The Theory of Leech Computing

Phil Frisbie, Jr. writes "I am defining Leech Computing as 'a program running on a client computer without user knowledge that can process data and report back the results, but otherwise does not effect the usability of the client computer and makes no changes to the client'. Leech Computing, Part 1 covers basic theory."

Comments

Idea

[autocracy]

Can we use this to create a distributed webserver that where each person who visits the site will serve copies of it? This guy's system can definitely use it! SLASHDOTTED

Wrong, but not a bad thing

[SirSlud]

> how could you possibly get data back to the server without the user knowing it

He says refresh and 'tricking' the user are the only ways (on form submits.) Wrong.

dynamic.php:

<script>
data data data
do do
calc calc
var me = answer;
document.write("&ltscript src='http://myserver.com/donate.js?answer=" + encode(me) + "'></scr"+"ipt>");
&lt\script>

That sends some data to the client, does some client side cals, and sends the data back to my server (although I have to respect the max limit of data one can send via form posts, but its the same with his more obvious methods.)

This is done all the time to count impressions in the advertising world. In fact, in a sense, advertising tracking online is already leech computing in some implementations.

BTW, the .. " as a close of the top level script tag.