changeset 26:3a53d309bbb7

Finished the README.
author Brian Neal <bgneal@gmail.com>
date Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:25:54 -0600
parents 39d0121a018d
children 4e1077b49db2
files README.rst
diffstat 1 files changed, 144 insertions(+), 19 deletions(-) [+]
line wrap: on
line diff
--- a/README.rst	Mon Feb 17 20:34:53 2014 -0600
+++ b/README.rst	Tue Feb 18 19:25:54 2014 -0600
@@ -13,17 +13,21 @@
 :Documentation: This file
 :Support: https://bitbucket.org/bgneal/purple/issues
 
-``Purple`` is a Python library and command-line utility for simulating the `PURPLE
-Machine`_, a cipher machine used by the Japanese Foreign Office before and
-during the Second World War. PURPLE was the code name given to machine by U.S.
-cryptanalysts. The Japanese called the machine 97-shiki ōbun inji-ki (System 97
-Printing Machine for European Characters), and Angōki B-kata (Type B Cipher
-Machine). The machine was used for secure diplomatic communications and was an
-electromechanical stepping-switch device.
+``Purple`` is a Python library and command-line utility for simulating the
+`PURPLE Machine`_, a cipher machine used by the Japanese Foreign Office before
+and during the Second World War. PURPLE was the code name given to the machine
+by U.S.  cryptanalysts. The Japanese called the machine *97-shiki ōbun inji-ki*
+(System 97 Printing Machine for European Characters), and *Angōki B-kata* (Type
+B Cipher Machine). The machine was used for secure diplomatic communications
+and was implemented as an electromechanical stepping-switch device.
 
 This project is a Python 3 library and command-line utility for encrypting and
 decrypting text by simulating the operation of an actual PURPLE machine.
 
+If you are brand new to the ``Purple`` cipher machine, please skip down to the
+references section and familiarize yourself with the device. This will help you
+understand the terminology used in the documentation, below.
+
 
 Requirements
 ############
@@ -64,6 +68,46 @@
    $ python -m unittest discover
 
 
+Initial Settings Syntax
+#######################
+
+In order to exchange messages, each message recipient must use the same initial
+machine settings. For the ``Purple`` machine, these settings are the initial
+switch positions for the "sixes" and three "twenties" stepping switches, the
+switch motion order (which twenties switch is the fast switch, which is the
+middle switch, and which is the slow switch), and finally the plugboard
+alphabet mapping.
+
+The ``Purple`` simulation uses the following syntax in both its command-line
+application and library code.
+
+For the switches, we borrow the notation used by U.S. cryptanalysts, for
+example::
+
+   9-1,24,6-23
+
+Here the first number before leading dash, 9, indicates the starting position
+of the sixes switch. The next three numbers are the starting positions for the
+three twenties switches numbered 1, 2, and 3. Each switch position is a number
+from 1 through 25, inclusive. Finally, after the last dash are two digits which
+indicate the switch stepping motion. The first number, in this case 2,
+indicates that the twenties switch #2 is the fast switch. The second number, 3,
+indicates twenties switch #3 is the middle switch. Thus the slow switch, which
+is never listed, is in this case twenties switch #1. When using this syntax, do
+not insert space characters.
+
+The plugboard alphabet setting describes how the input typewriters are wired to
+the plugboard. We represent this setting as a string of the 26 uppercase
+alphabet letters where the first six letters are the wiring to the sixes
+switch, and the remaining 20 are wired to the first stage of the twenties
+switches. For example::
+
+   AEIOUYBCDFGHJKLMNPQRSTVWXZ
+
+For the alphabet setting to be valid, do not insert spaces, and ensure all 26
+letters are used exactly once.
+
+
 Command-line Usage
 ##################
 
@@ -100,20 +144,30 @@
    the environment variable PURPLE97_ALPHABET will be used. Input text is
    supplied either by the -t or by the -f options, but not both.
 
-(TODO: Text goes here explaining the switches and alphabet settings)
+The ``purple`` command operates in two modes, either encrypt (specified with
+``-e`` or ``--encrypt``) or decrypt (``-d`` or ``--decrypt``). Input text can
+be specified on the command-line with the ``-t`` or ``--text`` option, or
+a read from a file (``-i`` or ``--input``).
+
+The ``-s`` (or ``--switches``) and ``-a`` (or ``--alphabet``) settings
+determine the initial machine settings. They use the syntax described above in
+the Initial Settings Syntax section.
 
 If you are going to be working with the same initial switch settings and
-plugboard alphabet it may be more convenient to specify them as environment
-variables instead of repeatedly using the command-line arguments ``-s`` and
-``-a``.  The examples below assume these statements have been executed::
+plugboard alphabet over many command invocations it may be more convenient to
+specify them as environment variables instead of repeatedly using the
+command-line arguments. The examples below assume these statements have been
+executed::
 
    $ export PURPLE97_SWITCHES=9-1,24,6-23
    $ export PURPLE97_ALPHABET=NOKTYUXEQLHBRMPDICJASVWGZF
 
-The ``purple`` command operates in two modes, either encrypt (specified with
-``-e`` or ``--encrypt``) or decrypt (``-d`` or ``--decrypt``). Input text can
-be specified on the command-line with the ``-t`` or ``--text`` option, or
-a read from a file (``-i`` or ``--input``).
+If you do not specify initial settings, the ``purple`` machine will attempt to
+read them from these two environment variables. Failing that, ``purple`` will
+use the following initial settings:
+
+* default switch settings: 1-1,1,1-12
+* default alphabet: AEIOUYBCDFGHJKLMNPQRSTVWXZ
 
