From: Robert Feldt <feldt@...>
Date: 2003-01-24T17:00:39+09:00
Subject: Re: Missing libraries??

On Fri, 24 Jan 2003, Brian Smyth wrote:

> * Robert Feldt (feldt@ce.chalmers.se) wrote:
> > I disagree if it only contains symmetric ciphers according to
> > http://mcrypt.hellug.gr/.
>
> Agreed, only symmetric ciphers are available in that library. Do you see
> any glaring omissions in libmcrypt?
>
Not when it comes to symmetric ciphers.

What we need now is public key method (I'll have RSA et al packed up
shortly) and then Yarrow for secure random numbers. I think I have some C
code for that also so lets see what we can do.

> > Having symmetric ciphers (AES, Blowfish et al) in pure Ruby would be
> > almost meaningless imho...
>
> That's what I had figured, but I hadn't seen any hard numbers.
>
I'd say you should expect about 50 times slower compared to C (since there
will be heavily optimized versions in C available for these kinds of
algorithms). Maybe even 100 with a straightforward Ruby implementation.

> > I can pack this up and submit to RAA if there is any
interest. >
> I'd love to see those.
>
Ok, expect them in a week or so...

Regards,

Robert Feldt