# softhsm/SoftHSMv2

SoftHSM version 2

Repository: https://github.com/softhsm/SoftHSMv2
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/softhsmv2
Homepage: http://www.softhsm.org/
Language: C++
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Last push: 2026-07-18T06:43:46+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 74/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 93, release rhythm 34, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4846, "days_push": 46, "days_rel": 225, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 1}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1085, forks 424 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:32.025920+00:00)

## What it is
SoftHSMv2 is a software implementation of a cryptographic store accessible through the PKCS#11 interface, originally developed as part of the OpenDNSSEC project. It emulates a Hardware Security Module (HSM) so developers can generate keys and perform cryptographic operations without owning physical hardware.

## Use cases
- test PKCS#11 integrations without buying an HSM
- store DNSSEC signing keys in software
- develop and debug applications that use cryptographic tokens
- emulate a smart card or HSM in CI pipelines
- explore the PKCS#11 API for learning purposes

## When to choose
- you need a PKCS#11 token for testing or development without hardware
- you use OpenDNSSEC or other PKCS#11-based software and lack an HSM
- you want a free software HSM emulator backed by OpenSSL or Botan

## When to avoid
- you need real hardware-backed key protection or tamper resistance
- you require certified FIPS/Common Criteria compliance for production key storage
- you need high-throughput hardware cryptographic acceleration

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: cryptography, security, developer-tools
- domain: security, developer-tools
- platform: windows, cross-platform, cpp
- tags: pkcs11, hsm-emulator, software-token, opendnssec, smart-card-emulation, cryptography, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- softhsm/SoftHSMv2 (main) score 74

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:32.025920+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:49:53.343860+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/softhsm/SoftHSMv2 (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:32.025920+00:00, sha 2e37a20edda9)
  - homepage: http://www.softhsm.org/ (fetched 2026-08-29T12:52:36.946519+00:00, sha 1fd842a7bad1)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.