

# HERMES WireShare

**HERMES WireShare** is the HERMES-published edition of WireShare: a direct continuation of LimeWire as a peer-to-peer file sharing application.

WireShare continues from the last LimeWire source baseline. Its core LimeWire/Gnutella codebase is preserved and developed forward, while the original Java Swing frontend has been removed and replaced with a modern Compose frontend. FrostWire contributed a few core features, especially in the BitTorrent and search-engine areas, but HERMES WireShare is not FrostWire and is not connected to FrostWire.

HERMES WireShare is:

- a **Gnutella servent**;
- a **BitTorrent servent**;
- an **eDonkey client**; and
- a **file search engine**.

The project combines a **LimeWire backbone**, implying a Java peer-to-peer core, with a **Compose frontend**, implying a Kotlin user interface layer.

## What is peer-to-peer file sharing?

Peer-to-peer file sharing allows users’ computers to communicate directly with one another instead of relying entirely on a central server.

In a traditional client/server system, a client asks a server for data, and the server provides it. In a peer-to-peer system, each participant can contribute to the network. A peer may search, request, receive, verify, and share files with other peers.

Different peer-to-peer networks solve the same problems in different ways:

- how peers find one another;
- how files are searched;
- how files are identified;
- how downloads are verified;
- how partial downloads are resumed;
- how files are shared onward; and
- how decentralized the network is.

HERMES WireShare brings together several peer-to-peer traditions: Gnutella, BitTorrent, and eDonkey.

## What is Gnutella?

**Gnutella** is a decentralized peer-to-peer file sharing protocol. It is historically associated with clients such as LimeWire, BearShare, Gtk-Gnutella, Shareaza, and WireShare.

In Gnutella, users connect to other users. Searches and replies move through the network rather than through one central search server. Later Gnutella clients used a more efficient network structure involving ultrapeers and leaf nodes, allowing ordinary users to participate without every computer carrying the full load of the network.

Gnutella is especially important to HERMES WireShare because WireShare is a direct continuation of LimeWire, and LimeWire was one of the most widely recognized Gnutella clients.

## What is BitTorrent?

**BitTorrent** is a peer-to-peer protocol designed for efficient distribution of large files.

A BitTorrent download is usually started from a `.torrent` file or a magnet link. The content is divided into pieces. A user downloads different pieces from different peers, verifies them, and can then upload those pieces to others.

This makes BitTorrent well suited for distributing large files because no single server has to provide the entire file to every downloader.

BitTorrent commonly uses:

- torrent metadata;
- magnet links;
- trackers;
- distributed hash tables;
- peer exchange;
- piece verification; and
- seeding.

HERMES WireShare is a BitTorrent servent because it can participate in BitTorrent swarms as both a downloader and an uploader.

## What is eDonkey?

**eDonkey** refers to the eDonkey/eDonkey2000 family of peer-to-peer file sharing networks.

Unlike Gnutella, which is known for decentralized search, eDonkey traditionally uses servers for indexing and peer discovery, while file transfers occur between users. Files are identified by hashes, helping clients locate the same file across many peers and verify downloaded data.

HERMES WireShare includes eDonkey functionality as a client. That means it can participate in eDonkey-style file discovery and transfer, while its Gnutella and BitTorrent components operate according to their own network models.

## What is a servent?

A **servent** is a program that is both a **server** and a **client**.

The word combines:

- **server**, because the program can provide data, search replies, routing, uploads, or peer services to other users; and
- **client**, because the same program can request data, perform searches, download files, and connect to other peers.

The term is strongly associated with Gnutella. In a Gnutella-style network, every participant may act as both a consumer and a provider of network services.

HERMES WireShare is a Gnutella servent and a BitTorrent servent because it both requests and provides peer-to-peer services on those networks.

## Project identity

HERMES WireShare is the HERMES-published form of WireShare.

WireShare is not merely inspired by LimeWire. It is a direct continuation of LimeWire’s final source baseline. The LimeWire codebase forms the backbone of the project, especially in the Gnutella and peer-to-peer networking core.

