Password trainer script

This module contains a litle script to teach user a new random password by repeatedly typing it. The module is written in pure python and contains no external dependencies except for poetry build system and modules used for testing the code. The code should be very simple to review.

The idea is to use this tool with a password generator and some kind of password manager to ensure user does not remember the password but can write it without looking. It's not intended to replace password managers, it's intended to memorize password for primary logins and for the password manager master keys.

General procedure for me while using the tool:

• generate new password for a system and store it to password manager
• run this password trainer a couple of times with the password from the password manager, training my fingers to write the password mechanically
• repeat it for a couple of days until sucecss rate is 100% and then change the actual password for the system

Generating random passwords

This tool does not generate random passwords. There are multiple secure and tested password generators and one is likely included in any password manager application.

Using the password trainer

The tool is installed as command line password-trainer. The tool reads password from stdin or file (for reading from password managers) or interactively. User is then requested to write the new password on screen until configured number of correct passwords has been entered. The tool shows a summary of success rate when it quits.

Parameters for the training phase can be specified as command line arguments. See password-trainer --help for more details.

Example commands

Run the command with default arguments. This will ask for the password to train on and require it to be written on screen 5 times correctly:

password-trainer

Show password from pass password store for 'Vault admin', pipe it to the password-trainer and request user to write it three times correctly:

pass Vault/Admin | head -1 | password-trainer --required=3 --file=-

Generate a random password with pwgen command, pipe it to the script and show the generated password to memorize and copy to a password manager:

pwgen -s 16 | password-trainer --required=2 --file=- --show-password

Installing

This module has minimal dependencies (PyYAML) and should install with pip on any recent python version.

The module has been tested with python 3.10 to 3.12.

Running unit tests and linters

All tests are run with tox.

Run unit tests and linters:

make

Run unit tests:

make test

Run linters:

make lint