TECHNOLOGY
Flipflop, a new open-source tool, sets up persistent tunnels for sharing files between your devices
Flipflop lets you link two or more devices once, then send files, links and text between them anytime. It runs over Bluetooth, a local network or the internet, and is built on Iroh.
Image: Flipflop
Flipflop is a new open-source file-sharing tool that lets you connect your devices once and send things between them whenever you want.
The idea is simple. You set up a trusted tunnel between two or more devices. After that, one device can send files to the other at any time, without repeating the setup.
According to the project page, it works over Bluetooth, over a local network (LAN), or across the wider internet. It uses Iroh, a networking tool. The draft flags that this detail should be checked against the linked primary source before publication.
The author says you can use it to move links, plain text and other files between your own devices. It can also work with devices belonging to family members, whether they are in the same home or far away.
Builds are available for Linux, macOS and Windows, plus an Android APK (the installable file for Android apps). They are on the project's releases page. On Windows, you can run the executable directly or use the setup installer. The author notes that Windows will show a "Windows protected your PC" warning when you try.
There is no iOS version. The author says they cannot publish it for iOS because of Apple's restrictions.