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what is 1key fr?

anomalroil/1key — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-09 · repo last pushed 2019-05-17

2GoAudience · ops devopsComplexity · 3/5DormantSetup · moderate

tl;dr

A proof-of-concept tool that derives multiple SSH keys from a single master key using elliptic curve cryptography, so you manage one key instead of dozens. Built for a conference talk, not production use.

vibe map

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Derives SSH keys
      One master key
      Child keys on demand
    How it works
      Elliptic curve crypto
      Secret phrase input
      Master key protected
    Use cases
      Multiple environments
      Staging and production
      Client infrastructure
    Audience
      Security developers
      Sysadmins
    Maturity
      Proof of concept
      Conference talk demo

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what do people make with this?

VIBE 1

Derive separate SSH keys for staging, production, and client environments from one master key.

VIBE 2

Share child public keys with teammates without exposing your master private key.

VIBE 3

Generate matching child private keys later using the secret phrase used during derivation.

what's the stack?

GoSSHElliptic Curve Cryptography

how it stacks up fr

anomalroil/1keydanterolle/loqihighesttt/clanker-blocker
Stars222
LanguageGoGoGo
Last pushed2019-05-17
MaintenanceDormant
Setup difficultymoderatemoderateeasy
Complexity3/52/52/5
Audienceops devopsdeveloperops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

how do i run it?

Difficulty · moderate time til it works · 30min

Requires generating a master SSH key and providing a secret phrase of 33+ random characters, plus understanding the derivation workflow.

in plain english

1key is a proof-of-concept tool that lets you generate multiple SSH keys from a single master key. Instead of creating and managing separate keys for every server or environment, you keep one key and derive "child" keys from it as needed. The master key itself never gets exposed to your system's SSH agent, which adds a layer of protection. Under the hood, it uses elliptic curve cryptography. The core idea is mathematical: when you combine your master key with a random value derived from a secret phrase, you get a new, valid key. Someone who only has your public key can also derive child public keys, and you can later generate the matching private keys if you know the random value used. This lets you share derivations without handing over your master key. The tool is aimed at security-conscious developers and sysadmins who juggle many SSH connections. For example, if you want different keys for staging, production, and a client's infrastructure, you can derive all of them from one master rather than storing a dozen separate key files. You provide a secret phrase (ideally 33+ random characters), and the tool handles the math. The project is explicitly a proof of concept tied to a conference talk, so it's not a polished product. The README notes some rough edges, like the SSH connection feature being a simple wrapper that may be removed, and a todo list that includes better memory protection for the master key. It's an interesting demonstration of the concept rather than something you'd want to rely on for critical infrastructure today.

prompts (copy fr)

prompt 1
How do I set up a master SSH key and derive child keys from it using the 1key tool in Go?
prompt 2
How does 1key use elliptic curve cryptography to derive child SSH keys from a single master key without exposing it to the SSH agent?
prompt 3
Can you explain the workflow for generating a child public key that a teammate can use, and then later deriving the matching private key in 1key?

Frequently asked questions

what is 1key fr?

A proof-of-concept tool that derives multiple SSH keys from a single master key using elliptic curve cryptography, so you manage one key instead of dozens. Built for a conference talk, not production use.

What language is 1key written in?

Mainly Go. The stack also includes Go, SSH, Elliptic Curve Cryptography.

Is 1key actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2019-05-17).

How hard is 1key to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is 1key for?

Mainly ops devops.

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