1#+TITLE: TODO List
2Hey Emacs, this is -*- org -*- mode!
3
4* IMPORTANT!
5  :PROPERTIES:
6  :CUSTOM_ID: dev-gnupg-org
7  :END:
8
9  There was a nine year gap (2009 to 2018) between edits of this file,
10  so it is likely that much of the old information in it is wrong or
11  no longer applicable.
12
13  Bugs, feature requests and other development related work will be
14  tracked through the [[https://dev.gnupg.org/][dev.gnupg.org]] site.
15
16
17* Documentation
18  :PROPERTIES:
19  :CUSTOM_ID: documentation
20  :END:
21
22** Document all the new stuff.
23   :PROPERTIES:
24   :CUSTOM_ID: more-docs-is-better
25   :END:
26
27*** TODO Fix this TODO list.
28    :PROPERTIES:
29    :CUSTOM_ID: fix-todo
30    :END:
31
32    Clean up the current TODO list.  Include properties as relevant (so
33    if someone does make a PDF or HTML version the TOC will work).
34
35    Also check to see if some of these ancient things can be removed
36    (e.g. do we really need to fix things that were broken in GPG
37    1.3.x?  I'm thinking not so much).
38
39**** DONE fix TODO items
40     CLOSED: [2018-03-04 Sun 08:55]
41     :PROPERTIES:
42     :CUSTOM_ID: fix-todo-items
43     :END:
44
45     Adjust todo items so each can now be referenced by custom-id and
46     checked off as necessary.
47
48** TODO Document validity and trust issues.
49   :PROPERTIES:
50   :CUSTOM_ID: valid-trust-issues
51   :END:
52
53** In gpgme.texi: Register callbacks under the right letter in the index.
54   :PROPERTIES:
55   :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-texi
56   :END:
57
58
59* Fix the remaining UI Server problems:
60  :PROPERTIES:
61  :CUSTOM_ID: ui-server-fix
62  :END:
63** VERIFY --silent support.
64   :PROPERTIES:
65   :CUSTOM_ID: verify-silent
66   :END:
67** ENCRYPT/DECRYPT/VERIFY/SIGN reset the engine, shouldn't be done with UISERVER?
68   :PROPERTIES:
69   :CUSTOM_ID: reset-engine-not-ui
70   :END:
71
72
73* IMPORTANT
74  :PROPERTIES:
75  :CUSTOM_ID: important-stuff-really
76  :END:
77** When using descriptor passing, we need to set the fd to blocking before
78   :PROPERTIES:
79   :CUSTOM_ID: set-fd-blocking
80   :END:
81   issuing simple commands, because we are mixing synchronous
82   commands into potentially asynchronous operations.
83** Might want to implement nonblock for w32 native backend!
84   :PROPERTIES:
85   :CUSTOM_ID: nonblock-win32
86   :END:
87   Right now we block reading the next line with assuan.
88
89
90* Before release:
91  :PROPERTIES:
92  :CUSTOM_ID: pre-release
93  :END:
94
95** CANCELLED Some gpg tests fail with gpg 1.3.4-cvs (gpg/t-keylist-sig)
96   CLOSED: [2018-03-09 Fri 08:16]
97   :PROPERTIES:
98   :CUSTOM_ID: gpg-1-3-4-really
99   :END:
100   - State "CANCELLED"  from "TODO"       [2018-03-09 Fri 08:16] \\
101     WON'T FIX — too old or no longer applies.
102   The test is currently disabled there and in gpg/t-import.
103
104** When gpg supports it, write binary subpackets directly,
105   :PROPERTIES:
106   :CUSTOM_ID: binary-subpackets
107   :END:
108   and parse SUBPACKET status lines.
109
110
111* ABI's to break:
112  :PROPERTIES:
113  :CUSTOM_ID: abi-breakage-apparently-on-purpose
114  :END:
115
116** Old opassuan interface.
