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Title: Digging source code: "Private key" vs. "Secret parameter" Post by: oleganza on May 31, 2013, 11:26:00 AM I'm reading Bitcoin-QT source code and don't quite understand the difference between CPrivKey and CSecret.
key.h has some explanation: // CPrivKey is a serialized private key, with all parameters included (279 bytes) typedef std::vector<unsigned char, secure_allocator<unsigned char> > CPrivKey; // CSecret is a serialization of just the secret parameter (32 bytes) typedef std::vector<unsigned char, secure_allocator<unsigned char> > CSecret; Looks like what we usually call a private key is a short 32 byte "secret parameter". But then I see code that uses CPrivKey in wallet.cpp. I would go to OpenSSL to study the difference between EC_KEY_get0_private_key (used in CKey::GetSecret) and i2d_ECPrivateKey (used in CKey::GetPrivKey), but OpenSSL .h documentation does not really explain much. Why do we need a big CPrivKey when you can always generate key pair from just a secret? Where can I learn more about practical aspects of ECDSA (I already have a good theoretical guide)? Thanks. Title: Re: Digging source code: "Private key" vs. "Secret parameter" Post by: jackjack on May 31, 2013, 12:10:34 PM Looks like what we usually call a private key is a short 32 byte "secret parameter". AbsolutelyWhy do we need a big CPrivKey when you can always generate key pair from just a secret? I'm interested in the answer too |