ or http://4qwhpshwlp6ndzvtiwvf7myc3lll3vizqcdvvuxrzgaxv4g2qogq.b32.i2p/
Get Aktie from within Aktie
Auto-updates, JAR files, signatures and the release signing public key are found in the news community. If there is a new release, the auto-update file should usually be downloaded automatically and installed during the next restart of Aktie. The only exception should be bugs in a release that prevent the auto-update feature from working properly. Generally, there is no need to download a new JAR file. You can use the JAR file from an older release to start your updated Aktie.
Get Aktie via I2P torrent (inofficial)
If you cannot get Aktie from within Aktie, this is the recommended way concerning privacy. Of course, it is not the recommended way concerning security, in case that you do not check SHA256 sum or signature of the JAR file. As always, if you get something from an inoffical source, software packages might be modified.
On Postman's tracker (http://tracker2.postman.i2p), the aktie_dist uploader has registered torrents with the release files (JAR, signature) and also with the source code, starting with Aktie 0.4.11. All Aktie torrents are members of the pool Aktie: http://tracker2.postman.i2p/index.php?view=TPoolDetail&id=948
Current version: 0.5.22 (2017-11-19)
- Aktie JAR and signature
- Aktie source code
Download with I2PSnark, Robert or BiglyBT.
Verifying Aktie jar file
Checking SHA256 sum
SHA256 of aktie_0.5.22.jar: 67c6793861da3cc56a5087a4d5c22679117a66807b4bc841b99f0657503e1510 (see clearnet website if you don't trust this information).
On Unix-like operating systems you can check the SHA256 sum running the following command in a shell:
sha256sum aktie_0.5.22.jar
Verifying the signature
Get the aktiedev release signing public key (see below). Having GnuPG installed, do the following in your shell:
Import the aktiedev release key into your key ring (only needs to be done once):
$ gpg --import aktiedev.asc gpg: keyring `/home/aktie_dist/.gnupg/secring.gpg' created gpg: /home/aktie_dist/.gnupg/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created gpg: key DBC4A159: public key "aktiedev" imported gpg: Total number processed: 1 gpg: imported: 1 (RSA: 1)
Verify the signature (example with original output for Aktie 0.4.13):
$ gpg --verify aktie_0.4.13.jar.sig aktie_0.4.13.jar gpg: Signature made Mo 02 Mai 2016 07:54:58 CEST using RSA key ID DBC4A159 gpg: Good signature from "aktiedev" gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature! gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner. Primary key fingerprint: F95C F655 F93C 58F3 970B 0231 A70B AAF4 DBC4 A159
Release signing key
It was announced at Aktie 'news' community that starting from 2016-04-17, Aktie releases will be signed by aktiedev key. For each release, there will be an additional sig file that can be used to verify aktie.jar.
FROM: developer <LBFsG6> ON: Sun Apr 17 17:05:29 GMT+01:00 2016 SUBJ: Aktie is working! ^_^ (All releases are now signed by aktiedev key) -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Comment: GPGTools - http://gpgtools.org <!