[Freeciv-Dev] Re: New authentification code

[Daniel Burrows <Daniel_Burrows@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, Feb 27, 2000 at 08:17:34PM +0100, Reinier Post was heard to say:
> >  -> Simplicity: I assert that my approach is /simpler/ than a proxy server.
> 
> Might be, but the authentication modules will be new additions to, or
> requirements for, the Freeciv code.  Which authentication libraries are
> free and portable?

  Even assuming a worst-case scenario, this isn't a problem unique to my
approach.  Anything you try authentication-wise will run into this issue
one way or another.
  autoconf can easily be used to make sure that the program at least compiles
despite any missing functionality.  It won't solve the problem of not being
able to use that protocol between a client on a platform which doesn't support
it and a server on a platform which does (or vice versa), but that's a problem
inherent to using authentication libraries which are tied to a particular
platform.  (or maybe it's possible to write a really clever module that works
in spite of this :) )
  The only thing you might get is that you could run the proxy server on
another system which has the libraries.  Please note that it's entirely
possible to write an authentication module which queries an external server,
or to wrap a proxy around an auth-enabled server if you think that's better.

  You could also implement the authentication algorithm entirely within
Freeciv, depending on how complex it is.

  Daniel

-- 
  Whoever created the human body left in a fairly basic design flaw.  It has a
tendency to bend at the knees.

             -- Terry Pratchett, _Men at Arms_