OpenSSL vs GnuTLS

Developers should learn and use OpenSSL when implementing secure communication in applications, such as web servers, email clients, or IoT devices, to handle certificate generation, management, and encryption tasks meets developers should learn and use gnutls when building applications that require secure network communications, such as web servers, email clients, or iot devices, especially in environments where licensing restrictions of alternatives like openssl are a concern. Here's our take.

OpenSSL

Nice Pick

Developers should learn and use OpenSSL when implementing secure communication in applications, such as web servers, email clients, or IoT devices, to handle certificate generation, management, and encryption tasks

Pros

• It is essential for scenarios involving HTTPS setup, VPN configurations, or any system requiring cryptographic integrity and authentication, as it offers a reliable, industry-standard solution with extensive community support and cross-platform compatibility
• Related to: tls, ssl-certificates

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

GnuTLS

Developers should learn and use GnuTLS when building applications that require secure network communications, such as web servers, email clients, or IoT devices, especially in environments where licensing restrictions of alternatives like OpenSSL are a concern

Pros

• It is particularly valuable for projects that prioritize open-source compliance, as it is part of the GNU Project and uses the LGPL license, making it suitable for both free and proprietary software
• Related to: openssl, tls-protocol

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. OpenSSL is a tool while GnuTLS is a library. We picked OpenSSL based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

OpenSSL wins

Based on overall popularity. OpenSSL is more widely used, but GnuTLS excels in its own space.