Show HN: Quick anonymous text and file sharing over the internet
"9" is a web-based tool for quick, anonymous text and file sharing between devices. It uses a QR code or 6-digit code to establish a direct, DTLS-encrypted WebRTC connection, so content is never stored on a server. The tool offers real-time syncing, a masking mode for sensitive text, and supports local Wi-Fi or NAT traversal via STUN/TURN.
Background
- This is a "Show HN" post — a submission on Hacker News (news.ycombinator.com) where makers present their projects for feedback. The title means "Show Hacker News: I built this."
- The creator built a web tool (9.1-1-1.de) for quickly sending text or files between two devices (e.g., copying a password from a laptop to a phone) without a server storing anything.
- Key tech: WebRTC (a browser standard for real-time peer-to-peer audio/video/data), DTLS (a encryption layer), and STUN/TURN (protocols that help devices find each other across networks). The "6-digit code" uses a lightweight Cloudflare relay only to broker the initial connection — the actual data never touches a server.
- The post compares against existing tools: PairDrop, Snapdrop, ShareDrop, Wormhole, and LocalSend — all peer-to-peer file-sharing services with varying complexity and maintenance status.