PGPPstyle

PGPPstyle is a proposed stylistic framework for projects that implement OpenPGP-compatible software and related cryptographic tooling. It aims to improve readability, maintainability, and security by codifying conventions for code, documentation, and testing within the OpenPGP ecosystem. The term reflects an effort to align practices across implementations to reduce ambiguity and facilitate interoperability.

The framework concentrates on several areas. Core emphasis is placed on secure handling of key material, explicit and informative error reporting, and compatibility with the OpenPGP standard as defined in RFC 4880. PGPPstyle also encourages predictable behavior across platforms and languages, with a preference for clear contracts between API components and their callers. In practice, practitioners apply these guidelines in source code organization, naming, and module boundaries to support auditability and security reviews.

Code and API conventions under PGPPstyle include deterministic behavior, minimal and well-audited dependencies, memory-safe constructs where available, and consideration of side-channel resistance in critical paths. Documentation guidelines promote RFC-like clarity, with precise API references, input/output specifications, and write-ups of security considerations. Examples and test vectors are encouraged to accompany public interfaces to aid interoperability tests and cross-implementation validation.

Adoption status varies; PGPPstyle is not an official standard and has no formal governing body. It exists primarily as a set of community-driven practices referenced in some OpenPGP-related repositories and discussions. Users typically cite PGPPstyle as a rationale for their organizational coding and documentation choices rather than as a mandatory requirement.

See also OpenPGP, RFC 4880, PGP.