Developing on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) involves understanding how to interact with the IPFS network to store, retrieve, and manage files. To get started, ensure you have Node.js and npm installed, and either run a local IPFS node or use a public IPFS gateway. First, install IPFS by downloading IPFS Desktop, following the command line instructions, or installing `js-ipfs` via npm. Initialize the IPFS node with commands like `ipfs init` and `ipfs daemon` or in your Node.js application using `js-ipfs`. To add files to IPFS, use the command line `ipfs add <file_path>` or in JavaScript with `ipfs.add(‘Hello, IPFS!’)`. To retrieve files, you need the Content Identifier (CID). Use `ipfs cat <cid>` in the command line or iterate through the data chunks in JavaScript.
IPFS also provides an HTTP API to interact with your IPFS node, making use of tools like `axios` to add or retrieve files via `http://localhost:5001/api/v0`. Pinning files ensures their availability on the network, done through `ipfs pin add <cid>` or in JavaScript with `ipfs.pin.add(‘<cid>’)`. For those not running their own node, public gateways like `https://ipfs.io` can be used to interact with IPFS. Services like Pinata allow for file pinning and retrieval via these gateways. By following these steps and utilizing resources such as the IPFS Documentation and Awesome IPFS, you can start developing applications that leverage the decentralized storage capabilities of IPFS.