117   :PROPERTIES:
118   :CUSTOM_ID: old-opassuan
119   :END:
120
121** Implementation: Remove support for old style error codes in
122   :PROPERTIES:
123   :CUSTOM_ID: remove-old-error-codes
124   :END:
125   conversion.c::_gpgme_map_gnupg_error.
126
127** gpgme_edit_cb_t: Add "processed" return argument
128   :PROPERTIES:
129   :CUSTOM_ID: add-processed-return
130   :END:
131   (see edit.c::command_handler).
132
133** I/O and User Data could be made extensible.  But this can be done
134   :PROPERTIES:
135   :CUSTOM_ID: add-io-user-data
136   :END:
137   without breaking the ABI hopefully.
138
139** All enums should be replaced by ints and simple macros for
140   :PROPERTIES:
141   :CUSTOM_ID: enums-should-be-ints
142   :END:
143   maximum compatibility.
144
145** Compatibility interfaces that can be removed in future versions:
146   :PROPERTIES:
147   :CUSTOM_ID: compat-interfaces-to-go
148   :END:
149
150*** gpgme_data_new_from_filepart
151    :PROPERTIES:
152    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-data-new-from-filepart
153    :END:
154
155*** gpgme_data_new_from_file
156    :PROPERTIES:
157    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-data-new-from-file
158    :END:
159
160*** gpgme_data_new_with_read_cb
161    :PROPERTIES:
162    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-data-new-with-read-cb
163    :END:
164
165*** gpgme_data_rewind
166    :PROPERTIES:
167    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-data-rewind
168    :END:
169
170*** gpgme_op_import_ext
171    :PROPERTIES:
172    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-op-import-ext
173    :END:
174
175*** gpgme_get_sig_key
176    :PROPERTIES:
177    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-get-sig-key
178    :END:
179
180*** gpgme_get_sig_ulong_attr
181    :PROPERTIES:
182    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-get-sig-ulong-attr
183    :END:
184
185*** gpgme_get_sig_string_attr
186    :PROPERTIES:
187    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-get-sig-string-attr
188    :END:
189
190*** GPGME_SIG_STAT_*
191    :PROPERTIES:
192    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-sig-stat
193    :END:
194
195*** gpgme_get_sig_status
196    :PROPERTIES:
197    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-get-sig-status
198    :END:
199
200*** gpgme_trust_item_release
201    :PROPERTIES:
202    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-trust-item-release
203    :END:
204
205*** gpgme_trust_item_get_string_attr
206    :PROPERTIES:
207    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-trust-item-get-string-attr
208    :END:
209
210*** gpgme_trust_item_get_ulong_attr
211    :PROPERTIES:
212    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-trust-item-get-ulong-attr
213    :END:
214
215*** gpgme_attr_t
216    :PROPERTIES:
217    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgme-attr-t
218    :END:
219
220*** All Gpgme* typedefs.
221    :PROPERTIES:
222    :CUSTOM_ID: all-gpgme-typedefs
223    :END:
224
225
226* Thread support:
227  :PROPERTIES:
228  :CUSTOM_ID: threads
229  :END:
230
231** When GNU Pth supports sendmsg/recvmsg, wrap them properly.
232   :PROPERTIES:
233   :CUSTOM_ID: wrap-oth
234   :END:
235
236** Without timegm (3) support our ISO time parser is not thread safe.
237   :PROPERTIES:
238   :CUSTOM_ID: time-threads
239   :END:
240   There is a configure time warning, though.
241
242
243* New features:
244  :PROPERTIES:
245  :CUSTOM_ID: new-features
246  :END:
247
248** Flow control for data objects.
249   :PROPERTIES:
250   :CUSTOM_ID: flow-control-is-not-a-euphemism-for-an-s-bend
251   :END:
252   Currently, gpgme_data_t objects are assumed to be blocking.  To
253   break this assumption, we need either (A) a way for an user I/O
254   callback to store the current operation in a continuation that can
255   be resumed later.  While the continuation exists, file descriptors
256   associated with this operation must be removed from their
257   respective event loop.  or (B) a way for gpgme data objects to be
258   associated with a waitable object, that can be registered with the
259   user event loop.  Neither is particularly simple.
