API Reference

This reference guide lists and explains all classes exposed by the RNS API.

Classes

Communication over a Reticulum network is achieved using a set of classes exposed by RNS.

Reticulum

class RNS.Reticulum(configdir=None)

This class is used to initialise access to Reticulum within a program. You must create exactly one instance of this class before carrying out any other RNS operations, such as creating destinations or sending traffic. Every independently executed program must create their own instance of the Reticulum class, but Reticulum will automatically handle inter-program communication on the same system, and expose all connected programs to external interfaces as well.

As soon as an instance of this class is created, Reticulum will start opening and configuring any hardware devices specified in the supplied configuration.

Currently the first running instance must be kept running while other local instances are connected, as the first created instance will act as a master instance that directly communicates with external hardware such as modems, TNCs and radios. If a master instance is asked to exit, it will not exit until all client processes have terminated (unless killed forcibly).

If you are running Reticulum on a system with several different programs that use RNS starting and terminating at different times, it will be advantageous to run a master RNS instance as a daemon for other programs to use on demand.

static should_allow_unencrypted()

Returns whether unencrypted links are allowed by the current configuration.

Returns

True if the current running configuration allows downgrading links to plaintext. False if not.

static should_use_implicit_proof()

Returns whether proofs sent are explicit or implicit.

Returns

True if the current running configuration specifies to use implicit proofs. False if not.

static transport_enabled()

Returns whether Transport is enabled for the running instance.

When Transport is enabled, Reticulum will route traffic for other peers, respond to path requests and pass announces over the network.

Returns

True if Transport is enabled, False if not.

Identity

class RNS.Identity(create_keys=True)

This class is used to manage identities in Reticulum. It provides methods for encryption, decryption, signatures and verification, and is the basis for all encrypted communication over Reticulum networks.

Parameters

create_keys – Specifies whether new encryption and signing keys should be generated.

CURVE = 'Curve25519'

The curve used for Elliptic Curve DH key exchanges

KEYSIZE = 512

X25519 key size in bits. A complete key is the concatenation of a 256 bit encryption key, and a 256 bit signing key.

TRUNCATED_HASHLENGTH = 80

Constant specifying the truncated hash length (in bits) used by Reticulum for addressable hashes and other purposes. Non-configurable.

static recall(destination_hash)

Recall identity for a destination hash.

Parameters

destination_hash – Destination hash as bytes.

Returns

An RNS.Identity instance that can be used to create an outgoing RNS.Destination, or None if the destination is unknown.

static recall_app_data(destination_hash)

Recall last heard app_data for a destination hash.

Parameters

destination_hash – Destination hash as bytes.

Returns

Bytes containing app_data, or None if the destination is unknown.

static full_hash(data)

Get a SHA-256 hash of passed data.

Parameters

data – Data to be hashed as bytes.

Returns

SHA-256 hash as bytes

static truncated_hash(data)

Get a truncated SHA-256 hash of passed data.

Parameters

data – Data to be hashed as bytes.

Returns

Truncated SHA-256 hash as bytes

static get_random_hash()

Get a random SHA-256 hash.

Parameters

data – Data to be hashed as bytes.

Returns

Truncated SHA-256 hash of random data as bytes

static from_file(path)

Create a new RNS.Identity instance from a file. Can be used to load previously created and saved identities into Reticulum.

Parameters

path – The full path to the saved RNS.Identity data

Returns

A RNS.Identity instance, or None if the loaded data was invalid.

static from_bytes(prv_bytes)

Create a new RNS.Identity instance from bytes of private key. Can be used to load previously created and saved identities into Reticulum.

Parameters

prv_bytes – The bytes of private a saved private key. HAZARD! Never not use this to generate a new key by feeding random data in prv_bytes.

Returns

A RNS.Identity instance, or None if the bytes data was invalid.

get_private_key()

Returns

The private key as bytes

get_public_key()

Returns

The public key as bytes

load_private_key(prv_bytes)

Load a private key into the instance.

Parameters

prv_bytes – The private key as bytes.

Returns

True if the key was loaded, otherwise False.

load_public_key(pub_bytes)

Load a public key into the instance.

Parameters

pub_bytes – The public key as bytes.

Returns

True if the key was loaded, otherwise False.

to_file(path)

Saves the identity to a file. This will write the private key to disk, and anyone with access to this file will be able to decrypt all communication for the identity. Be very careful with this method.

Parameters

path – The full path specifying where to save the identity.

Returns

True if the file was saved, otherwise False.

encrypt(plaintext)

Encrypts information for the identity.

