International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)

E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: [email protected]

Drive 3.0: Blockchain File Sharing Application

Aashi Saxena1, Atharvashirsh T2, Avantika Pandey3, Hasnain Viraney4,
Deepika Walanjkar5
1
Fourth Year Degree Student, Information Technology, International Institute of information
Technology, Pune.
2,3,4,5
Assistant Professor, Information Technology, International Institute of information Technology,
Pune.

Abstract
The project aims to develop a decentralized file-sharing platform that harnesses the power of blockchain
technology, Ethereum smart contracts, and InterPlanetaryFile System (IPFS) to create a secure, censor-
ship-esistant,and user-centric file-sharing ecosystem, eliminating relianceon centralized intermediaries,
enhancing data privacy, and reducing the risk of censorship or data loss for a future ofdecentralized and
secure data management.. The implementation will be built using Basic React for thefrontend, Ether.js
for interacting with the Ethereum blockchain, HardHat for smart contract development and testing, So-
lidity for writing smart contracts, and IPFS for distributed file storage. The project will begin with an in-
depth exploration of the selected technologies, including understanding the fundamentals of blockchain,
Ethereum, and IPFS. The project will include a user-friendly frontend Using Basic React, ensuring
seamless interaction between users and the decentralized platform. The frontend will offer features such
as file upload, download, and a user-friendly interface to interact with the Ethereum blockchain. To
achieve decentralized file storage, the project will leverage IPFS, enabling files to be broken into smaller
chunks and distributed across a network of nodes, ensuring redundancy and availability. The project's
core functionality will be implemented through smart contracts written in Solidity, deployed on the
Ethereum blockchain. Users will be able to upload files to the IPFS network, and the smart contracts will
record ownership, granting access rights only to authorized users while ensuring data privacy and securi-
ty.To test and deploy the smart contracts, HardHat will be utilized, providing a development environ-
ment and testing framework to ensure robustness and reliability.

Keywords: Blockchain, Decentralized, File Sharing, Basic React, Ether.js, HardHat, Solidity, IPFS

1. Introduction
In a world driven by digital data, the project "Blockchain File Sharing App" aims to revolutionize con-
ventional file storage models. Unlike centralized systems like Google Drive, this initiative leverages
blockchain technology to distribute and encrypt files across a network of nodes. This approach enhances
data privacy, security, and user control, all while maintaining the convenience of centralized platforms.
By empowering users to manage files and transactions, this project aspires to redefine secure and trans-
parent data storage in the digital age.

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 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: [email protected]

1.1 Literature Review

The literature surveys presented a diverse landscape of blockchain-based and decentralized file sharing
and access control systems. These surveys underscore the growing interest in harnessing blockchain
technology to address the limitations of traditional online file management systems. "Decentralized
Cloud Storage Using Blockchain" focuses on the development of a secure file storage and sharing solu-
tion, emphasizing the use of blockchain and IPFS technologies to enhance data security. While the paper
showcases the potential advantages of such a system, it is notable for the absence of specific algorithm
or implementation details, leaving room for further exploration and practical development. In contrast,
"File Sharing Using Blockchain" provides an in-depth exploration of peer-to-peer networking protocols
within the BitTorrent ecosystem. This research sheds light on the mechanisms and techniques employed
in BitTorrent's peer-to-peer file sharing network. Despite not directly addressing blockchain, this survey
serves as a valuable resource for understanding the underlying technology that enables peer-to-peer file
sharing. The other literature surveys introduce concepts of utilizing Hyperledger Fabric for IoT access
control and exploring decentralized file sharing with blockchain. However, these surveys primarily focus
on theoretical discussions, lacking practical implementation and specific results. Collectively, these stud-
ies contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding blockchain-based file management and
access control, offering valuable insights into potential advantages and shortcomings in these emerging
technologies.

2. Proposed System
The proposed system will be a decentralized file-sharing application leveraging the Ethereum block-
chain, designed to offer secure and private data exchange with robust data integrity verification. Our sys-
tem will utilize smart contracts developed with the Hardhat development environment to manage file
ownership and access permissions. Users will register with their Ethereum wallet addresses, enabling a
seamless, wallet-based authentication process. The application's backend will integrate with IPFS to
store file chunks, enhancing privacy and reducing Ethereum gas costs associated with on-chain storage.
For the front end, we will employ React to create an intuitive interface that communicates with the
Ethereum blockchain via Ether.js. MetaMask integration will be implemented for secure user authentica-
tion and transaction management. Our focus will be on optimizing gas usage, ensuring high-level securi-
ty protocols, and maintaining a user-friendly experience. The system will be thoroughly tested on the
Ethereum testnet before considering deployment to the mainnet, with a strategic plan to iterate based on
user feedback and scalability assessments, ultimately presenting a fully functional prototype to the col-
lege community.

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 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: [email protected]

2.1 System Architecture

Figure 1: System Architecture

The following are the steps discussed in this architecture :

1. Initially, the user connects to the Ethereum blockchain (presumably to a wallet or dApp interface).
2. The user starts the process by sending a video to the application.
3. The video is then uploaded to IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), which is a distributed system for
storing andaccessing files, websites, applications, and data.
4. After the upload, IPFS returns a unique file hash that represents the uploaded file.
5. The file hash is then added to a smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain. With Hardhat, you
would deploy and interact with the smart contract in your local development environment.
6. The user can later view or download the file via the application.