260
261** Extended notation support.  When gpg supports arbitrary binary
262   :PROPERTIES:
263   :CUSTOM_ID: extended-notation
264   :END:
265   notation data, provide a user interface for that.
266
267** notification system
268   :PROPERTIES:
269   :CUSTOM_ID: notification-system
270   :END:
271   We need a simple notification system, probably a simple callback
272   with a string and some optional arguments.  This is for example
273   required to notify an application of a changed smartcard, The
274   application can then do whatever is required.  There are other
275   usages too.  This notification system should be independent of any
276   contextes of course.
277
278   Not sure whether this is still required.  GPGME_PROTOCOL_ASSUAN is
279   sufficient for this.
280
281** --learn-code support
282   :PROPERTIES:
283   :CUSTOM_ID: learn-code
284   :END:
285   This might be integrated with import. we still need to work out how
286   to learn a card when gpg and gpgsm have support for smartcards.  In
287   GPA we currently invoke gpg directly.
288
289** Might need a stat() for data objects and use it for length param to gpg.
290   :PROPERTIES:
291   :CUSTOM_ID: stat-data
292   :END:
293
294** Implement support for photo ids.
295   :PROPERTIES:
296   :CUSTOM_ID: photo-id
297   :END:
298
299** Allow selection of subkeys
300   :PROPERTIES:
301   :CUSTOM_ID: subkey-selection
302   :END:
303
304** Allow to return time stamps in ISO format
305   :PROPERTIES:
306   :CUSTOM_ID: iso-format-datetime
307   :END:
308   This allows us to handle years later than 2037 properly.  With the
309   time_t interface they are all mapped to 2037-12-31
310
311** New features requested by our dear users, but rejected or left for
312   :PROPERTIES:
313   :CUSTOM_ID: feature-requests
314   :END:
315   later consideration:
316
317*** Allow to export secret keys.
318    :PROPERTIES:
319    :CUSTOM_ID: export-secret-keys
320    :END:
321    Rejected because this is conceptually flawed.  Secret keys on a
322    smart card can not be exported, for example.
323    May eventually e supproted with a keywrapping system.
324
325*** Selecting the key ring, setting the version or comment in output.
326    :PROPERTIES:
327    :CUSTOM_ID: select-keyring-version
328    :END:
329    Rejected because the naive implementation is engine specific, the
330    configuration is part of the engine's configuration or readily
331    worked around in a different way
332
333*** Selecting the symmetric cipher.
334    :PROPERTIES:
335    :CUSTOM_ID: symmetric-cipher-selection
336    :END:
337
338*** Exchanging keys with key servers.
339    :PROPERTIES:
340    :CUSTOM_ID: key-server-exchange
341    :END:
342
343
344* Engines
345  :PROPERTIES:
346  :CUSTOM_ID: engines
347  :END:
348
349** Do not create/destroy engines, but create engine and then reset it.
350   :PROPERTIES:
351   :CUSTOM_ID: reset-engine-is-not-quite-just-ignition
352   :END:
353   Internally the reset operation still spawns a new engine process,
354   but this can be replaced with a reset later.  Also, be very sure to
355   release everything properly at a reset and at an error.  Think hard
356   about where to guarantee what (ie, what happens if start fails, are
357   the fds unregistered immediately - i think so?)
358   Note that we need support in gpgsm to set include-certs to default
359   as RESET does not reset it, also for no_encrypt_to and probably
360   other options.
361
362** Optimize the case where a data object has an underlying fd we can pass
363   :PROPERTIES:
364   :CUSTOM_ID: optimus-data-cousin-of-optimus-prime
365   :END:
366   directly to the engine.  This will be automatic with socket I/O and
367   descriptor passing.
368
369** Move code common to all engines up from gpg to engine.