The original Java Swing frontend has been removed. In its place, HERMES WireShare uses a modern Compose frontend. This creates a split between:

- the **Java-based LimeWire/WireShare core**, which preserves the historical peer-to-peer engine; and
- the **Kotlin/Compose user interface**, which modernizes the application frontend.

FrostWire contributed a few core features, including features related to BitTorrent and search. Those contributions are part of the technical lineage of HERMES WireShare, but they do not make HERMES WireShare a FrostWire product.

## LimeWire continuity

HERMES WireShare should be understood as a continuation of LimeWire at the software-codebase level.

The last LimeWire source baseline was used as the foundation. WireShare continues that codebase forward rather than merely imitating LimeWire from the outside.

Important changes include:

- preserving the LimeWire/Gnutella backbone;
- continuing the Gnutella servent architecture;
- removing the old Java Swing frontend;
- replacing Swing with a Compose frontend;
- adding and maintaining multiprotocol functionality;
- incorporating selected FrostWire-derived core features; and
- publishing the resulting application as HERMES WireShare.

This continuity is technical and historical. It does not imply corporate continuity with Lime Wire LLC, Lime Group LLC, or any former LimeWire company.

## FrostWire background

**FrostWire** began in 2004 as a fork of LimeWire. It originally resembled LimeWire closely and participated in the Gnutella client family.

Over time, FrostWire added BitTorrent support and other features. Later, FrostWire moved away from Gnutella. In the FrostWire 5 era, it dropped Gnutella support and became a BitTorrent-focused application with built-in search and media features.

FrostWire is relevant to HERMES WireShare because some core features in HERMES WireShare are derived from FrostWire, especially in the BitTorrent and file-search areas.

However, FrostWire is not the foundation of HERMES WireShare. LimeWire is the foundation. WireShare is an exact continuation of LimeWire’s final source baseline, with selected FrostWire contributions integrated where useful.

## Arista Records LLC v. Lime Group LLC

The most important legal background to LimeWire is **Arista Records LLC v. Lime Group LLC**, a United States District Court case in the Southern District of New York.

The case involved major record companies suing LimeWire-related defendants over the use of LimeWire for unauthorized sharing of copyrighted sound recordings. The plaintiffs alleged that LimeWire was not merely a neutral tool, but that its distributor had encouraged and benefited from infringing use.

In 2010, the court granted summary judgment against LimeWire on inducement of copyright infringement and related claims. The ruling applied the inducement doctrine associated with *MGM Studios, Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd.* and considered evidence such as LimeWire’s knowledge of infringement, its efforts to attract infringing users, its assistance to infringing users, its business dependence on infringing use, and its failure to implement meaningful mitigation.

A permanent injunction followed in October 2010. LimeWire was required to disable file-sharing functionality and stop enabling users to copy, reproduce, download, upload, or distribute copyrighted sound recordings through the LimeWire system.

The case later settled in 2011, with LimeWire’s CEO Mark Gorton paying $105 million to the major record labels involved in the litigation.

This case is part of the legal history of peer-to-peer software. It does not mean that peer-to-peer technology itself is unlawful. Gnutella, BitTorrent, and other peer-to-peer systems can be used for lawful purposes, including open-source software distribution, public-domain archives, Creative Commons media, independent publishing, academic datasets, and private file distribution.

The lesson for HERMES WireShare is clear: peer-to-peer software should be developed, documented, and used for lawful sharing.

## Lawful use

HERMES WireShare is intended for lawful file discovery, distribution, and sharing.

Users are responsible for complying with copyright law and all other applicable laws in their jurisdiction.

Do not use HERMES WireShare to upload, download, index, request, distribute, or promote material unless you have the legal right to do so.

Lawful uses may include:

- sharing original works;
- distributing open-source software;
- downloading Linux or BSD installation images;
- sharing public-domain media;
- distributing Creative Commons works according to their licence terms;
- transferring large files with permission;
- sharing independent music, films, books, or software; and
- locating material that is lawfully available.

## Relationship to FrostWire

HERMES WireShare includes selected core features derived from FrostWire.

That is the full extent of the relationship.

