FluentFTP

Introduction to FluentFTP

FluentFTP is a powerful and easy-to-use .NET library for handling FTP (File Transfer Protocol) operations. It provides a fluent API that allows developers to connect to FTP, FTPS, and SFTP servers efficiently. This library is widely used in .NET applications for automating file uploads, downloads, directory management, and other FTP-related tasks.

Key Features

1. Simple and Fluent API: FluentFTP offers a modern and intuitive API that simplifies FTP operations without requiring complex configurations.
2. Support for FTPS and SFTP: Secure file transfers are supported using FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS) and SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol).
3. Automatic Connection Management: FluentFTP handles connection retries, timeouts, and connection pooling automatically.
4. Efficient File Transfers: It supports multi-threaded file transfers, resuming interrupted downloads/uploads, and checking file integrity.
5. Directory Management: Developers can create, delete, rename, and list directories with ease.
6. Logging and Debugging: FluentFTP provides detailed logging features, making it easier to debug FTP-related issues.

Installation

FluentFTP can be installed via NuGet Package Manager in .NET projects:

Install-Package FluentFTP

Basic Usage

Below is an example of how to connect to an FTP server and upload a file using FluentFTP:

using System;
using FluentFTP;
using System.Net;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        using (var client = new FtpClient("ftp.example.com"))
        {
            client.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("username", "password");
            client.Connect();
            
            // Upload a file
            client.UploadFile(@"C:\localpath\file.txt", "/remotepath/file.txt");
            
            // Disconnect
            client.Disconnect();
        }
    }
}

Downloading a File

To download a file from an FTP server:

client.DownloadFile(@"C:\localpath\file.txt", "/remotepath/file.txt");

Listing Directory Contents

foreach (var item in client.GetListing("/remotedir"))
{
    Console.WriteLine(item.FullName);
}

Conclusion

FluentFTP is a robust and flexible library for integrating FTP functionalities into .NET applications. With its user-friendly API and extensive feature set, it is an excellent choice for developers looking to automate file transfers securely and efficiently. Whether you need basic FTP functionality or advanced features like FTPS/SFTP, FluentFTP is a reliable solution.