Parameters

plaintext – The plaintext to be encrypted as bytes.

Returns

Ciphertext token as bytes.

Raises

KeyError if the instance does not hold a public key.

decrypt(ciphertext_token)

Decrypts information for the identity.

Parameters

ciphertext – The ciphertext to be decrypted as bytes.

Returns

Plaintext as bytes, or None if decryption fails.

Raises

KeyError if the instance does not hold a private key.

sign(message)

Signs information by the identity.

Parameters

message – The message to be signed as bytes.

Returns

Signature as bytes.

Raises

KeyError if the instance does not hold a private key.

validate(signature, message)

Validates the signature of a signed message.

Parameters

• signature – The signature to be validated as bytes.

• message – The message to be validated as bytes.

Returns

True if the signature is valid, otherwise False.

Raises

KeyError if the instance does not hold a public key.

Destination

class RNS.Destination(identity, direction, type, app_name, *aspects)

A class used to describe endpoints in a Reticulum Network. Destination instances are used both to create outgoing and incoming endpoints. The destination type will decide if encryption, and what type, is used in communication with the endpoint. A destination can also announce its presence on the network, which will also distribute necessary keys for encrypted communication with it.

Parameters

• identity – An instance of RNS.Identity. Can hold only public keys for an outgoing destination, or holding private keys for an ingoing.

• direction – RNS.Destination.IN or RNS.Destination.OUT

• type – RNS.Destination.SINGLE, RNS.Destination.GROUP or RNS.Destination.PLAIN.

• app_name – A string specifying the app name.

• *aspects – Any non-zero number of string arguments.

static full_name(app_name, *aspects)

Returns

A string containing the full human-readable name of the destination, for an app_name and a number of aspects.

static app_and_aspects_from_name(full_name)

Returns

A tuple containing the app name and a list of aspects, for a full-name string.

static hash_from_name_and_identity(full_name, identity)

Returns

A destination name in adressable hash form, for a full name string and Identity instance.

static hash(app_name, *aspects)

Returns

A destination name in adressable hash form, for an app_name and a number of aspects.

announce(app_data=None, path_response=False)

Creates an announce packet for this destination and broadcasts it on all relevant interfaces. Application specific data can be added to the announce.

Parameters

• app_data – bytes containing the app_data.

• path_response – Internal flag used by RNS.Transport. Ignore.

set_link_established_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when a link has been established to this destination.

Parameters

callback – A function or method to be called.

set_packet_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when a packet has been received by this destination.

Parameters

callback – A function or method to be called.

set_proof_requested_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when a proof has been requested for a packet sent to this destination. Allows control over when and if proofs should be returned for received packets.

Parameters

callback – A function or method to be called. The callback must return one of True or False. If the callback returns True, a proof will be sent. If it returns False, a proof will not be sent.

set_proof_strategy(proof_strategy)

Sets the destinations proof strategy.

Parameters

proof_strategy – One of RNS.Destination.PROVE_NONE, RNS.Destination.PROVE_ALL or RNS.Destination.PROVE_APP. If RNS.Destination.PROVE_APP is set, the proof_requested_callback will be called to determine whether a proof should be sent or not.

register_request_handler(path, response_generator=None, allow=0, allowed_list=None)

Registers a request handler.

Parameters

• path – The path for the request handler to be registered.

• response_generator – A function or method with the signature response_generator(path, data, request_id, remote_identity, requested_at) to be called. Whatever this funcion returns will be sent as a response to the requester. If the function returns None, no response will be sent.

• allow – One of RNS.Destination.ALLOW_NONE, RNS.Destination.ALLOW_ALL or RNS.Destination.ALLOW_LIST. If RNS.Destination.ALLOW_LIST is set, the request handler will only respond to requests for identified peers in the supplied list.

• allowed_list – A list of bytes-like RNS.Identity hashes.

Raises

ValueError if any of the supplied arguments are invalid.

deregister_request_handler(path)

Deregisters a request handler.

Parameters

path – The path for the request handler to be deregistered.

Returns

True if the handler was deregistered, otherwise False.

create_keys()

For a RNS.Destination.GROUP type destination, creates a new symmetric key.

Raises

TypeError if called on an incompatible type of destination.

get_private_key()

For a RNS.Destination.GROUP type destination, returns the symmetric private key.

Raises

TypeError if called on an incompatible type of destination.

load_private_key(key)

For a RNS.Destination.GROUP type destination, loads a symmetric private key.

Parameters

key – A bytes-like containing the symmetric key.