--T:70--> mQINBFcTtz0BEAC0FY2Ke2GbIC+QOo/PqDZbsYgK8b2YBIq61nj5MhOZS+b33okX XZ0O6ekPhrxQ1CuG53ugmHafg9W2FH9FirwY1C8lBU/NXM6M/D+LwPzsngg/uy/E Q71DhANSDSXPvnTst8Ulvv+FJQPYzWknUz1dlIty3PXbIKA6uz6zcZiaFePv5vTQ etH6cCAIVY1mwOp4tAgvV9u27X0regdIvIbCnq9X9CC4pGzAmPMCnlyyG7FlgYnA qcEtilmVDsSeCrg744O4fcjpXQM8+Y71oU5hM61lkG1f1DKLtYRaQ0GX0oMAP/X7 ek0htr8Lgv4DPk4mn7myy/NOC4G1EV+h/q8XuATDUjLes6X7CxxvXqIf1Ji/QxYT xqHngz8f766AQ+QJ4CBVG3I+5XsG7UqdtiUS/GvZCVfM4xIwkcfDk3lG8qI89okd UTOnk2esQmHw1WkbYWy91Y75NELCu9Tqw6BdrbsC1BFJQwBW8OOtxkttAmSfINbM CrcQwYT1YZLit5tz9woMZhNmu3i17lzYLZpmYJEYyKTGUI50K+wAwTfM28nLblO7 TcpZd8ZbFTNB9Swcoo91wftC2yUfasAqBhzdpd62YE4wp7HjQJ7HxoLTRUz27ief 7bEAzLkTyki3HfMrGJvZnBdH3B1entrsOGXfrNGpT5woA7w86xaTWw7CwQARAQAB tAhha3RpZWRldokCPwQTAQgAKQUCVxO3PQIbAwUJJZ6dgAcLCQgHAwIBBhUIAgkK CwQWAgMBAh4BAheAAAoJEKcLqvTbxKFZOXsP/R77kMvzvnyN+s2z2ccYtP8OhyAY vmCsTBDz1kiiGrAKgGB/+e1HcQlMQrCxu7mVwcUca44tkRt+k6MFir53mnbU2hVc HSVV7PjJ6eFjVBIS+wDhtqpuazCrWo+KUxi9eN5y34zq597nd8iITiZw3C9UA5bR l8C6SDqCubWyNQEDeSh6zBvT+Rj+9Gxdo0tD3Qr88aP6jfD9c025DyNYlN7xwXVH PSQoBaFINHLkn5XEAgZxgELq7c80WTeh//bn0VASkuect4HnIB/qmZ9fJPDwYUpz fonq6NTsiV2jwRG6m5x3V4oTPg0q36HFvQN6WhEvKD1G+9gKvacoptoUgQIHmpLU dk1Zv/HkqhCzXzG207oOaP4bEeU+xeP0gfP1AEmmTbVafjVwaOY7LDBPrjbMd1ox CJr3tJYgp7Wz4GciCrN6cW78YAk/NxLPK22F+ls2wNszj6Vb9O72mL7myu9Govuv /kGHKqQH/vQ57uWsQZdsgV66UeAuHAtVGgfY1yY90aTnPUgmh2PlvzD5hWMDBQ29 v1y0vSsEzF/61vek8t832zduaAJGYca1FuyVD+jkn7bYqlICiqmDy5P7LTa7xG44 caC+krLBRWGFlmvRyhxwm2FFPys+6dmiBNkG8xsC6oE8DX5ncINQSdhH6tclbAsS PBqy4nJ6lXPmVjaNuQINBFcTtz0BEADKvvSibOx9iTpuU05LD5n+wmSIDTez26kk TgfBvMTWngzdXaXB+rPUj3vrmUf/UAOb6/2XPIuQEU2/n6haWkz7faVul90e4DRq szHzMltzbMTK+tQSak3JZByPx653gFx3R1e1IQFMGSiID32xNmtIOhfo16S8WTwL 8TOTp3WDRDWmF4obInhAqyVYfgchoFNBJg/BDdxcRJz02xPDs5NMT4F1xd7bDXIe t9pKDTV0VKC0XSfWC0ovmY/ZXg08J6oBFShV3auWljJGMtqlT8hdp/gQytwtC0fU 1fJotVubw/g8ec1smTYgojtk/bPG31QC4hbZfKPkmrtRX51VN+eI9pGWYmQeYjco mdPbAsgfxMRbCARcynVygn0yRAtWo/x6KkaSzONUQs6fhlYvuTo3KaLw1MAasMGP bb4i3eD+kWIZlrhKOSMlIv2551ngPsOwAYB19VdGDOgorPmBiF8qdoGu8jgd8u3H LogzyOyHrr+LOi2DSbLewfkW4IaZqokSAm6qfic2MbxWRd3MjOJ8A3XAuORoNVw/ 7P73jMQwJqutYmUt+gorFluPwVcs67Gk5qAAVMSui9YcJQm43MOulYnWmko5yP3D 6tU9LyRvRxuxtpTJK2enX0wBVs7epPwQ+BgUYdS7LrxcH74UFBUFKCwRvIvfwPOI hVv8bNPqmQARAQABiQIlBBgBCAAPBQJXE7c9AhsMBQklnp2AAAoJEKcLqvTbxKFZ AokP/j68rjKLJqyH/03fC+u/D+EpL/QsooBw1a9v7n6XwuqG0ZAYw3AntPFHESA0 yqBToL4M6RwkrsNfbtKRMxpKWGGlEyqR/gn+1b7EJi3nfWAP+zf+U/0ek1dafaHf cwFJcjtQvi5HlM/2RDUSeUJj2OP9AixmxQkfp2QeOG1FNz9q0WUHXt723xoh+Hs8 y50IWIXB98Z0/0VLYAaKcMXIqPWVo0FqSyy0L4iaMixBZ7qQ7NGcCh2al/qp1Lqb 3b16ZMW1+sY+hmGDRqY4Ba6Osigm4lAm/fWxXNmFXepXiAzmOJhNdXs2PLPjKjWL sTKX0vYNZWb6k1xNeDjX66cD9j+Q7fWzIswvYy59A1dlko76nF4ggBM6W8Y6112o v/Ajp0/MqtykLtQZ5SOpuQJmmbn2XNbiovEy71++x6BpTYg0mhZg4NCgqX658LCX p0urbFhGSciXL2DIN0MHbYHjCEsjU50GNw9X4zNo3MNsHA9ScYdu/jGpD9+uByeb Dy3xVCLehkisw2pY2i2i9Slq/fgMMCwHQkG2+/perfZLnqiW0mu7GHv59qZpsbDw 5UVXE9NG3JuaMzMlMmvdZeNBKCO3A2Z3JGjNi3BvkA7b+V9Z2cWF9qJSiorMQ7ST G1Y/8nnn98IcL0/MWtzAU+BIlNK54HDL9P9oN7tOP9TtDm8+ =fPqy -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- ========================== <!--T:71--> =
On the official website, the release signing public key is found here: https://github.com/retsamknaps/Aktie/blob/master/aktiedev.asc
On Postman's tracker (not official), a torrent for download of the release signing public key is found here: http://tracker2.postman.i2p/index.php?view=TorrentDetail&id=36575
Within Aktie, the release signing public aktiedev.asc key is found in the 'news' community. The SHA256 sum is: e7bae39837b467ef32e325619492ba4545d0f80987dea68e9236af808f5880cc
Run Aktie
Note: Aktie does not need "SAM application bridge" to be enabled, because Aktie uses I2CP directly.
Copy the file aktie.jar into an empty folder, then :
- On Windows, you can start it by double-clicking "aktie.jar"
- On Linux, you may start it from a GUI by double-clicking "aktie.jar", however if the splash screen does not appear, then open a terminal window, go into the software directory then enter "java -jar aktie.jar"
Note: the first time that Aktie is started, it will automatically extract several files into the directory (and create new folders inside).
