What is hashsigs-py?

quipnetwork/hashsigs-py — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-24

★ 11,535PythonAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5LicenseSetup · moderate

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((hashsigs-py))
    What it does
      Hash-based signing
      Quantum resistant
      Key generation
      Signature verify
    Backends
      Pure Python
      Rust extension
      Auto-detection
    Testing
      Full with Rust
      Reduced no Rust
      Minimal stdlib only
    Setup
      pip install
      Optional Rust build
      keccak provider

mindmap root((hashsigs-py)) What it does Hash-based signing Quantum resistant Key generation Signature verify Backends Pure Python Rust extension Auto-detection Testing Full with Rust Reduced no Rust Minimal stdlib only Setup pip install Optional Rust build keccak provider

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Generate a quantum-resistant key pair and sign messages in a Python application that needs long-term cryptographic security.

USE CASE 2

Verify digital signatures in a system that must remain secure even after quantum computers become practical.

USE CASE 3

Benchmark pure-Python vs Rust-backed hash signature performance to decide whether to compile the Rust extension in your deployment.

What is it built with?

PythonRustpipWOTS+keccak

How does it compare?

	quipnetwork/hashsigs-py	embraceagi/awesome-chatgpt-zh	speechbrain/speechbrain
Stars	11,535	11,535	11,537
Language	Python	Python	Python
Setup difficulty	moderate	easy	moderate
Complexity	3/5	1/5	4/5
Audience	developer	general	researcher

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Pure-Python mode needs only pip, full performance requires the Rust toolchain at install time. Python 3.13 and macOS have known build quirks documented in the README.

Released under AGPL-3.0, you may use and modify the code, but if you distribute or run it as a service you must share your source code under the same license.

So what is it?

Hashsigs-py is a Python package that implements WOTS+, a type of cryptographic digital signature based entirely on hash functions. Unlike most signing systems in use today, hash-based signatures are considered resistant to attacks from quantum computers, making this approach relevant to organizations thinking about long-term security. The package is installed with pip and works out of the box using a pure Python implementation. For better performance, it can optionally build a Rust extension at install time. If the Rust toolchain is present on the system, the package detects it automatically and compiles the faster backend. The Python code then checks at runtime whether the Rust extension is available and falls back to pure Python if it is not. This means the package is usable on any machine, with the faster path available when Rust is set up. Using the library involves three steps: generating a key pair from a seed, signing a message with the private key, and verifying the signature using the public key. Both key generation and signing accept raw byte strings. The README includes a one-line shell command that imports the package, runs a sign-and-verify cycle, and prints the result, providing a quick confirmation that the installation is working correctly. The test suite has three tiers depending on what dependencies are available: full tests with vector validation require both the Rust extension and a keccak cryptographic provider, a reduced set runs with keccak but without Rust, and a minimal set runs with only the standard library. The README includes troubleshooting steps for common build failures on Python 3.13 and macOS. The project is released under the AGPL-3.0 license.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

Using hashsigs-py, write a Python snippet that generates a WOTS+ key pair from a random seed, signs a message, and verifies the signature.

Prompt 2

I want to use hashsigs-py in a project but I cannot install the Rust toolchain on my server. Show me how to install and use the pure-Python fallback mode.

Prompt 3

Explain what WOTS+ is and why it is considered quantum-resistant, then show me how hashsigs-py implements sign and verify so I can audit the flow.

Prompt 4

Set up the full hashsigs-py test suite with Rust extension and keccak provider and run it to confirm my environment is correctly configured.

Frequently asked questions