java - Sending file with custom attributes over a network -

i want create client-server program allows client send file server along information file (sender name, description, etc.).

the file potentially quite large either text, picture, audio or video file, , because of not want have read whole file byte array before sending, rather read file in blocks, sending them on network , allowing server append blocks file @ it's end.

however faced problem of how best send file along few bits of information file itself. @ minimum send sender's name , description both of input client program user, may change in future should flexible.

what way of doing allow me "stream" file being sent rather reading in whole , sending?

sockets natively streams of bytes shouldn't have problem there. suggest have protocol looks this.

this allow send arbitrary properties long total length less 64 kb. followed file can 63-bit length , sent block @ time. (with buffer of 8 kb)

the socket can used send more files if wish.

dataoutputstream dos = new dataoutputstream(socket.getoutputstream()); properties fileproperties = new properties(); file file = new file(filename);  // send properties stringwriter writer = new stringwriter(); fileproperties.store(writer, ""); writer.close(); dos.writeutf(writer.tostring());  // send length of file dos.writelong(file.length());  // send file. byte[] bytes = new byte[8*1024]; fileinputstream fis = new fileinputstream(file); int len; while((len = fis.read(bytes))>0) {     dos.write(bytes, 0, len); } fis.close(); dos.flush(); 

to read

datainputstream dis = new datainputstream(socket.getinputstream()); string propertiestext = dis.readutf(); properties properties = new properties(); properties.load(new stringreader(propertiestext)); long lengthremaining = dis.readlong(); fileoutputstream fos = new fileoutputstream(outfilename); int len; while(lengthremaining > 0     && (len = dis.read(bytes,0, (int) math.min(bytes.length, lengthremaining))) > 0) {       fos.write(bytes, 0, len);       lengthremaining -= len; } fos.close();