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Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

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Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#21

Post by mabbo »

inersha wrote: post #2

I wanted to understand how SHA-256 works, so I made a terminal animation that shows the bitwise operations at each step. I wrote a text guide in the README.md to explain what's going on. I think my technical terminology is okay. I'm new to hash functions though, so I don't yet know why SHA-256 has been designed in the way it has (e.g. why exact numbers were chosen in the bitwise rotations). As far as I understand, th…

> I wanted to understand how SHA-256 works, so I...

... taught everyone else how SHA-256 worked...

This is an awesome intro. And now I also want to know more about the things you mentioned wanted to learn more about.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#22

Post by jonplackett »

I once heard about a meeting where someone did a presentation for the best part of an hour to a room full of Japanese people. They all nodded along, smiling as the presentation progressed. It wasn’t until the end that the presenter asked them what they thought. They all just kept smiling, but no answer. Someone at the front turned and talked to the room (in Japanese) then turned to the presented and said “they do not speak any English, but they are sure from this presentation that you are very, very intelligent”.

I feel like the Japanese people. I don’t understand what you’re doing here but I am convinced it is very clever.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#23

Post by Zhyl »

inersha wrote: post #2

I wanted to understand how SHA-256 works, so I made a terminal animation that shows the bitwise operations at each step. I wrote a text guide in the README.md to explain what's going on. I think my technical terminology is okay. I'm new to hash functions though, so I don't yet know why SHA-256 has been designed in the way it has (e.g. why exact numbers were chosen in the bitwise rotations). As far as I understand, th…

1) I loved this video.

2) I did have to take a sip of tea and think about my life when I realised I was watching a video by a Welshman about mining.

3) Although having said this, 'Welsh Bitcoin Miner' is going to fit seamlessly into my West Country themed cyberpunk adventure 'Cider Punk'.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#24

Post by dnadler »

This is phenomenal. The animations at the top were way too quick for me to understand, but they pulled me in. The step-by-step explanations below (alongside the relevant parts of the animation) were very clear and interesting.

I had the big picture from the top of the page, and each section gave me a little more insight into what was going on. Great use of animation, and also very clearly written!

I also like the testimonials.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#26

Post by ghoshbishakh »

jonplackett wrote: post #22

I once heard about a meeting where someone did a presentation for the best part of an hour to a room full of Japanese people. They all nodded along, smiling as the presentation progressed. It wasn’t until the end that the presenter asked them what they thought. They all just kept smiling, but no answer. Someone at the front turned and talked to the room (in Japanese) then turned to the presented and said “they do not…

You made my day

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#28

Post by inersha »

dnadler wrote: post #24

This is phenomenal. The animations at the top were way too quick for me to understand, but they pulled me in. The step-by-step explanations below (alongside the relevant parts of the animation) were very clear and interesting. I had the big picture from the top of the page, and each section gave me a little more insight into what was going on. Great use of animation, and also very clearly written! I also like the tes…

Thank you for being so kind, it means a lot.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#29

Post by inersha »

Zhyl wrote: post #23
inersha wrote: post #2

I wanted to understand how SHA-256 works, so I made a terminal animation that shows the bitwise operations at each step. I wrote a text guide in the README.md to explain what's going on. I think my technical terminology is okay. I'm new to hash functions though, so I don't yet know why SHA-256 has been designed in the way it has (e.g. why exact numbers were chosen in the bitwise rotations). As far as I understand, th…

1) I loved this video. 2) I did have to take a sip of tea and think about my life when I realised I was watching a video by a Welshman about mining. 3) Although having said this, 'Welsh Bitcoin Miner' is going to fit seamlessly into my West Country themed cyberpunk adventure 'Cider Punk'.

1) Thank you.

2) It's certainly a combination I never anticipated.

3) I look forward to the book.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#30

Post by stan_rogers »

inersha wrote: post #2

I wanted to understand how SHA-256 works, so I made a terminal animation that shows the bitwise operations at each step. I wrote a text guide in the README.md to explain what's going on. I think my technical terminology is okay. I'm new to hash functions though, so I don't yet know why SHA-256 has been designed in the way it has (e.g. why exact numbers were chosen in the bitwise rotations). As far as I understand, th…

There's nothing particularly special about the constants. They needed a set of n constants to work with and the "cube root of first n primes, truncated" scheme is a "nothing up my sleeve"[0] construction. If they'd used magic numbers with no obvious generation scheme, you'd be left wondering if that was done as a way to put a back door in place.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing-up-my-sleeve_number

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