Wait for it to connect to some peers (ca. 20 minutes, you may look at the tab 'Connections'). Then wait several hours more in order to let Aktie synchronize forums (download these) with the others peers.
Setup (for a new user)
- In the left column (tab "Communities") do a mouse right click. Select "New identity".
- Click the identity, then do a right click onto, this will allow to "Subscribe" to some forums, in the next window select some forums then click the button "Subscribe".
Building Aktie from source using Eclipse IDE
Based on the project metadata in the source archives, the developers seem to be using Eclipse IDE to build Aktie. To build Aktie yourself, perform the following steps:
- Get and install the Java SDK or OpenJDK and Eclipse IDE from the internet.
- Extract the Aktie source archive into your Eclipse workspace using File -> Import -> General -> Existing Projects into Workspace and selecting the Aktie source directory as root directory.
- Download the Eclipse SWT source swt-*.jar (Java GUI toolkit from Eclipse project) matching your operating system and architecture from the Eclipse project home page (as of Aktie 0.5.21 you need to get the not very recent version 4.5.2 from here http://archive.eclipse.org/eclipse/downloads/drops4/R-4.5.2-201602121500/)
- Extract the Eclipse SWT source into a newly created directory org.eclipse.swt in your workspace.
- Import the SWT project as you did with the Aktie project.
- In the Project Explorer on the left hand side, right-click on the Aktie project and select Build Path -> Configure Build Path...
- Verify that Java Build Path -> Projects tap signals you that org.eclipse.swt is alright (no red cross).
- Expand the Aktie project tree and right-click on build.xml.
- Select Run As -> Ant Build and you should see some output in the log pane telling you the Ant build is running and that finally the JAR has successfully been build.
- Now you should find your self-build aktie.jar in the Aktie project directory in the workspace.
User guide
How to download file(s)
You must have subscribed to some forums first.
Files are attached to some messages (look at the column "File"). If a message has some file(s) attached, right click onto then select "Download File(s)".
You may click the tab "Files" to see a list of all files shared into this forum.
The download will start if at least one Aktie user has downloaded this file, or if the uploader is online.
Attaching a file to a message post
You must have subscribed to a community (a forum) first.
- if you have more than one identity, check that the identity you want to use is subscribed to the community where you want to post
- at the left of the window click the community name under the identity you want to use
- click the tab "Posts", click the button "Post"
- note: if you attach a video/audio file, posting a preview picture or at least a description (in "Body") is very welcome
Sharing a whole folder with a community
- if you have more than one identity, check that the identity you want to use is subscribed to the community where you want to post
- at the left of the window click the community name under the identity you want to use
- click the tab "Shares"
- read the instructions, then click the button "Add Share Directory"
Managing a community
Creating a community
In the left column, do a right click > select "New Community"
There is different sorts of communities :
- Public : no one owns a public community. Once they are created, anyone can subscribe, post and share whatever they want.
