Distribution packages and development.

[asmjmisc]

Hi,

I'm currently working on a piece of software that will work with a bunch of smart cards, and of the few libraries that exist, I've chosen to run with OpenSC. However, I am not able to find development packages for the library (particularly, a package that would ship headers), and I've checked Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, Arch (primary and AUR) and Gentoo packages to make sure[1]. The packages that do exist (non-development) don't appear to be maintained by anyone from the OpenSC project, and are just the handy work of distribution package maintainers.

Additionally, packaging/debian.templates/control does not contain a stanza for producing a development package.

So my questions are:

• Is there a plan to do this, and if so, what would be the ballpark ETA?
• If there is no plan to deliver a development package, how could I help to get this moving along somehow?
• What would be the preferred method of working around this while there is no development package?

[1]: Package search results:
Fedora: https://apps.fedoraproject.org/packages/s/opensc
Debian: https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=opensc&searchon=names&suite=stable&section=all
Ubuntu: https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=opensc&searchon=names&suite=bionic&section=all
Arch: https://www.archlinux.org/packages/?q=opensc
Arch AUR: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/?SeB=n&K=opensc
Gentoo: https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/search?q=opensc

[martinpaljak]

The interface for programming that OpenSC provides is PKCS#11

[asmjmisc]

Hi, @martinpaljak!

Are you saying I should be using libp11? I kind of wanted to use the more fancy, OpenSC (opensc.h) interface. Or am I misinterpreting something?

[martinpaljak]

You can use libp11, pkcs11-helper, SunPKCS11 or whatever mid-layer for working with OpenSC-supported cards via the OpenSC PKCS#11 module. Or you might run the PKCS#11 API yourself, there is no technical need for a middleman.

OpenSC API is internal and should not be considered stable. If you just want low level smart card access, use PC/SC directly.

[martinpaljak]

Also, see (outdated, but still meaningful): https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki/Creating-applications-with-smart-card-support

[asmjmisc]

Thanks, @martinpaljak.

In that case, I have the following questions:

How do I manage smart card reader events (such as insert and remove), and how is card access and state managed? (I'm not sure I have my layer sequence mental model right)

[martinpaljak]

SCardGetStatusChange (PC/SC, can/may/should be complementary to PKCS#11) and/or C_WaitForSlotEvent (PKCS#11)

[asmjmisc]

Sorry, but I'm now slightly confused. If I opt to use libp11 (which doesn't abstract over C_WaitForSlotEvent), would I have to implement these myself somehow, or am I missing something again?