BTFS Technical Guide BTIP-51

Currently, the primary method of searching for files or directories uploaded by users to BTFS is through the use of CIDs (Content Identifiers). These CIDs are complex strings that are not easily remembered, making them impractical for memorization. As a result, they are typically stored and accessed through copy-pasting actions or by embedding them into URLs. However, this approach is not user-friendly, especially when trying to understand what types of files are available within the BTFS ecosystem.

Moreover, BTFS utilizes Distributed Hash Table (DHT) technology for routing and querying files via CIDs. While DHT technology offers a high degree of decentralization, eliminating the need for a single node for routing, it introduces latency issues, leading to a suboptimal user experience. A significant enhancement would be to develop methods that expedite the file access process or improve the indexing process for quicker queries.

To accomplish this, additional information, specifically metadata, is required. This metadata could be stored on centralized servers. It's important to acknowledge that for users, this approach may not fully address concerns regarding the authenticity of the data. However, considering that metadata requires less storage space and incurs lower costs, it is well-suited for storage on public blockchains. The decentralized nature and transparency of public blockchains make them an ideal solution for storing metadata related to the BTFS network, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.

This BTFS Improvement Proposal (BTIP) seeks to introduce a system that enables users to store comprehensive metadata alongside their files within the BTFS file system. This metadata includes essential details such as the Content Identifier (CID), file name, file type, and file size. Additionally, it proposes the inclusion of a storage certificate to facilitate smoother integration with decentralized applications (dApps) in the future. The proposal also encompasses storing pertinent information about the storage nodes, including their peer IDs, on the blockchain.The primary objective of this proposal is to enhance the efficiency of CID queries. By storing file metadata on the blockchain, it allows community members and developers to easily access this information by scanning the block and retrieving the data using natural semantics. This approach not only streamlines the process of retrieving file metadata but also significantly accelerates the overall process of querying CIDs within the BTFS ecosystem.

This BTIP recommends utilizing the BTTC chain for storing file metadata, as it offers lower storage costs compared to other public blockchains such as Ethereum. This can effectively reduce the expenses of on-chain operations for nodes.

Details:https://github.com/bittorrent/BTIPs/blob/master/BTIPS/BTIP-51.md