- Private access, name displayed publicly as Locked Community : only the members of private communities can subscribe and post. Membership is granted by the community creator.
- Private access, name hidden to public : a locked community is just a private community, but the name is shared publicly. Regular private communities are invisible to anyone that is not a member.
When creating a community, blog mode can be enabled irrespective of public or private access. With blog mode, only the creator of the community can add posts and files.
How to send private messages to a other user ?
This feature was not available before Aktie v0.5.2 (2016-06). The following trick was possible:
"This can be done in a way. You can create a private group and give the person you wish to send private messages to membership to that group. Then you can carry on a private conversation with that person in the private group. " Retsamknaps, 2015-03-17.
The user ranking feature
By right-clicking on a post and selecting 'Set user rank', you can assign another user a personal value used for filtering search results. The assigned value is only used locally for your own queries. It is not communicated to the network. If, for instance, another user posts stuff that you don't like, you can assign this user a low user rank (e.g. rank 2 instead of default rank 5). Upon search for posts, you can require a minimum user rank (e.g. rank 4). This way, you won't get to see posts from the low ranked user any more. The user rank is most useful for queries that you create with the auto-download feature. You can set a few users you really trust to a higher user rank. Then create a query to automatically download from users with that rank.
Misc
Do you want to help the network to work ?
- A easy way to help the Aktie network to get more users and run better is to let it run the more often you can.
- A second way is to use the forums.
- A third way is to share some files as examples for the Aktie new users.
How to run Aktie headless
This feature is implemented since Aktie v0.4.6, the release note:
Aktie can now run headless! But, there's no client yet, and no documentation yet, sorry. However, if you run:
java -jar aktie.jar -headless
Aktie will start without a GUI and 0.0.0.0:5789 will be openned to accept JSON objects to control the node.
Edit aktie_run_dir/aktie_node/aktie.pros add this line to bind the client port to 127.0.0.1:
aktie.client.interface=127.0.0.1
Note, if you want to run headless you must download the full aktie.jar file. You can download aktie_0.4.6.jar from here (Aktie) and replace your current aktie.jar file with it.
How to upgrade Aktie manually
By copying the automatic upgrade file by yourself
This may be useful if you have several Atkie (ie: several computers) to upgrade (instead of waiting that each one download it).
Notes :
- Aktie #1 is the one that has downloaded the upgrade file (example: aktie_0.4.8.zip, size: 4 MB).
- Aktie #2 is the Aktie folder that you want to upgrade without waiting that it downloads itself the file.
Steps :
- Aktie #2: in the tab 'Downloads' check that it has automatically detected and trying to download the upgrade file (even if 'Downloaded Parts' = 0)
- Quit Aktie #2
- Copy the upgrade file from Aktie #1 /aktie/aktie_run_dir/upgrade/ into Aktie #2 (same location)
- Start Aktie #2
- Aktie #2 should have upgraded
- Aktie #2 tab 'Downloads' cancel the download of the upgrade file
By installing the latest Aktie software package
This may be useful if your Aktie version is very old, or if the automatic upgrade fail.
- Download the latest Aktie software package (file size is more 30 MB)
- Copy it into a new directory empty
- Run it one time for 30 seconds (to let it create the default sub directories), then exit
- Replace the directory "/aktie/aktie_run_dir/aktie_node/" (remove everything) by the content of the directory of your own Aktie
(tested with Aktie v0.4.10, 2016)
Are you a Java developer ?
If you are a Java developer, you may be interested to help the Aktie project.
Known issues
GUI (empty areas, random texts)
v0.4.3 : GUI issues (missing texts in the left columns, texts replacing others). Copied/pasted from the forum "support" of Aktie: "If you see problem running under Ubuntu, type this in your terminal before to start Aktie" :
export SWT_GTK3=0 java -jar aktie.jar
Aktie fail to start (crash)
If you have already used Aktie before, and that now your Aktie is crashing when starting, your may create a new empty folder, copy "aktie.jar" into, run it one time, quit Aktie, then replace the content of the folder ".../aktie/aktie_run_dir/aktie_node/" (this folder contain your profile files) with the one of the Aktie that crash when starting.
Tested with Aktie v0.2.3 by Hummingbird, 2015-10.
Others known issues
More issues, solutions, and error messages are listed in the page Aktie changelog.
Changelog
The Aktie's changelog can be found in this page of the wiki : Aktie changelog.
The official changelog is currently only available in the clearnet: https://github.com/retsamknaps/Aktie/releases
References