OSS TanbouOn this page
Overview
OpenSC provides libraries, a PKCS#11 module, and administration tools for smart cards and cryptographic tokens. Applications can handle keys and certificates through common operations across supported cards.
Features and best fit
Based on official documentation; not hands-on tested · Content checked:
Key features
Best fit
Fit enterprise certificates and hardware-backed keys
It suits signing, authentication, and certificate-management systems that connect smart cards to existing applications.
Sources: [1]
Before adoption
Check drivers, permissions, and card-specific behavior
Building requires a C compiler, Autotools, make, pkg-config, and PC/SC development files. Card writes and PIN operations vary by device and require separate validation. Distribution uses LGPL-2.1, whose obligations must be reviewed for the chosen integration.
Official sources
- [1]OpenSC README at 0.27.1(2026-10-05)
- [2]OpenSC configure requirements at 0.27.1(2026-10-05)
- [3]pkcs11-tool manual source at 0.27.1(2026-10-05)
- [4]OpenSC COPYING at 0.27.1(2026-10-05)
Supplemental curator note
Inspect only the pinned module Cryptoki information without a card first, then validate the target card, PC/SC service, and PIN operations in a controlled environment.
Try it in 3 steps
- 1
Fetch the pinned source
On a Unix-like system, install bash or zsh, Git, a C compiler, Autotools, make, pkg-config, and PC/SC development files; fetch 0.27.1 and continue in opensc-demo.
git clone --branch 0.27.1 --depth 1 https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC.git opensc-demo && cd opensc-demo - 2
Build OpenSC and its PKCS#11 module
Configure without generated documentation and build pkcs11-tool plus the OpenSC PKCS#11 module. This performs no card operation.
./bootstrap && ./configure --disable-doc && make -j2 - 3
Inspect module information safely
Locate the built shared library, save its --show-info Cryptoki metadata, and require the version line without touching a card, PIN, or private key. A working PC/SC runtime is still required.
module=$(find src/pkcs11/.libs -type f '(' -name 'opensc-pkcs11.so' -o -name 'opensc-pkcs11.dylib' ')' -print -quit); test -n "$module" && (set -o pipefail; src/tools/pkcs11-tool --module "$module" --show-info | tee pkcs11-module-info.txt) && grep -F 'Cryptoki version' pkcs11-module-info.txt
Growth
Growth trends · Last 30 days
3,104 Stars
Trend data is still being collected.
Development activity
Last 90 days · weekly
- Commits (last 30 days)
- 68
- Open PRs
- 41
Development activity is still being collected.
Built with
Categories and tags
Categories
GitHub data
GitHub dataView detailed GitHub data
GitHub Topics
- pkcs11
- minidriver
- smartcard
- security
- c
- opensc
Related information
Write a related articleShare a guide or use case for this OSS in Markdown. Articles are published after administrator approval.
Explore next
- openssl30,891 Stars
3 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s) · Same language
Support TLS communication and cryptographic operations with libraries and commands
C - libsodium13,972 Stars
3 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s) · Same language
A portable cryptography library for encryption, signatures, and password hashing through approachable APIs
C - BoringSSL2,280 Stars
3 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s)
use Google's OpenSSL fork for TLS and cryptography in projects that explicitly track BoringSSL
C++ - openssh-portable4,033 Stars
3 shared tag(s) · Same language
Provide secure remote login and file transfer across Unix-like systems
C - GnuPG989 Stars
3 shared tag(s) · Same language
provide OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption, signatures, and key management with the GNU cryptography toolchain
C - ClamAV7,322 Stars
2 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s) · Same language
scan files, archives, and mail with signature databases to detect viruses, trojans, malware, and other malicious content
C
Report incorrect information
Tell us if any listing information is incorrect or outdated.