Having to share with a USB stick can be time-consuming, and what happens if there’s no flash to use? Using Bluetooth almost never works. And while cloud services like Google Drive provide a level of convenience, the method can be time-consuming especially if the file is large.
It is at such a point that we need an app for sharing files when the interested clients are in close proximity and although I’ve covered apps like Firefox Send and Wormhole, I’m happy to introduce Warpinator to you.
Warpinator is a free, open-source tool for sending and receiving files between computers that are on the same network. All you need do is install Warpinator on the computers, choose a group code, edit your firewalls if necessary, and that’s all.
It features a simple, themeable user interface with an easy-to-configure menu and works without the need for any servers or special configuration. Warpinator is an official file sharing app developed by Linux Mint.
Features in Warpinator
- Free and open-source.
- Available on GNU/Linux.
- Simple easy-to-use UI.
- Auto-detect other computers running Warpinator.
- Connect to several computers.
- Port selection.
- Accept/deny file transfers.
- Configuration options for group code
Install Warpinator on Linux Mint
Warpinator is developed by Linux Mint and thus, its dependencies are already available on the distro. Just run the command below command to install it:
$ sudo apt-get install warpinator
If you’re running Linux Mint 20 then you probably already have it because it comes preinstalled. If you are using Linux Mint 19.x and Ubuntu Bionic (18.04) use:
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:clementlefebvre/grpc $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install warpinator
Install Warpinator on Ubuntu
If you’re on a newer version of Ubuntu 20.04 and later, you need to build it from source using the following installation instructions.
$ sudo apt-get install python3-grpc-tools python3-grpcio $ git clone https://github.com/linuxmint/warpinator.git $ cd warpinator $ git checkout 1.0.6 $ dpkg-buildpackage --no-sign $ cd .. $ sudo dpkg -i *warp*.deb
Warpinator eliminates the need to use flash drives and cloud services for sharing files when interested parties are on the same network. How do you like that idea? Drop your comments in the discussion section below.
Thank you, Divine. Do you know how I would install Warpinator on a Synology NAS? I’d love to use this as my go-to for file transfers.
no clue why but it didn’t install just give a warning message along with an error massage and refuses to install . but thank you anyway for trying to help.
While I applaud the effort to make file sharing easier, a better solution is to make easier ways to use the mechanisms that already exist. Specifically the wrong answer is to make a whole new (read unecessary) mechanism. Every OS already has CIFS/SMB client support. A tool like Warpinator, which seems to be intended as a quick-and-dirty get the files over (and not intended to set up a permanent share) should just make it easier to create a CIFS/SMB share. Even just a temporary one with a few files in it. That would have been great – it would have obviated the need to create a complicated SAMBA server, and every other OS would be able to easily connect and get the files. As it stands, there is now yet another incompatible file sharing tool that requires custom clients for each OS and which really has no viable chance of significant marketshare.
While I applaud the effort to make file sharing easier, a better solution is to make easier ways to use the mechanisms that already exist. Specifically the wrong answer is to make a whole new (read unecessary) mechanism. Every OS already has CIFS/SMB client support. A tool like Warpinator, which seems to be intended as a quick-and-dirty get the files over (and not intended to set up a permanent share) should just make it easier to create a CIFS/SMB share. Even just a temporary one with a few files in it. That would have been great – it would have obviated the need to create a complicated SAMBA server, and every other OS would be able to easily connect and get the files. As it stands, there is now yet another incompatible file sharing tool that requires custom clients for each OS and which really has no viable chance of significant marketshare.
I cannot install warpinator. What’s going on?
sudo apt-get install warpinator
E: Unable to locate package warpinator
I have updated the installation instructions for Warpinator. Please try again…
So, isn’t this just like Syncthing (which does, by the way, sync Windows, Android, Mac and Linux computers together)?
I think of Syncthing as more robust because it has a longer feature list. It’s a cool mention
I assume that if I install this on Linux I can’t share with a Windows computer?
useless with Windows 7 and Linux min 20