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Password Generator Development Notes in HarmonyOS

Password Generator Development Notes in HarmonyOS

About HarmonyOS 5

HarmonyOS 5 (also known as HarmonyOS Next) represents a revolutionary step in the evolution of Huawei's distributed operating system. As someone who has been following its development closely, I can attest to the remarkable improvements in this version. The system's microkernel architecture not only enhances security but also provides unprecedented flexibility in cross-device collaboration. What excites me most about HarmonyOS 5 is its focus on developer experience - the new ArkTS language, enhanced UI components, and improved debugging tools have made development much more efficient. The distributed capabilities allow us to create truly seamless experiences across different devices, from smartphones to tablets, smart TVs, and IoT devices.

About the Author

I am a dedicated HarmonyOS developer based in China, with over three years of experience in the ecosystem. My journey with HarmonyOS began with its early versions, and I've witnessed its remarkable evolution. As a developer who has contributed to several open-source HarmonyOS projects, I've gained valuable insights into its architecture and best practices. I'm particularly passionate about security tools and password management, which led me to develop this comprehensive password generator module. Through my blog and GitHub repositories, I've been sharing my experiences and helping other developers navigate the exciting world of HarmonyOS development.

Basic Knowledge

Let's first understand password generation:

  1. Password Strength

    • Length: Longer is stronger
    • Complexity: Mix of character types
    • Unpredictability: Random generation
    • Uniqueness: No patterns

  2. Character Types

    • Uppercase letters (A-Z)
    • Lowercase letters (a-z)
    • Numbers (0-9)
    • Special characters (!@#$%^&*)

  3. Password Policies

    • Minimum length requirements
    • Character type requirements
    • No common patterns
    • No personal information

  4. Security Considerations

    • Use cryptographically secure random numbers
    • Avoid predictable patterns
    • Consider user memorability
    • Provide strength indicators

  5. Best Practices

    • Generate on device
    • No network transmission
    • Clear after use
    • Secure storage

Preface

Recently, while developing the HarmonyOS Developer Toolbox, we wanted to add a password generator feature. This feature is mainly used to generate secure passwords for various purposes. Initially, we thought it would be simple, but we found that we needed to handle various security considerations and user preferences.

I. Feature Description

1.1 Main Features

  • Generate random passwords
  • Customize password length
  • Select character types
  • Show password strength
  • Copy to clipboard
  • Save to favorites
  • Generate multiple passwords

1.2 Interface Features

  • Length slider
  • Character type toggles
  • Strength indicator
  • Copy button
  • Save button
  • Generate button
  • History view

II. Implementation Process

2.1 Generation Principle

Password generation involves several steps:

  1. Random Number Generation

    • Use cryptographically secure RNG
    • Generate enough entropy
    • Avoid predictable patterns
    • Consider device limitations

  2. Character Selection

    • Map random numbers to characters
    • Ensure required types are included
    • Avoid ambiguous characters
    • Balance distribution

  3. Password Validation

    • Check length requirements
    • Verify character types
    • Test for common patterns
    • Ensure uniqueness

  4. Strength Calculation

    • Consider length
    • Count character types
    • Check for patterns
    • Calculate entropy

  5. User Preferences

    • Remember settings
    • Save favorites
    • Track history
    • Allow customization

2.2 Code Implementation 

@Entry
@Component
struct PasswordGenerator {
  @State password: string = '';            // Generated password
  @State length: number = 12;              // Password length
  @State useUppercase: boolean = true;     // Use uppercase letters
  @State useLowercase: boolean = true;     // Use lowercase letters
  @State useNumbers: boolean = true;       // Use numbers
  @State useSpecial: boolean = true;       // Use special characters
  @State strength: number = 0;             // Password strength
  @State history: string[] = [];           // Password history

  // Character sets
  private readonly UPPERCASE = 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ';
  private readonly LOWERCASE = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz';
  private readonly NUMBERS = '0123456789';
  private readonly SPECIAL = '!@#$%^&*()_+-=[]{}|;:,.<>?';

  // Generate password
  private generatePassword() {
    try {
      // Validate settings
      if (!this.validateSettings()) {
        throw new Error('Invalid password settings');
      }

      // Build character pool
      let pool = '';
      if (this.useUppercase) pool += this.UPPERCASE;
      if (this.useLowercase) pool += this.LOWERCASE;
      if (this.useNumbers) pool += this.NUMBERS;
      if (this.useSpecial) pool += this.SPECIAL;

      // Generate password
      let result = '';
      const random = new Uint8Array(this.length);
      crypto.getRandomValues(random);

      for (let i = 0; i < this.length; i++) {
        result += pool[random[i] % pool.length];
      }

      // Ensure required character types
      result = this.ensureCharacterTypes(result);

      // Calculate strength
      this.strength = this.calculateStrength(result);

      // Update password and history
      this.password = result;
      this.history.unshift(result);
      if (this.history.length > 10) {
        this.history.pop();
      }

    } catch (err) {
      console.error('Generation failed:', err);
      throw err;
    }
  }

  // Helper methods
  private validateSettings(): boolean {
    return this.length >= 8 && 
           (this.useUppercase || this.useLowercase || 
            this.useNumbers || this.useSpecial);
  }

  private ensureCharacterTypes(password: string): string {
    // Implementation details...
  }

  private calculateStrength(password: string): number {
    // Implementation details...
  }
}
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III. Development Experience

3.1 Problems Encountered

  1. Random Number Generation

    • Problem: Secure random numbers
    • Solution: Used crypto.getRandomValues()

  2. Character Distribution

    • Problem: Uneven distribution
    • Solution: Implemented balancing

  3. Performance Issues

    • Problem: Generation speed
    • Solution: Optimized algorithms

  4. User Experience

    • Problem: Password memorability
    • Solution: Added strength indicators

3.2 Optimization Suggestions

  1. Feature Optimization

    • Add more character sets
    • Support custom patterns
    • Add password analysis
    • Support batch generation

  2. Performance Optimization

    • Optimize generation speed
    • Reduce memory usage
    • Cache character sets
    • Improve validation

  3. User Experience

    • Add password hints
    • Support password sharing
    • Add password testing
    • Improve UI feedback

  4. Security

    • Enhance random generation
    • Add entropy checking
    • Implement secure storage
    • Add usage logging

IV. Summary

This password generator has all the basic features and can:

  • Generate secure passwords
  • Customize password settings
  • Show password strength
  • Save password history

V. Reference Resources

Welcome to Experience

This password generator has been integrated into the HarmonyOS Developer Toolbox. Welcome to download and experience it!

HarmonyOS Developer Toolbox

Author: In the World of Development
Email: 1743914721@qq.com
Copyright Notice: This article is an original work by the CSDN blogger, please include the original source link and this statement when reprinting.

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