A New ASN.1 API for Python
a day ago
- #Cryptography
- #Python
- #ASN.1
- ASN.1 is a critical component in cryptography, PKI schemes, and low-level networking in Python.
- A new ASN.1 API for PyCA Cryptography is being developed to address performance, differential reduction, and modernization.
- The new API will use a pure Rust ASN.1 parser for better performance and integration.
- It will feature a declarative dataclasses style interface with type hints.
- ASN.1 is an interface description language (IDL) used for describing data structures in a language-agnostic manner.
- DER (Distinguished Encoding Rules) is a canonical, compact, and self-describing encoding used with ASN.1.
- Python developers often need ASN.1 encoding/decoding outside standard formats, such as in the Sigstore ecosystem.
- The new library aims to improve performance, reduce parser differentials, and modernize the API.
- Initial development will focus on basic types and modifiers, with plans to integrate into PyCA Cryptography.