Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#1

Post by inersha » Wed, May 13, 2020, 10:13 AM UTC

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#2

Post by inersha » Wed, May 13, 2020, 10:20 AM UTC

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, the Sigma functions promote diffusion of bits to help prevent collisions, and Choice/Majority/Addition help to make it a one-way function, but I'm not entirely sure. I'd be interested in learning more about the design if anyone has experience in this field.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#3

Post by baicunko » Wed, May 13, 2020, 10:28 AM UTC

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…

This is a great idea of showing something that is at first very complex. Could be used in Discreet Mathematics to teach students!

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#4

Post by crousto » Wed, May 13, 2020, 10:44 AM UTC

Very nice!

This also has potential for landing in many movies where a hacker at work is involved.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#5

Post by ImJasonH » Wed, May 13, 2020, 10:47 AM UTC

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…

This is super impressive, thanks for building and sharing it!

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#6

Post by maallooc » Wed, May 13, 2020, 11:30 AM UTC

This is so interesting to watch. Can you do it for other hash or encryption methods?

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#7

Post by inersha » Wed, May 13, 2020, 11:31 AM UTC

maallooc wrote: post #6

This is so interesting to watch. Can you do it for other hash or encryption methods?

I have thought about it. Any particularly interesting ones?

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#8

Post by jagged-chisel » Wed, May 13, 2020, 11:33 AM UTC

I would love to build something like this for encryption algorithms that twiddle bits (DES and friends.) Even for the math-based algorithms, but I have a had time imagining how to make those interesting.

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#9

Post by w0utert » Wed, May 13, 2020, 11:39 AM UTC

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…

Like it a lot. Not sure how useful it is but just looking at it is mesmerizing, well done!

Re: Show HN: SHA-256 Animation

#10

Post by harrigan » Wed, May 13, 2020, 11:39 AM UTC

jagged-chisel wrote: post #8

I would love to build something like this for encryption algorithms that twiddle bits (DES and friends.) Even for the math-based algorithms, but I have a had time imagining how to make those interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP4PqVGudtg is a nice animation of AES. Of course, the inputs are fixed unlike the above.