HERMES WireShare expressly disclaims all connection, connexion, affiliation, endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, representation, agency, succession, or joint venture with FrostWire.

Specifically:

- HERMES WireShare is not FrostWire.
- HERMES WireShare is not published by FrostWire.
- HERMES WireShare is not maintained by FrostWire.
- HERMES WireShare is not endorsed by FrostWire.
- HERMES WireShare is not sponsored by FrostWire.
- HERMES WireShare is not affiliated with FrostWire.
- HERMES WireShare is not an official FrostWire product.
- HERMES WireShare is not a FrostWire distribution.
- HERMES WireShare is not a FrostWire successor.
- HERMES WireShare does not claim FrostWire branding, marks, logos, names, or goodwill.

References to FrostWire are historical, descriptive, and technical. They identify the origin of selected core features only.

## Relationship to LimeWire

HERMES WireShare is a direct continuation of the LimeWire source baseline at the software-codebase level.

However, HERMES WireShare is not a corporate continuation of Lime Wire LLC, Lime Group LLC, or any former LimeWire legal entity.

Specifically:

- HERMES WireShare is not published by Lime Wire LLC.
- HERMES WireShare is not published by Lime Group LLC.
- HERMES WireShare is not endorsed by any former LimeWire company.
- HERMES WireShare is not sponsored by any former LimeWire company.
- HERMES WireShare is not affiliated with any former LimeWire company.
- References to LimeWire describe the software lineage and codebase history.

## Architecture

HERMES WireShare combines:

- a LimeWire/WireShare peer-to-peer core;
- Gnutella servent functionality;
- BitTorrent servent functionality;
- eDonkey client functionality;
- integrated file search;
- selected FrostWire-derived core features;
- a Java-based backend lineage; and
- a Kotlin/Compose frontend.

At a high level:

```text
+--------------------------------------------------+
|              Compose Frontend                    |
|        Modern Kotlin user interface              |
+--------------------------------------------------+
                         |
                         v
+--------------------------------------------------+
|          HERMES WireShare Application Layer      |
|     Search, library, transfers, settings, UI API |
+--------------------------------------------------+
                         |
                         v
+--------------------------------------------------+
|        LimeWire/WireShare Core Backbone          |
|       Java peer-to-peer networking foundation    |
+--------------------------------------------------+
        |                 |                  |
        v                 v                  v
+---------------+ +---------------+ +----------------+
|   Gnutella    | |   BitTorrent  | |    eDonkey     |
|   Servent     | |    Servent    | |     Client     |
+---------------+ +---------------+ +----------------+
```

## Feature summary

HERMES WireShare includes or is intended to include:

- Gnutella networking;
- Gnutella search;
- Gnutella file sharing;
- BitTorrent downloading;
- BitTorrent seeding;
- magnet link support;
- eDonkey client functionality;
- integrated file search;
- Java-based LimeWire/WireShare core architecture;
- Kotlin/Compose user interface;
- selected FrostWire-derived core features;
- library management;
- transfer management;
- peer discovery;
- upload and download controls; and
- lawful peer-to-peer distribution tools.

## Development notes

HERMES WireShare is built from the LimeWire/WireShare codebase lineage.

The original Swing frontend has been removed. Compose is used for the modern frontend. This allows the project to keep the proven LimeWire-derived peer-to-peer foundation while replacing the older desktop UI layer with a newer interface architecture.

FrostWire-derived features are treated as specific imported or adapted components, not as the identity of the project.

## Licence

See the repository’s licence files for the governing terms.

Because HERMES WireShare continues and incorporates code from existing free and open-source peer-to-peer projects, redistribution may involve multiple licence obligations, attribution requirements, source-availability requirements, and notice requirements.

Review all included licence files before modifying or redistributing the software.

## Acknowledgements

HERMES WireShare exists in the technical tradition of LimeWire, WireShare, Gnutella, BitTorrent, eDonkey, FrostWire, and the wider free-software peer-to-peer community.

The project especially acknowledges LimeWire as the direct source baseline continued by WireShare, while recognizing FrostWire for selected core features that have contributed to the present application.

HERMES WireShare is published and maintained as a HERMES project.