 When encrypting text, the ``purple`` machine only accepts the letters A-Z, but
 also allows for "garble" letters to be indicated by using the ``-`` (dash)
@@ -125,7 +179,7 @@
 
 A simple encrypt example using the ``-f`` flag is given below::
 
-   $ purple -e -t "The PURPLE machine is now online" -f
+   $ purple --encrypt -t "The PURPLE machine is now online" -f
    OGIVT SIAAH MWMHT VIBYY JUOJF UE
 
 By default ``purple`` prints the output in 5-letter groups. This can be
@@ -133,7 +187,7 @@
 
 To decrypt this message::
 
-   $ purple -d -t "OGIVT SIAAH MWMHT VIBYY JUOJF UE"
+   $ purple --decrypt -t "OGIVT SIAAH MWMHT VIBYY JUOJF UE"
    THEPU RPLEM ACHIN EISNO WONLI NE
 
 Note that spaces are ignored on input. Again the output is produced in 5-letter
@@ -143,7 +197,7 @@
    $ purple -d -t "OGIVT SIAAH MWMHT VIBYY JUOJF UE" -g 0
    THEPURPLEMACHINEISNOWONLINE
 
-Of course you can use file redirection to capture output in a file::
+You can use file redirection to capture output in a file::
 
    $ purple -e -t "The PURPLE machine is now online" -f > secret.txt
    $ purple -d -i secret.txt
@@ -153,19 +207,90 @@
 Library Usage
 #############
 
+To use ``Purple`` from within Python code you must first construct
+a ``Purple97`` object, which represents a single PURPLE cipher machine. The
+constructor is given below::
+
+   class Purple97(switches_pos=None, fast_switch=1, middle_switch=2,
+                  alphabet=None)
+
+The ``switches_pos`` argument, when not ``None``, must be a 4-tuple or list of
+4 integers that describe the initial switch positions. Element 0 is the sixes
+initial position, and the remaining elements are the initial positions of the
+three twenties switches. These values must be in the range 0-24, inclusive.
+If ``None`` then switch positions of all zeroes is assumed.
+
+The ``fast_switch`` argument indicates which twenties switch (numbered 1-3) is
+the fast switch. Likewise, ``middle_switch`` indicates which switch is the
+middle switch. The slow switch is inferred. It is an error to give the
+``fast_switch`` and ``middle_switch`` arguments the same value.
+
+The ``alphabet`` argument is the plugboard alphabet mapping. It is expected to
+be a 26-letter uppercase string. If ``None``, a mapping of
+``AEIOUYBCDFGHJKLMNPQRSTVWXZ`` is assumed.
+
+For convenience, another constructor is provided that allows you to specify
+initial settings in the syntax described above::
+
+   classmethod Purple97.from_key_sheet(switches, alphabet=None)
+
+Here ``switches`` is a string in the syntax described above, e.g.
+``'9-1,24,6-23'``.
+
+The ``alphabet`` argument is as described in the first constructor.
+
+Once constructed, you can use the ``Purple97`` object to perform encrypt and
+decrypt operations. For example::
+
+   from purple.machine import Purple97
+
+   purple = Purple97.from_key_sheet(
+          switches='9-1,24,6-23',
+          alphabet='NOKTYUXEQLHBRMPDICJASVWGZF')
+
+   ciphertext = purple.encrypt('THEPURPLEMACHINEISONLINE')
+
+   purple = Purple97([8, 0, 23, 5], fast_switch=2, middle_switch=3,
+                     alphabet='NOKTYUXEQLHBRMPDICJASVWGZF')
+
+   plaintext = purple.decrypt(ciphertext)
+
+For more information, please review the docstrings in the code.
+
 
 Support
 #######
 
+To report a bug or suggest a feature, please use the issue tracker at the
+`Purple Bitbucket page`_.
+
 
 References
 ##########
 
+#. *PURPLE Revealed: Simulation and Computer-aided Cryptanalysis of Angooki
+   Taipu B*, by Wes Freeman, Geoff Sullivan, and Frode Weierud. This paper
+   was published in Cryptologia, Volume 27, Issue 1, January, 2003, pp. 1-43.
+#. Frode Weierud's CryptoCellar page: `The PURPLE Machine`_
+#. Wikipedia Article: `PURPLE Machine`_
+
+The paper in reference 1 is also available here:
+http://cryptocellar.web.cern.ch/cryptocellar/pubs/PurpleRevealed.pdf
+
+This simulator would not have been possible without Frode Weierud's
+CryptoCellar page and the detailed explanations and analysis found in reference
+1. The author is also deeply grateful for email discussions with Frode Weierud
+and Geoff Sullivan who provided me with plaintext, advice, and encouragement.
+
+The ``Purple`` simulator's operation was checked against the simulator found in
+reference 2.
+
 
 .. _PURPLE Machine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_(cipher_machine)
 .. _Python: http://www.python.org
-.. _Python Package Index: http://pypi.python.org/pypi/m209/
+.. _Python Package Index: http://pypi.python.org/pypi/purple/
 .. _virtualenv: http://www.virtualenv.org/
 .. _pip: http://www.pip-installer.org
 .. _Purple Bitbucket page: https://bitbucket.org/bgneal/purple/
 .. _Mercurial: http://mercurial.selenic.com/
+.. _The PURPLE Machine: http://cryptocellar.web.cern.ch/cryptocellar/simula/purple/