Lesson 14: IPFS URL loading indefinitely

[terrytjw]

After getting the IPFS metadata URL (uploaded to pinata), I am not able to access the URL. When I entered the URL into the browser, it would prompt me to open up my IPFS desktop and thereafter, the URL would just load for a long time before timing out. I am unsure what is the error here.

My metadata URL:

Token URIs uploaded to Pinata: ipfs://QmVET9m2G9NXgjNjkwbKAuuac5RqHn29vkizZKrmdaWtfc,ipfs://QmXzSwGdz5FgduCEFuEpehhNHj5YA2cxS1EUnsMm8NhM8q,ipfs://QmZu7R4nhPMAv3uf9q1MuZgz3uSSHi1MhwoeMQ4jhcv4cN

The spinning loading wheel of death that I keep seeing:

For some context:

1. I am using Mac OS
2. I have my IPFS desktop installed
3. I am able to import it into my own IPFS node though

Does anyone know what's happening?

[terrytjw]

Update:
I am able to access the link using https://ipfs.io/ipfs/ infront of the URL instead of ipfs://. But this only works when I import it into my own IPFS node.

If I access another hash that is not yet imported into my IPFS node using the https://ipfs.io/ipfs/ prefix, I get this error after the URL loads for a while.

Why is that so?

[terrytjw]

Update: The timeout error disappeared after I refreshed. IPFS might need some time to sync the data?

[luloxi]

If you're trying to access a file that you uploaded into your own node, it should load lightning fast into your browser, because you're reading from your own machine.

[terrytjw]

Omg, it works now. It wasn't able to lead previously. Has this ever happened to you, not being able to load at first, then having it work only after a period of time?

[luloxi]

Nope, but I'm new to using it as well so maybe I'll have that issue too eventually.

Great to hear it works now! 😀

[luloxi]

Do you have IPFS companion installed and enabled in your browser? It turns blue and shows numbers when it's connected to your IPFS desktop

[terrytjw]

Yes I do, I have to have both IPFS desktop and IPFS companion installed? Because right now ipfs.io/ipfs pre-fix is working for me, but the ipfs:// is not. Do you know the difference?

When I do ipfs://[hash] , it still constantly loads.

[terrytjw]

@PatrickAlphaC did say this before: https://youtu.be/gyMwXuJrbJQ?t=66094

[luloxi]

Yeah, he talks about using a gateway, it's like using a proxy to IPFS instead of connecting through your own node.
The same way we connect to goerli or ethereum or other blockchains, not using our own node and using an external provider instead.

[luloxi]

Does your extension icon populate of numbers like this?