Custom Cryptography vs Libsodium

Developers should only consider custom cryptography in rare, highly specialized cases where no existing standard meets unique constraints, such as extreme performance needs in embedded systems or proprietary hardware with unusual architectures meets developers should use libsodium when building applications that require robust security, such as secure messaging, data storage, authentication systems, or any scenario where cryptographic operations are needed. Here's our take.

Custom Cryptography

Nice Pick

Developers should only consider custom cryptography in rare, highly specialized cases where no existing standard meets unique constraints, such as extreme performance needs in embedded systems or proprietary hardware with unusual architectures

Pros

• It is primarily used in academic research, cryptographic competitions, or when developing novel cryptographic primitives for future standardization
• Related to: cryptography, security-engineering

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Libsodium

Developers should use Libsodium when building applications that require robust security, such as secure messaging, data storage, authentication systems, or any scenario where cryptographic operations are needed

Pros

• It is particularly valuable because it abstracts complex cryptographic details, reduces the risk of implementation errors, and is widely trusted in the industry for its reliability and performance
• Related to: cryptography, security

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Custom Cryptography is a concept while Libsodium is a library. We picked Custom Cryptography based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Custom Cryptography wins

Based on overall popularity. Custom Cryptography is more widely used, but Libsodium excels in its own space.