370   :PROPERTIES:
371   :CUSTOM_ID: move-code-common-to-engines-out-of-gpg
372   :END:
373
374** engine operations can return General Error on unknown protocol
375   :PROPERTIES:
376   :CUSTOM_ID: general-error-looking-to-be-court-martialled
377   :END:
378   (it's an internal error, as select_protocol checks already).
379
380** When server mode is implemented properly, more care has to be taken to
381   :PROPERTIES:
382   :CUSTOM_ID: server-mode
383   :END:
384   release all resources on error (for example to free assuan_cmd).
385
386** op_import_keys and op_export_keys have a limit in the number of keys.
387   :PROPERTIES:
388   :CUSTOM_ID: import-export-problems
389   :END:
390   This is because we pass them in gpg via the command line and gpgsm
391   via an assuan control line.  We should pipe them instead and maybe
392   change gpg/gpgsm to not put them in memory.
393
394
395* GPG breakage:
396  :PROPERTIES:
397  :CUSTOM_ID: gpg-breakage
398  :END:
399
400** CANCELLED gpg 1.4.2 lacks error reporting if sign/encrypt with revoked key.
401   CLOSED: [2018-03-09 Fri 08:19]
402   :PROPERTIES:
403   :CUSTOM_ID: gpg-classic-lacks-stuff
404   :END:
405   - State "CANCELLED"  from "TODO"       [2018-03-09 Fri 08:19] \\
406     WON'T FIX.
407
408** CANCELLED gpg 1.4.2 does crappy error reporting (namely none at all) when
409   CLOSED: [2018-03-09 Fri 08:20]
410   :PROPERTIES:
411   :CUSTOM_ID: gpg-classic-problems-but-do-we-care
412   :END:
413   - State "CANCELLED"  from "TODO"       [2018-03-09 Fri 08:20] \\
414     WON'T FIX.
415   smart card is missing for sign operation:
416    [GNUPG:] CARDCTRL 4
417    gpg: selecting openpgp failed: ec=6.110
418    gpg: signing failed: general error
419    [GNUPG:] BEGIN_ENCRYPTION 2 10
420    gpg: test: sign+encrypt failed: general error
421
422** DONE Without agent and with wrong passphrase, gpg 1.4.2 enters into an
423   CLOSED: [2018-03-09 Fri 08:20]
424   :PROPERTIES:
425   :CUSTOM_ID: recursive-gpg-classic
426   :END:
427   - State "DONE"       from "TODO"       [2018-03-09 Fri 08:20] \\
428     Must have been fixed in a subsequent release.
429   infinite loop.
430
431** CANCELLED Use correct argv[0]
432   CLOSED: [2018-03-09 Fri 08:24]
433   :PROPERTIES:
434   :CUSTOM_ID: correct-argv
435   :END:
436   - State "CANCELLED"  from "TODO"       [2018-03-09 Fri 08:24] \\
437     WON'T FIX.
438
439     Also, there is no rungpg.c file in GPGME (or in GPG or most, if not
440     all of the rest of the libs and packages; I suspect there hasn't been
441     for a very long time).
442   In rungpg.c:build_argv we use
443      argv[argc] = strdup ("gpg"); /* argv[0] */
444   This should be changed to take the real file name used in account.
445
446
447* Operations
448  :PROPERTIES:
449  :CUSTOM_ID: operations-are-not-surgical
450  :END:
451
452** Include cert values -2, -1, 0 and 1 should be defined as macros.
453   :PROPERTIES:
454   :CUSTOM_ID: certified-macros
455   :END:
456
457** If an operation failed, make sure that the result functions don't return
458   :PROPERTIES:
459   :CUSTOM_ID: operation-failure
460   :END:
461   corrupt partial information. !!!
462   NOTE: The EOF status handler is not called in this case !!!
463
464** Verify must not fail on NODATA premature if auto-key-retrieval failed.
