I have a few questions about the exact nature of downloading.
When you're in a (perfectly legit) bit torrent swarm, you complete a download by exchanging parts of a download with different users, instead of downloading the parts of a file in a straight line. A torrent program can identify which pieces it needs and request them, exchange them, etc. And the graphics of certain torrent programs seem to imply that they very specifically detail the division and assemblage of a file.
Which prompted me to wonder about a few things. First, how single source music downloads work. A music file specifically, because it is a single, homogeneous kind of file...As opposed to a package of program files or something.
The parts must be broken up so that they can be sent remotely...But does it download the data in exact order you would listen to it?
Is the download bar usually an exact measure of download? (Or is it the indication of an exchange? I should probably ask how much so the download bar is a measure of the exchange).
How does your computer calculate the size and percentage of the completion of a download?
When you're in a (perfectly legit) bit torrent swarm, you complete a download by exchanging parts of a download with different users, instead of downloading the parts of a file in a straight line. A torrent program can identify which pieces it needs and request them, exchange them, etc. And the graphics of certain torrent programs seem to imply that they very specifically detail the division and assemblage of a file.
Which prompted me to wonder about a few things. First, how single source music downloads work. A music file specifically, because it is a single, homogeneous kind of file...As opposed to a package of program files or something.
The parts must be broken up so that they can be sent remotely...But does it download the data in exact order you would listen to it?
Is the download bar usually an exact measure of download? (Or is it the indication of an exchange? I should probably ask how much so the download bar is a measure of the exchange).
How does your computer calculate the size and percentage of the completion of a download?