Question

I’m looking for an efficient way to transfer files between client and server processes using TCP in Java. My server code looks something like this:

socket = serverSocket.accept();
InputStream is = socket.getInputStream();
OutputStream os = socket.getOutputStream();

FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(new File(filename));

I’m just unsure of how to proceed. I know I want to read bytes from fis and then write them to os, but I’m unsure about the best way to read and write bytes using byte streams in Java. I’m only familiar with writing/reading text using Writers and Readers. Can anyone tell me the appropriate way to do this? What should I wrap os and fis in (if anything) and how do I keep reading bytes until the end of file without a hasNext() method (or equivalent)

Answer 1

You could do something like:

byte[] contents = new byte[BUFFER_SIZE];
int numBytes =0;
while((numBytes = is.read(contents))>0){
   os.write(contents,0,numBytes);
}