New getkey.c code (was: Warning message with 1.0.4f)

[Werner Koch]

On Sat, 31 Mar 2001, Brian Galbraith wrote:

> Apologies.....but would you mind explaining the advantages of the new
> code?

The new code in getkey.c solves a couple of problems:

 * Key and user ID expiration or revocation does now work correct.
 * There is a way to figure out the "primary" User ID.
 * GnuPG select the appropriate subkey in case you have several of
   them
 * Key flags (at leats needed for RSA keys) are supported.
 * Probably more things I can't remember right now.

It does now only use the public key for selection because:

 * Nearly all information in the secret key is a duplicate of the
   public key.
 * It is very difficult to keep public and secret key syncronized.
 * It prepares a way to replace the secret keyring with a simpler
   mechanism, i.e. just store the really secret information
 * The code complexity is reduced because there are less syncronization
   issues and no need to duplicate a lot of code for public key and
   secret key usage.
   
BTW, be warned that in future you won't be able to just copy
pubring.gpg - instead you have to use the --export and --import
commands.

   
Ciao,

  Werner

-- 
Werner Koch        Omnis enim res, quae dando non deficit, dum habetur
g10 Code           et non datur, nondum habetur, quomodo habenda est.
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