I’m always taking pictures with my phone. The problem is getting those photos onto my computer. This all changed when I discovered the qrcp command a few years ago.
The qrcp is a command that allows you to transfer files over Wi-Fi using QR codes. It’s a simple and efficient way to transfer files between devices, without the need for any third-party apps or services.
Install
Claudio d’Angelis, the developer, provides the qrcp software under MIT license. Simple to install and use, you can access it on GitHub. Compatible with Linux, Windows and macOS, it offers download options in the forms of RPM, DEB and tarball. Remarkably, there are builds tailored for a wide array of platforms—even the Raspberry Pi.
To install it, download the appropriate package for your platform. After that, install the software with your package manager. For example, on Fedora, Mageia or OpenMandriva:
$ sudo dnf install ./qrcp*rpmOr on Debian, Elementary or Mint:
$ sudo apt install ./qrcp.*debConfiguration
Once you’ve installed the software, configure it for your computer. To begin, initiate the configuration file creation process with the qrcp config command:
$ qrcp configFollow the prompts to configure qrcp. First, decide which interface to use (wired or wireless), and then which port to use. I chose port 8080, but you can pick whatever makes sense for you.
If you’re running a firewall, you can configure qrcp to use a particular port and then make an exception rule in your firewall to allow traffic on that port.
There’s also an option to choose a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), which can be useful if you’re running DNS. (In my case, I left it blank.)
You can specify a custom URL path or leave it blank. Finally, choose a default directory where files are received. If you don’t define a location, the files land in your home directory.
Transfer files with qrcp
Once the configuration is complete, you can use qrcp to receive or send files from your mobile phone:
$ qrcp receive
The software generates a QR code. Point your phone camera at the QR code to initiate the transfer.
Successful transfers provide feedback on your phone, specifying the file name and location where it has been transferred.
Easy file transfers for your phone and computer
The qrcp command makes it easy to bridge your computer and your phone or mobile device through the use of an automatically generated QR code. It’s fast and works over your local network.
Give it a try!
Photo by Mitya Ivanov on Unsplash
