optools/gpg/kant/docs/kant.1.adoc

= kant(1)
Brent Saner
v1.0.0
:doctype: manpage
:manmanual: KANT - Keysigning and Notification Tool
:mansource: KANT
:man-linkstyle: pass:[blue R < >]

== NAME

KANT - Sign GnuPG/OpenPGP/PGP keys and notify the key owner(s)

== SYNOPSIS

*kant* [_OPTION_] -k/--key _<KEY_IDS|BATCHFILE>_

== OPTIONS

Keysigning (and keysigning parties) can be a lot of fun, and can offer someone with new keys a way into the WoT (Web-of-Trust). 
Unfortunately, they can be intimidating to those new to the experience. 
This tool offers a simple and easy-to-use interface to sign public keys (normal, local-only, and/or non-exportable), 
set owner trust, specify level of checking done, and push the signatures to a keyserver. It even supports batch operation via a CSV file.

*-h*, *--help*::
  Display brief help/usage and exit.

*-k* _KEY_IDS|BATCHFILE_, *--key* _KEY_IDS|BATCHFILE_::
  A single or comma-separated list of key IDs (see *KEY ID FORMAT*) to sign, trust, and notify. Can also be an email address.
  If *-b*/*--batch* is specified, this should instead be a path to the batch file (see *BATCHFILE/Format*).

*-K* _KEY_ID_, *--sigkey* _KEY_ID_::
  The key to use when signing other keys (see *KEY ID FORMAT*). The default key is automatically determined at runtime
  (it will be displayed in *-h*/*--help* output).

*-t* _TRUSTLEVEL_, *--trust* _TRUSTLEVEL_::
  The trust level to automatically apply to all keys (if not specified, KANT will prompt for each key).
  See *BATCHFILE/TRUSTLEVEL* for trust level notations.

*-c* _CHECKLEVEL_, *--check* _CHECKLEVEL_::
  The level of checking that was done to confirm the validity of ownership for all keys being signed. If not specified,
  the default is for KANT to prompt for each key we sign. See *BATCHFILE/CHECKLEVEL* for check level notations.

*-l* _LOCAL_, *--local* _LOCAL_::
  If specified, make the signature(s) local-only (i.e. non-exportable, don't push to a keyserver).
  See *BATCHFILE/LOCAL* for more information on local signatures.

*-n*, *--no-notify*::
  This requires some explanation. If you have MSMTPfootnote:[\http://msmtp.sourceforge.net/] installed and configured for the currently active user,
  then we will send out emails to recipients letting them know we have signed their key. However, if MSMTP is installed and configured
  but this flag is given, then we will NOT attempt to send emails.

*-s* _KEYSERVER(S)_, *--keyservers* _KEYSERVER(S)_::
  The comma-separated keyserver(s) to push to. The default keyserver list is automatically generated at runtime.

*-b*, *--batch*::
  If specified, operate in batch mode. See *BATCHFILE* for more information.

*-D* _GPGDIR_, *--gpgdir* _GPGDIR_::
  The GnuPG configuration directory to use (containing your keys, etc.). The default is automatically generated at runtime,
  but will probably be */home/<yourusername>/.gnupg* or similar.

*-T*, *--testkeyservers*::
  If specified, initiate a basic test connection with each set keyserver before anything else. Disabled by default.

== KEY ID FORMAT
Key IDs can be specified in one of two ways. The first (and preferred) way is to use the full 160-bit (40-character, hexadecimal) key ID.
A little known fact is the fingerprint of a key:

*DEAD BEEF DEAD BEEF DEAD  BEEF DEAD BEEF DEAD BEEF*

is actually the full key ID of the primary key; i.e.:

*DEADBEEFDEADBEEFDEADBEEFDEADBEEFDEADBEEF*

The second way to specify a key, as far as KANT is concerned, is to use an email address.
Do note that if more than one key is found that matches the email address given (and they usually are), you will be prompted to select the specific
correct key ID anyways so it's usually a better idea to have the owner present their full key ID/fingerprint right from the get-go.

== BATCHFILE

=== Format
The batch file is a CSV-formatted (comma-delimited) file containing keys to sign and other information about them. It keeps the following format:

*KEY_ID,TRUSTLEVEL,LOCAL,CHECKLEVEL,NOTIFY*

For more information on each column, reference the appropriate sub-section below.

=== KEY_ID
See *KEY ID FORMAT*.

=== TRUSTLEVEL
The _TRUSTLEVEL_ is specified by the following levels (you can use either the numeric or string representation):

[subs=+quotes]
....
*-1 = Never
 0 = Unknown
 1 = Untrusted
 2 = Marginal
 3 = Full
 4 = Ultimate*
....

It is how much trust to assign to a key, and the signatures that key makes on other keys.footnote:[For more information
on trust levels and the Web of Trust, see: \https://www.gnupg.org/gph/en/manual/x334.html and \https://www.gnupg.org/gph/en/manual/x547.html]

=== LOCAL
Whether or not to push to a keyserver. It can be either the numeric or string representation of the following:

[subs=+quotes]
....
*0 = False
1 = True*
....

If *1/True*, KANT will sign the key with a local signature (and the signature will not be pushed to a keyserver or be exportable).footnote:[For
more information on pushing to keyservers and local signatures, see: \https://www.gnupg.org/gph/en/manual/r899.html#LSIGN and
\https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-users/2007-January/030242.html]

=== CHECKLEVEL
The amount of checking that has been done to confirm that the owner of the key is who they say they are and that the key matches their provided information.
It can be either the numeric or string representation of the following:

[subs=+quotes]
....
*0 = Unknown
1 = None
2 = Casual
3 = Careful*
....

It is up to you to determine the classification of the amount of checking you have done, but the following is recommended (it is the policy
the author follows):

[subs=+quotes]
....
*Unknown:* The key is unknown and has not been reviewed

*None:* The key has been signed, but no confirmation of the
        ownership of the key has been performed (typically
        a local signature)

*Casual:* The key has been presented and the owner is either
          known to the signer or they have provided some form
          of non-government-issued identification or other
          proof (website, Keybase.io, etc.)

*Careful:* The same as *Casual* requirements but they have
          provided a government-issued ID and all information
          matches
....

It's important to check each key you sign carefully. Failure to do so may hurt others' trust in your key.footnote:[GnuPG documentation refers
to this as "validity"; see \https://www.gnupg.org/gph/en/manual/x334.html]

== SEE ALSO
gpg(1), gpgconf(1)

== RESOURCES

*Author's web site:* https://square-r00t.net/
*Author's GPG information:* https://square-r00t.net/gpg-info

== COPYING

Copyright \(C) 2017 {author}.

Free use of this software is granted under the terms of the GPLv3 License.