airshare

Share files or directories

$ airshare [code] [path/to/file_or_directory1 path/to/file_or_directory2 ...]

$ airshare [code]

$ airshare --upload [code]

$ airshare --upload [code] [path/to/file_or_directory1 path/to/file_or_directory2 ...]

$ airshare --file-path [code]

$ airshare --clip-receive [code]

As airshare is not a standard Linux command, its synopsis can vary between implementations. However, common patterns observed across various airshare-like tools include:

Sharing files:
airshare share file_or_directory [options]
airshare send file_or_directory [options]

Receiving files:
airshare receive [options]

Starting a server:
airshare start [options]

General options:
airshare --help
airshare --version

file_or_directory
    The path to the file or directory to be shared. This is typically an argument to a 'share' or 'send' command.

--port <port_number>
    Specifies the port number on which the sharing server will listen. Common defaults are 8000 or a randomly assigned available port.

--bind <address>
    Specifies the IP address or hostname to bind the server to (e.g., 0.0.0.0 for all network interfaces, 127.0.0.1 for localhost only).

--once
    Shares the content once and then automatically shuts down the server after the first successful transfer. Useful for quick, single-use sharing.

--no-browser
    Prevents the command from automatically opening a web browser to the shared URL after the server starts.

--qrcode
    Displays a QR code in the terminal. Mobile devices can scan this QR code to quickly access the shared content's URL.

--output <path>
    For receiving operations, this option specifies the directory where incoming files should be saved.

--verbose
    Increases the verbosity of the output, showing more details about the operation and network activity.

-h, --help
    Displays a help message, detailing available commands and options specific to the installed airshare utility.

-v, --version
    Displays the version information of the airshare utility being used.

The airshare command refers to various non-standard utilities designed for simplified, ad-hoc file sharing over a local area network (LAN).

Unlike traditional methods like SCP, FTP, or setting up full network shares, airshare-like tools aim to provide a zero-configuration or minimal-configuration experience, often by launching a temporary HTTP or WebSocket server. This allows other devices on the same network, including smartphones or other computers, to access shared files easily via a web browser or a dedicated client. Functionality typically includes sharing individual files or directories, and some implementations may offer features like QR code generation for mobile access, one-time sharing, or secure (HTTPS) connections. It's a common solution for quickly transferring data between devices without relying on cloud services or complex network setups.

airshare is not a standard Linux utility distributed with most mainstream distributions. Its availability and specific functionality depend entirely on whether a user has installed a particular airshare implementation (e.g., a Python script from PyPI, a Go binary, etc.).

Security considerations are important: sharing files using such tools often involves opening a local network port. While convenient for ad-hoc sharing, ensure you understand what you are sharing and with whom, especially when operating on unsecured or public networks. Always be mindful of the content you expose.

Several open-source projects implement airshare-like functionality, often written in Python (e.g., airshare-cli available on PyPI), Go, or Node.js. Users typically install these via language-specific package managers (like pip for Python) or by downloading pre-compiled binaries. Each implementation may have slightly different command-line syntax and feature sets, but the core purpose of simple local network file sharing remains consistent across them.

Most airshare utilities function by temporarily setting up a lightweight HTTP, HTTPS, or WebSocket server on a specified local port. They then generate a URL (often displayed in the terminal and sometimes accompanied by a QR code) that other devices on the same network can use to download (or, in some cases, upload) the shared content via a standard web browser. This approach avoids the need for dedicated client software on the receiving end, maximizing compatibility and ease of access.

The concept behind airshare-like commands emerged to address the need for simple, ad-hoc file transfers on local networks, mirroring the ease-of-use seen in proprietary solutions like Apple's AirDrop. As a response to the often cumbersome setup of traditional network file sharing protocols, various independent developers and projects created command-line tools and scripts to provide this functionality. There isn't a single 'official' airshare development history; rather, it represents a category of tools that prioritize ease of use and quick deployment for local file sharing without requiring complex server configurations or cloud dependency.

nc(1) (netcat), python3 -m http.server, scp(1), sftp(1), rsync(1), ssh(1), nfs(5), samba(7), kdeconnect(1)