Dukto is a handy cross-platform tool which makes it very easy to transfer files across your local network, without worrying about operating systems, protocols, permissions, security or anything else.

The program has a very simple, Windows 8-like interface. An icon shows your current network name and device, and if a friend is connected to the same network, and also running Dukto (which runs on Windows, OS X for Intel 10.6.x or later, Linux, Android, there's even a commercial iOS version), then you'll see an icon representing their system, too. There's no need to specify IP addresses or anything else, the program just finds and displays it clients entirely automatically.

Clicking the icon for your friend's system will provide a list of options: you can send some text, specified files or folders. Or they can do the same thing on their installation to send data to you.

And once you've told Dukto exactly what you want to copy, it'll immediately get on with transferring the files for you.

There are a few small extras available, if you go looking. So a Network icon lists the network IPs Dukto has discovered, for instance, and an IP Connection option can send data to the address you specify.

For the most part, though, there's no need to worry about such complexities - Dukto just works. And so if, say, getting a friend's MacBook Pro communicating with your Windows network is a prospect you'd normally dread, this smart and simple program should prove to be a far easier alternative.

Version 6.0 includes:

•Update Qt libraries for Windows and OS X (on Linux the distribution provides Qt libraries);
•Added new theme colors and a color picker to choose your personal color;
•Added full support for iOS port (see Dukto for iOS project page);
•Implemented avatar picture support for Windows 8;
•Implemented full UTF-8 support for buddies’ name (previously it was only for text messages);
•Rewritten data receiving routine that should definitely solve some random and seldom stall while receiving data.

There's also now an Android version.