Architecture

V1

Dreamware V1 utilizes a hybrid peer-to-peer architecture, combining a traditional server and peer-to-peer streaming. The server is managed by Dreamware and is responsible for storing films and providing a consistent connection for users to stream content. Films are streamed to users using Webseed, which facilitates seeding torrent files from the server.

When a user streams a film, they simultaneously upload it to other users on the network through WebTorrent. This peer-to-peer transfer known as seeding occurs automatically via the web browser without requiring any additional software on behalf of the user.

This hybrid peer-to-peer design creates a robust distribution network. It combines the reliability of a traditional server with the global reach of end-users who consume and upload videos peer-to-peer simply by scrolling through their feeds. As a film gains popularity, increased seeding by more end-users on the network leads to faster loading times and significantly higher resilience to service outages for the most popular content.

V2

Dreamware V2 will evolve to eliminate the centrally run server currently used for film storage and seeding. This will be replaced by a distributed network of nodes known as Dream nodes, which can be operated by anyone wishing to participate in the network. This transition to community-run Dream nodes will establish Dreamware as a truly peer-to-peer streaming service.

In return for operating a Dream node, they will be compensated for their contribution to the network. This compensation will be derived from fees paid to consume content on the platform. Some users may choose to run Dream nodes to earn income, while content creators might operate them to ensure their content's constant availability. Others may simply run a Dream node to participate in the network. The greater the number of users running Dream nodes, the more robust and resilient the network will become. As long as at least one Dream nodes remains online and seeding content, users will be able to stream that content and share it with others on Dreamware.

Why Peer-to-Peer Matters

As film creation is liberated from the control of traditional Hollywood corporations, the distribution network must also advance beyond the corporate-owned streaming services that dominate the current market.

The end goal is for Dreamware to be a fully decentralized, community-owned network, open to everyone for posting films without gatekeepers dictating what is suitable for viewing. In this regard, Dreamware will function not as a corporate network but as a public good accessible to all. A peer-to-peer design is ideal for achieving this goal, as it removes any central authority that could control content uploaded to the network. Even if pressure is exerted to remove content, as long as one node stores and seeds it, the content will remain accessible to anyone who wishes to view it.

Corporate-run social networks have frequently demonstrated a tendency to prioritize profits over freedom of speech. This is evident in practices such as censoring users, removing content, and de-ranking accounts through their algorithms. These companies engage in such practices due to their centrally controlled service designs. A peer-to-peer network fundamentally shifts control away from the product's owning corporation and places it directly into the hands of its users. To achieve true freedom of speech, a peer-to-peer design offers the optimal solution.