465   :PROPERTIES:
466   :CUSTOM_ID: autobot-key-retrieval
467   :END:
468   It should not fail silently if it knows there is an error. !!!
469
470** All operations: Better error reporting. !!
471   :PROPERTIES:
472   :CUSTOM_ID: better-reporting-not-like-fox-news
473   :END:
474
475** Export status handler need much more work. !!!
476   :PROPERTIES:
477   :CUSTOM_ID: export-status-handler
478   :END:
479
480** Import should return a useful error when one happened.
481   :PROPERTIES:
482   :CUSTOM_ID: import-useful-stuff-even-wrong-stuff
483   :END:
484
485*** Import does not take notice of NODATA status report.
486    :PROPERTIES:
487    :CUSTOM_ID: import-no-data
488    :END:
489
490*** When GPGSM does issue IMPORT_OK status reports, make sure to check for
491    :PROPERTIES:
492    :CUSTOM_ID: gpgsm-import-ok
493    :END:
494    them in tests/gpgs m/t-import.c.
495
496** Verify can include info about version/algo/class, but currently
497   :PROPERTIES:
498   :CUSTOM_ID: verify-class
499   :END:
500   this is only available for gpg, not gpgsm.
501
502** Return ENC_TO output in verify result.  Again, this is not available
503   :PROPERTIES:
504   :CUSTOM_ID: return-to-enc
505   :END:
506   for gpgsm.
507
508** Genkey should return something more useful than General_Error.
509   :PROPERTIES:
510   :CUSTOM_ID: general-key-assumed-command-from-general-error
511   :END:
512
513** If possible, use --file-setsize to set the file size for proper progress
514   :PROPERTIES:
515   :CUSTOM_ID: file-setsize
516   :END:
517   callback handling.  Write data interface for file size.
518
519** Optimize the file descriptor list, so the number of open fds is
520   :PROPERTIES:
521   :CUSTOM_ID: optimus-descriptus-younger-brother-of-optimus-prime
522   :END:
523   always known easily.
524
525** Encryption: It should be verified that the behaviour for partially untrusted
526   :PROPERTIES:
527   :CUSTOM_ID: only-mostly-dead-means-partially-alive
528   :END:
529   recipients is correct.
530
531** When GPG issues INV_something for invalid signers, catch them.
532   :PROPERTIES:
533   :CUSTOM_ID: invalid-sig
534   :END:
535
536
537* Error Values
538  :PROPERTIES:
539  :CUSTOM_ID: error-value
540  :END:
541
542** Map ASSUAN/GpgSM ERR error values in a better way than is done now. !!
543   :PROPERTIES:
544   :CUSTOM_ID: map-ass-error
545   :END:
546
547** Some error values should identify the source more correctly (mostly error
548   :PROPERTIES:
549   :CUSTOM_ID: source-errors
550   :END:
551   values derived from status messages).
552
553** In rungpg.c we need to check the version of the engine
554   :PROPERTIES:
555   :CUSTOM_ID: rungpg-c-engine-ver
556   :END:
557   This requires a way to get the cached version number from the
558   engine layer.
559
560
561* Tests
562  :PROPERTIES:
563  :CUSTOM_ID: tests
564  :END:
565
566** TODO Write a fake gpg-agent so that we can supply known passphrases to
567   :PROPERTIES:
568   :CUSTOM_ID: test-fake-gpg-agent
569   :END:
570   gpgsm and setup the configuration files to use the agent.  Without
571   this we are testing a currently running gpg-agent which is not a
572   clever idea. !
573
574** t-data
575   :PROPERTIES:
576   :CUSTOM_ID: test-data
577   :END:
578
579*** Test gpgme_data_release_and_get_mem.
580    :PROPERTIES:
581    :CUSTOM_ID: test-gpgme-data-release-mem
582    :END:
583
584*** Test gpgme_data_seek for invalid types.
