[Cryptography] [FORGED] Re: Is ASN.1 still the thing?

[Nico Williams]

On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 12:03:01PM +1000, James A. Donald wrote:
> Suppose one has a system written in C++ on a server, and you have another
> server, running node.js, and your node.js code wants to get at some
> information.
> 
> There are existing modules that translate data that is Avro apache encoded
> to and from something node.js can understand.
> 
> I don't see any equivalents for ASN.1 PER.

And before Avro or whatever other thing you could have picked?  No,
you're right, it was better to reinvent.

Someone saw no tools and chose to build tools.  Great!  But they also
chose to invent a new syntax, encoding, RPC service locator, etc.
That's not great -- that's a terrible disaster for every else.

The least they could have done is used some other non-ASN.1 system.

> It is not that I am likely to have any imminent need to talk to node.js, it
> is just that I am worried about being marooned in a dying standard.

ASN.1 is alive and kicking.  You have the wrong attitude.  In our world
code never dies.  It sticks around forever, being a pest to whoever must
maintain it.  But by means let's add to that pile of code more code,
more legacy.

Yeah, you could say I resent this mess.  Been traumatized by it.  How
many encoders/decoders have you had to wallow in, maintain, or author?

Nico
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