Raises

TypeError if called on an incompatible type of destination.

encrypt(plaintext)

Encrypts information for RNS.Destination.SINGLE or RNS.Destination.GROUP type destination.

Parameters

plaintext – A bytes-like containing the plaintext to be encrypted.

Raises

ValueError if destination does not hold a necessary key for encryption.

decrypt(ciphertext)

Decrypts information for RNS.Destination.SINGLE or RNS.Destination.GROUP type destination.

Parameters

ciphertext – Bytes containing the ciphertext to be decrypted.

Raises

ValueError if destination does not hold a necessary key for decryption.

sign(message)

Signs information for RNS.Destination.SINGLE type destination.

Parameters

message – Bytes containing the message to be signed.

Returns

A bytes-like containing the message signature, or None if the destination could not sign the message.

set_default_app_data(app_data=None)

Sets the default app_data for the destination. If set, the default app_data will be included in every announce sent by the destination, unless other app_data is specified in the announce method.

Parameters

app_data – A bytes-like containing the default app_data, or a callable returning a bytes-like containing the app_data.

clear_default_app_data()

Clears default app_data previously set for the destination.

Packet

class RNS.Packet(destination, data, packet_type=0, context=0, transport_type=0, header_type=0, transport_id=None, attached_interface=None, create_receipt=True)

The Packet class is used to create packet instances that can be sent over a Reticulum network. Packets to will automatically be encrypted if they are adressed to a RNS.Destination.SINGLE destination, RNS.Destination.GROUP destination or a RNS.Link.

For RNS.Destination.GROUP destinations, Reticulum will use the pre-shared key configured for the destination.

For RNS.Destination.SINGLE destinations and RNS.Link destinations, reticulum will use ephemeral keys, and offers Forward Secrecy.

Parameters

• destination – A RNS.Destination instance to which the packet will be sent.

• data – The data payload to be included in the packet as bytes.

• create_receipt – Specifies whether a RNS.PacketReceipt should be created when instantiating the packet.

• type – Internal use by RNS.Transport. Defaults to RNS.Packet.DATA, and should not be specified.

• context – Internal use by RNS.Transport. Ignore.

• transport_type – Internal use by RNS.Transport. Ignore.

• transport_id – Internal use by RNS.Transport. Ignore.

• attached_interface – Internal use by RNS.Transport. Ignore.

ENCRYPTED_MDU = 383

The maximum size of the payload data in a single encrypted packet

PLAIN_MDU = 477

The maximum size of the payload data in a single unencrypted packet

send()

Sends the packet.

Returns

A RNS.PacketReceipt instance if create_receipt was set to True when the packet was instantiated, if not returns None. If the packet could not be sent False is returned.

resend()

Re-sends the packet.

Returns

A RNS.PacketReceipt instance if create_receipt was set to True when the packet was instantiated, if not returns None. If the packet could not be sent False is returned.

Packet Receipt

class RNS.PacketReceipt(packet)

The PacketReceipt class is used to receive notifications about RNS.Packet instances sent over the network. Instances of this class should never be created manually, but always returned from a the send() method of a RNS.Packet instance.

get_status()

Returns

The status of the associated RNS.Packet instance. Can be one of RNS.PacketReceipt.SENT, RNS.PacketReceipt.DELIVERED, RNS.PacketReceipt.FAILED or RNS.PacketReceipt.CULLED.

get_rtt()

Returns

The round-trip-time in seconds

set_timeout(timeout)

Sets a timeout in seconds

Parameters

timeout – The timeout in seconds.

set_delivery_callback(callback)

Sets a function that gets called if a successfull delivery has been proven.

Parameters

callback – A callable with the signature callback(packet_receipt)

set_timeout_callback(callback)

Sets a function that gets called if the delivery times out.

Parameters

callback – A callable with the signature callback(packet_receipt)

Link

class RNS.Link(destination=None, established_callback=None, closed_callback=None, owner=None, peer_pub_bytes=None, peer_sig_pub_bytes=None)

This class.

Parameters

• destination – A RNS.Destination instance which to establish a link to.

• established_callback – A function or method with the signature callback(link) to be called when the link has been established.

• closed_callback – A function or method with the signature callback(link) to be called when the link is closed.

• owner – Internal use by RNS.Transport, ignore this argument.

• peer_pub_bytes – Internal use, ignore this argument.

• peer_sig_pub_bytes – Internal use, ignore this argument.

CURVE = 'Curve25519'

The curve used for Elliptic Curve DH key exchanges

DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 60.0

Default timeout for link establishment in seconds.