2.2 Technology used

2.2.1 Solidity
Solidity is a statically-typed, contract-oriented language for creating smart contracts on the Ethereum
Virtual Machine (EVM). Influenced by C++, Python, and JavaScript, it enables developers to craft ap-
plications with self-enforcing business logic, providing a definitive record of transactions. It also sup-
ports inheritance and multiple inheritance with C3 linearization.
2.2.2 Ethereum
Ethereum, and its provision of smart contracts provided real functionality even if the results of its open
system are dubious. Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain featuring smart contract func-
tionality. It is the native cryptocurrency of the platform. It is the second-largest cryptocurrency by mar-
ket capitalization, after Bitcoin. Ethereum is the most actively used blockchain.
2.2.3 Hardhat
Hardhat is a development environment designed for Ethereum smart contract developers. It provides de-
velopers with a local blockchain for testing their smart contracts, integrates with other development tools
and frameworks, and offers advanced features like stack traces and console.log debugging. Hardhat is
built to provide a robust environment where developers can manage the entire lifecycle of their con-

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 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: [email protected]

tracts, from development to deployment, ensuring contracts are thoroughly tested and ready for produc-
tion. Its plugin system allows for extending its capabilities, and it has become a popular tool among
Ethereum developers for its flexibility and comprehensive testing features.
2.2.4 IPFS (InterPlanetary File System)
IPFS, or InterPlanetary File System, is a peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol designed to make the web
faster, safer, and more open. It enables the creation of completely distributed applications. IPFS aims to
supplement, or possibly even replace, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) that currently dominates
the internet. Instead of using centralized servers, IPFS operates by connecting all computing devices
with the same system of files. When someone looks for a file (like a website, image, or data), they are
downloading it from the nearest node instead of a central server. This system can potentially reduce
hosting and bandwidth costs, improve web speed and connectivity issues, make it harder to censor con-
tent, and preserve versions of the web without depending on the original host.
2.2.5 ReactJS
It is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It is maintained by Facebook and a community of
individual developers and companies. React can be used as a base in the development of single-page or
mobile applications. Complex React applications usually require the use of additional libraries for state
management, routing, and interaction with an API. It makes it painless for developers to create interac-
tive UI. Properties commonly called props are passed from parent component to child. It also has fea-
tures of stateful components which can be passed to child components. React creates an in-memory data
structure for virtual Document Object Model(DOM) and updates the browser DOM efficiently. Lifecy-
clein ReactJS are hooks which allow execution of code at a set of points during a component's lifetime.

2.3 Result
This section of the paper discusses the outcomes of the implemented modules for the decentralized ap-
plication (DApp). We focus on two core modules: the User Interface (UI) developed with React and the
integration of file storage using the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS).
2.3.1 Module 1: User Interface with React
The UI was successfully developed using React, a JavaScript library for building user interfaces.
TheJavaScript library for building user interfaces. The implementation led to the creation of a responsive
and intuitive interface, which provides users with seamless interaction capabilities. Key results from this
module include:
• A component-based architecture allowing for reusable UI elements and streamlined development.
• Implementation of state management to ensure a reactive and efficient user experience.
• Integration of user authentication flows that provide secure access to the DApp functionalities.
• Customizable themes and layouts that adapt to various device screens and orientations, enhancing
accessibility.
Figure 2: Screenshot of Module-1

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 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: [email protected]

2.3.2 Module 2: File Storage and IPFS Integration

For file storage, the DApp leverages IPFS, which provides a peer-to-peer network for storing and shar-
ing data in a distributed file system. The integration has yielded the following results:
• Successful storage of files on IPFS with the capability to return a unique hash for each uploaded file,
guaranteeing data integrity and retrieval.
• Reduced reliance on centralized storage solutions, leading to increased data redundancy and resili-
ence against server failures.
• Implementation of smart contract interactions for storing and retrieving IPFS hashes, ensuring a
trustless system where transactions are transparent and immutable.
• Enhanced performance in file retrieval times compared to traditional centralized storage solutions, as
evidenced by benchmark tests.

2.3.3 Implementation of Smart Contracts

This line of code defines a function named add that takes an Ethereum address and a string as arguments
and adds the string to an array associated with the given address in a mapping named value.

This function grants a specified user address access rights by setting their status to true in a nested map-
ping, and if they previously had access, it iterates through an access list to update their access status,
otherwise, it adds them to the access list with access granted.

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 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: [email protected]

The disallow function revokes a specified user's access rights by setting their status to false in a nested
mapping and iteratively updates their access status in an access list.

This display function returns an array of strings associated with a given user address, only if the re-
quester is the user themselves or has been granted access rights by the user.

The shareAccess function is a public view function that returns an array of Access structs containing the
access rights associated with the message sender's address.

3. Conclusion
In conclusion, the development of the blockchain file sharing application using Ethereum and the
Hardhat platform represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of secure and decentralized file sharing
solutions. Throughout the course of this project, we successfully addressed the core objectives of creat-
ing a system that ensures data security, privacy, and integrity. By leveraging Ethereum's blockchain
technology, we established a transparent and tamper-resistant ledger for file transactions. The project's
performance requirements were met with a focus on optimizing file transfers, minimizing transaction
confirmation times, achieving scalability, and optimizing gas usage for cost-effectiveness. Safety re-
quirements were implemented to protect user data through encryption, access control, and robust smart
contract security. Compliance with data protection and privacy regulations was also a top priority

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E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: [email protected]

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