DNAPASS PASSWORD GENERATOR

Written in modern C++, inspired by DNA nucleotide sequences

Password Generator GitHub Methodology Issues
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OVERVIEW

DNAPass is a password generator written in modern C++ that creates secure passwords inspired by DNA nucleotide sequences.

The generator uses DNA-inspired sequences and applies various transformations to ensure password strength while maintaining memorability through biological patterns.

C++ G++ CMake Git Clang Maintained MIT License

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES

DNA-INSPIRED SEQUENCES

Generates passwords using DNA nucleotide sequences (A, T, C, G) with ambiguous character resolution.

HIGH ENTROPY

Uses a cryptographically secure random source (OS CSPRNG in the CLI, Web Crypto API in the browser). 16+ characters give an estimated 100+ bits.

RANDOM SELECTION

Uses two sets of sequences with 90%/10% probability distribution for increased randomness.

CHARACTER DIVERSITY

Enforces uppercase, lowercase, digits, and special characters for maximum password strength.

MODERN C++

Written in modern C++ with clean, maintainable code following best practices.

CROSS-PLATFORM

Compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS with CMake support for easy building.

INSTALLATION ON THE LINUX SYSTEM

Prerequisites

# Update and install the environments required for the installation. (Mandatory action)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git
sudo apt install g++
sudo apt install clang

# After installing the environments, confirm and verify the installed versions. (Optional checking)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git
sudo apt install cmake
sudo apt install g++

Building from Source

# Cloning the repository to install packages.

git clone https://github.com/gerivanc/dnapass-password-generator.git
cd dnapass-password-generator
mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
cmake --build .

USAGE

Command Line

  • Method 1. Call the function by question to generate the password by choosing between 8-128 characters:
    ./dnapass_generator
  • Method 2. Automated Mode. Call to generate the password by choosing a 45-character password. In the function, enter the number of characters between 8 and 128:
    echo "45" | ./dnapass_generator
  • Method 3. Command-line options (same as the web toggles). Generate a 32-character password without special characters:
    ./dnapass_generator --length 32 --no-special
  • Options: -l/--length N, --no-uppercase, --no-lowercase, --no-digits, --no-special, -q/--quiet (password only), -h/--help, -v/--version

Troubleshooting

  • Error: "cmake: command not found": Install CMake with sudo apt install cmake.
  • Error: "g++: command not found": Install g++ with sudo apt install g++.
  • Error: "./dnapass_generator: No such file or directory": Ensure the build step completed successfully. Run ls to check if dnapass_generator exists in the build folder. If not, repeat the cmake .. and cmake --build . steps.
  • Permission denied: Run chmod +x dnapass_generator to make the executable runnable, then try ./dnapass_generator again.

Web Interface

Use our web-based password generator for quick and easy password generation. It can be installed as an app (PWA) from your browser and works offline; passwords are generated locally and never leave your device.

Try Web Generator

HOW IT WORKS

SEQUENCE SELECTION

DNAPass uses two sets of DNA-inspired sequences:

  • Primary Sequences: A list of 253 DNA sequences (244 unique) derived from biological motifs, including ambiguous characters (e.g., 'N', 'R'). Selected with a 90% probability.
  • Secondary Sequences: A smaller set of 8 sequences restricted to the nucleotides A, T, C, and G, selected with a 10% probability.

AMBIGUITY RESOLUTION

Primary sequences often contain ambiguous characters defined by the IUPAC nucleotide code. These are resolved randomly using a predefined mapping:

  • 'N': Random choice from ['A', 'T', 'C', 'G']
  • 'R': Random choice from ['A', 'G']
  • 'Y': Random choice from ['C', 'T']
  • And so on...

CHARACTER DIVERSITY

To ensure password strength, DNAPass enforces:

  • Uppercase Letters: At least 10% of the password length (minimum 1)
  • Lowercase Letters: At least one lowercase letter
  • Digits: At least 2 digits for passwords < 50 characters, or 3 for ≥ 50 characters
  • Special Characters: At least 4 special characters from a predefined set
  • No Spaces: Any spaces are removed

ENTROPY CONSIDERATIONS

The entropy of a DNAPass-generated password is influenced by:

  • Sequence Selection: With 253 primary (244 unique) and 8 secondary sequences
  • Ambiguity Resolution: Each ambiguous character has multiple possible outcomes
  • Character Modifications: Adding digits, special characters, and case variations
  • Random Shuffling: Ensures no predictable structure

With all character types enabled, the estimated entropy grows by about 6.5 bits per character (90-symbol set): about 78 bits at 12 characters and about 104 bits at 16. The estimate is an upper bound, so use 16 characters or more for high-security accounts — 20+ is recommended.

View Detailed Methodology

SECURITY NOTES

Do not attempt to memorize the passwords generated by this tool. Instead, use a reliable password manager, such as Bitwarden, which I personally recommend.

The only password you should memorize is the master password for your password manager's vault, created with a strong combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible to enhance security.

CONTRIBUTING

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues, feature requests, or pull requests.

Issue Templates

Use our issue templates to report bugs or suggest improvements:

View Issues

LICENSE

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the:

View MIT License

CHANGELOG

See what's new in each version of DNAPass:

View Changelog

ISSUES

Found a bug or have a suggestion? Check our issues page:

View Issues