585    :PROPERTIES:
586    :CUSTOM_ID: test-gpgme-data-seek
587    :END:
588
589** t-keylist
590   :PROPERTIES:
591   :CUSTOM_ID: test-keylist
592   :END:
593   Write a test for ext_keylist.
594
595** Test reading key signatures.
596   :PROPERTIES:
597   :CUSTOM_ID: test-key-sig
598   :END:
599
600
601* Debug
602  :PROPERTIES:
603  :CUSTOM_ID: debug
604  :END:
605
606** Tracepoints should be added at: Every public interface enter/leave,
607   :PROPERTIES:
608   :CUSTOM_ID: tracepoint-pub-int
609   :END:
610   before and in every callback, at major decision points, at every
611   internal data point which might easily be observed by the outside
612   (system handles).  We also trace handles and I/O support threads in
613   the w32 implementation because that's fragile code.
614   Files left to do:
615   data-fd.c data-mem.c data-stream.c data-user.c debug.c rungpg.c
616   engine.c engine-gpgsm.c funopen.c w32-glib-io.c wait.c
617   wait-global.c wait-private.c wait-user.c op-support.c decrypt.c
618   decrypt-verify.c delete.c edit.c encrypt.c encrypt-sign.c export.c
619   genkey.c import.c key.c keylist.c passphrase.c progress.c signers.c
620   sig-notation.c trust-item.c trustlist.c verify.c
621
622** TODO Handle malloc and vasprintf errors.  But decide first if they should be
623   :PROPERTIES:
624   :CUSTOM_ID: malloc-vasprintf
625   :END:
626
627   ignored (and logged with 255?!), or really be assertions. !
628
629
630* Build suite
631  :PROPERTIES:
632  :CUSTOM_ID: build-suite
633  :END:
634
635** TODO Make sure everything is cleaned correctly (esp. test area).
636   :PROPERTIES:
637   :CUSTOM_ID: clean-tests
638   :END:
639
640** TODO Enable AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR and bump up autoconf version requirement.
641   :PROPERTIES:
642   :CUSTOM_ID: autoconf-macros
643   :END:
644   (To fix "./autogen.sh; ./configure --enable-maintainer-mode; touch
645   configure.ac; make").  Currently worked around with ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS???
646
647
648* Error checking
649  :PROPERTIES:
650  :CUSTOM_ID: error-checking
651  :END:
652
653** TODO engine-gpgsm, with-validation
654   :PROPERTIES:
655   :CUSTOM_ID: gpgsm-validation
656   :END:
657   Add error checking some time after releasing a new gpgsm.
658
659
660* Language bindings and related components
661  :PROPERTIES:
662  :CUSTOM_ID: language-bindings-and-related-stuff
663  :END:
664
665** TODO Emacs and elisp binding
666   :PROPERTIES:
667   :CUSTOM_ID: emacs-and-elisp
668   :END:
669
670   Currently GNU Emacs uses EPA and EPG to provide GnuPG support.  EPG
671   does this by calling the GPG executable and wrapping the commands
672   with elisp functions.  A more preferable solution would be to
673   implement an epgme.el which integrated with GPGME, then if it could
674   not to attempt calling the gpgme-tool and only if those failed to
675   fall back to the current epg.el and calling the command line
676   binaries.
677
678** TODO API of an API
679   :PROPERTIES:
680   :CUSTOM_ID: api-squared
681   :END:
682
683   See the more detailed notes on this in the [[lang/python/docs/TODO.org][python TODO]].
684
685** TODO GPGME installation and package management guide
686   :PROPERTIES:
687   :CUSTOM_ID: package-management
688   :END:
689
690   Write a guide/best practices for maintainers of GPGME packages with
691   third party package management systems.
692
693
694* Copyright 2004, 2005, 2018 g10 Code GmbH
695  :PROPERTIES:
696  :CUSTOM_ID: copyright-and-license
697  :END:
698
699This file is free software; as a special exception the author gives
700unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it, with or without
701modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
702
703This file is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
704WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without even the
705implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
706PURPOSE.
707