KEEPALIVE = 360

Interval for sending keep-alive packets on established links in seconds.

identify(identity)

Identifies the initiator of the link to the remote peer. This can only happen once the link has been established, and is carried out over the encrypted link. The identity is only revealed to the remote peer, and initiator anonymity is thus preserved. This method can be used for authentication.

Parameters

identity – An RNS.Identity instance to identify as.

request(path, data=None, response_callback=None, failed_callback=None, timeout=None)

Sends a request to the remote peer.

Parameters

• path – The request path.

• response_callback – An optional function or method with the signature response_callback(request_receipt) to be called when a response is received. See the Request Example for more info.

• failed_callback – An optional function or method with the signature failed_callback(request_receipt) to be called when a request fails. See the Request Example for more info.

• timeout – An optional timeout in seconds for the request. If None is supplied, this defaults to RNS.Packet.TIMEOUT.

no_inbound_for()

Returns

The time in seconds since last inbound packet on the link.

no_outbound_for()

Returns

The time in seconds since last outbound packet on the link.

inactive_for()

Returns

The time in seconds since activity on the link.

get_remote_identity()

Returns

The identity of the remote peer, if it is known

teardown()

Closes the link and purges encryption keys. New keys will be used if a new link to the same destination is established.

set_packet_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when a packet has been received over this link.

Parameters

callback – A function or method with the signature callback(message, packet) to be called.

set_resource_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when a resource has been advertised over this link. If the function returns True the resource will be accepted. If it returns False it will be ignored.

Parameters

callback – A function or method with the signature callback(resource) to be called.

set_resource_started_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when a resource has begun transferring over this link.

Parameters

callback – A function or method with the signature callback(resource) to be called.

set_resource_concluded_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when a resource has concluded transferring over this link.

Parameters

callback – A function or method with the signature callback(resource) to be called.

set_remote_identified_callback(callback)

Registers a function to be called when an initiating peer has identified over this link.

Parameters

callback – A function or method with the signature callback(identity) to be called.

set_resource_strategy(resource_strategy)

Sets the resource strategy for the link.

Parameters

resource_strategy – One of RNS.Link.ACCEPT_NONE, RNS.Link.ACCEPT_ALL or RNS.Link.ACCEPT_APP. If RNS.Link.ACCEPT_APP is set, the resource_callback will be called to determine whether the resource should be accepted or not.

Raises

TypeError if the resource strategy is unsupported.

disable_encryption()

HAZARDOUS. This will downgrade the link to encryptionless. All information over the link will be sent in plaintext. Never use this in production applications. Should only be used for debugging purposes, and will disappear in a future version.

If encryptionless links are not explicitly allowed in the users configuration file, Reticulum will terminate itself along with the client application and throw an error message to the user.

Resource

class RNS.Resource(data, link, advertise=True, auto_compress=True, callback=None, progress_callback=None, timeout=None, segment_index=1, original_hash=None, request_id=None, is_response=False)

The Resource class allows transferring arbitrary amounts of data over a link. It will automatically handle sequencing, compression, coordination and checksumming.

Parameters

• data – The data to be transferred. Can be bytes or an open file handle. See the Filetransfer Example for details.

• link – The RNS.Link instance on which to transfer the data.

• advertise – Whether to automatically advertise the resource. Can be True or False.

• auto_compress – Whether to auto-compress the resource. Can be True or False.

• callback – A callable with the signature callback(resource). Will be called when the resource transfer concludes.

• progress_callback – A callable with the signature callback(resource). Will be called whenever the resource transfer progress is updated.

• segment_index – Internal use, ignore.

• original_hash – Internal use, ignore.

• is_request – Internal use, ignore.

• is_response – Internal use, ignore.

advertise()

Advertise the resource. If the other end of the link accepts the resource advertisement it will begin transferring.

cancel()

Cancels transferring the resource.

progress()

Returns

The current progress of the resource transfer as a float between 0.0 and 1.0.

Transport

class RNS.Transport

static register_announce_handler(handler)

Registers an announce handler.

Parameters

handler – Must be an object with an aspect_filter attribute and a received_announce(destination_hash, announced_identity, app_data) callable. See the Announce Example for more info.

static deregister_announce_handler(handler)

Deregisters an announce handler.

Parameters

handler – The announce handler to be deregistered.

static has_path(destination_hash)

Parameters

destination_hash – A destination hash as bytes.

Returns

True if a path to the destination is known, otherwise False.

static request_path(destination_hash)

Requests a path to the destination from the network. If another reachable peer on the network knows a path, it will announce it.

Parameters

destination_hash – A destination hash as bytes.