keygen: API key generator

A command-line utility to generate an API key for Tinode server

Parameters:

• sequence: Sequential number of the API key. This value can be used to reject previously issued keys.
• isroot: Currently unused. Intended to designate key of a system administrator.
• validate: Key to validate: check previously issued key for validity.
• salt: HMAC salt, 32 random bytes base64 standard encoded; must be present for key validation; optional when generating the key: if missing, a cryptographically-strong salt will be automatically generated.

Usage

The API key is used to provide some protection from automatic scraping of server API and for identification of client applications.

• API key is used on the client side.
• HMAC salt is used on the server side to verify the API key.

Run the generator:

./keygen

Sample output:

API key v1 seq1 [ordinary]: AQAAAAABAACGOIyP2vh5avSff5oVvMpk
HMAC salt: TC0Jzr8f28kAspXrb4UYccJUJ63b7CSA16n1qMxxGpw=

Copy HMAC salt to api_key_salt parameter in your server config file. Copy API key to the client applications:

• TinodeWeb: API_KEY in config.js
• Tindroid: API_KEY in Cache.java
• Tinodious: kApiKey in SharedUtils.swift

Rebuild the clients after changing the API key.