Dat-Firefox

This is a prototype browser extension which makes dat:// urls function in Firefox using a slightly modified dat-gateway as a bridge to the dat network.

It aims to implement native-like dat support possible in Firefox. This means:

1. Links to dat:// addresses and sites should work directly. While Webextensions protocol handlers are limited - we cannot show dat:// in the address bar on a loaded page - we can at least properly process the initial URL or link.
2. Dat site operate on the correct origin. When using the dat-gateway to bridge to the dat network, all dat addresses look like http://localhost:3000/{hash}/path. This has the effect of potentially breaking relative URLs on the page, and also preventing the web's cross-origin policies from preventing data leakage between sites. To fix this we have to make {hash} the origin.

Usage

1. Install dat-fox-helper

2. Install the extension from the Mozilla Addon Store

3. Visit a dat:// URL.

Local development

You can also build and run the extension locally. You will need a version of node greather that 7. nvm is recommended for installing node.

git clone https://github.com/sammacbeth/dat-fox.git
cd dat-fox
# install build dependencies
npm install
# build
npm run build
# if you want to watch for file changes
npm run serve

You can now load the addon folder as a temporary addon in Firefox:

1. Go to about:debugging in Firefox.
2. Chose Load Temporary Addon.
3. Browser to the addon folder and chose any file in this folder.

What works

• Load content from dat archives with the following URL types:
  • dat://{hash}
  • http://{hash}
  • dat://{hostname} (using Dat Discovery)
• Toggle between https to dat protocol for Dat-enabled sites.
• Create and fork archives.
• DatArchive API

How it works

1. The protocol handler redirects dat:// urls to a special handler domain (dat.redirect), passing the full url.
2. A webRequest listener intercepts requests to this domain and redirects to a http:// URL with the dat key or hostname as the origin.
3. A proxy PAC file intercepts hostnames matching a dat key pattern, or hostnames the user has explicitly ask to load over dat. Requests for these URLs are proxied via the dat-gateway (acting as a HTTP proxy). This allows us to make 'fake' hostnames work, and create the origins we need for dat sites.