# GNU Anastasis

> Key backup and recovery

**Wikidata**: [Q108460711](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108460711)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gnu-anastasis

## Summary
GNU Anastasis is a free software remote backup service specifically designed for the secure backup and recovery of cryptographic keys. As an official part of the GNU Project, it provides a decentralized framework that allows users to safeguard sensitive keys and restore them if local data is lost.

## Key Facts
- **Inception Date:** June 18, 2019.
- **Primary Function:** Remote backup and recovery service for cryptographic keys.
- **Project Affiliation:** Part of the GNU Project and the free software movement.
- **Maintainer:** Christian Grothoff, who has maintained the project since 2020.
- **Current Preferred Version:** 0.4.1 (unstable), released on February 10, 2024.
- **Software License:** GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later for the service; license Q27016754 for the user interface.
- **Integrated Ecosystems:** Used by the GNU Taler payment system and Pretty Easy Privacy (p≡p).
- **Copyright Holder:** Anastasis SARL.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the main purpose of GNU Anastasis?
A: GNU Anastasis serves as a remote backup service dedicated to key backup and recovery. It allows users to securely store fragments of their cryptographic keys with different providers to ensure they can be recovered if the original key is lost.

### Q: Who is responsible for maintaining GNU Anastasis?
A: The project is maintained by Christian Grothoff, a role he has held since 2020. It is developed as part of the GNU Project, which was originally founded in 1983.

### Q: Which applications currently utilize GNU Anastasis?
A: GNU Anastasis is used by the privacy-preserving payment system GNU Taler and the encryption-focused project Pretty Easy Privacy. These integrations help users manage the recovery of essential digital secrets.

### Q: Is GNU Anastasis considered stable software?
A: As of the latest releases in early 2024, the software is categorized as an "unstable version" (version 0.4.1), following a series of alpha releases that began in late 2021.

## Why It Matters
GNU Anastasis addresses a fundamental challenge in digital security: the "single point of failure" associated with cryptographic keys. In many secure systems, losing a private key results in the permanent loss of access to encrypted data or financial assets. By providing a structured, free software solution for key recovery, GNU Anastasis offers a safety net that preserves user sovereignty without compromising security.

As a component of the GNU Project, it upholds the principles of the free software movement, ensuring that the tools used for sensitive data recovery are transparent and under user control. Its architecture allows for the distribution of trust across multiple parties, meaning no single provider can access the user's key, yet the user can reconstruct it when necessary. This decentralized approach is vital for the practical adoption of privacy-respecting technologies like GNU Taler. By standardizing the recovery process, it lowers the technical barriers for individuals who need to manage cryptographic secrets but fear the consequences of accidental data loss.

## Notable For
- **GNU Project Integration:** Operates as an official GNU package, adhering to strict free software standards.
- **Decentralized Recovery:** Provides a mechanism for splitting and recovering keys without relying on a single trusted third party.
- **High-Stakes Utility:** Serves as a critical infrastructure component for GNU Taler, a privacy-focused electronic payment system.
- **Active Development:** Maintains a transparent development history with frequent updates and a dedicated issue tracker at bugs.anastasis.lu.

## Body

### Project Origins and Maintenance
GNU Anastasis was established on June 18, 2019, to provide a robust solution for key management within the free software ecosystem. It is classified as computer security software and is a part of the GNU Project. Christian Grothoff has served as the primary maintainer since 2020, while the copyright is held by Anastasis SARL.

### Technical Specifications and Licensing
The project is developed using the programming language identified as Q15777. It employs a dual-licensing model:
*   **Remote Backup Service:** Licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL), version 3.0 or later.
*   **User Interface:** Licensed under the specific terms of Q27016754.

The source code is hosted across multiple repositories, with the primary preferred repository located at git.taler.net using the cgit interface.

### Release History
The software has progressed through several development milestones since its first public release:
*   **Version 0.1.0:** The initial alpha version released on September 8, 2021.
*   **Version 0.2.0:** An alpha update released on September 30, 2021.
*   **Version 0.3.0:** An alpha update released on September 26, 2022.
*   **Versions 0.3.1 to 0.4.0:** A series of unstable versions released throughout 2023 to refine the service.
*   **Version 0.4.1:** The current preferred unstable version, released on February 10, 2024.

### Ecosystem and Usage
GNU Anastasis is designed to be used by other software projects that require high-assurance key recovery. Its primary users include:
*   **GNU Taler:** Utilizing Anastasis for managing payment-related cryptographic secrets.
*   **Pretty Easy Privacy (p≡p):** Integrating the service to assist with communication security.

### Support and Documentation
The project maintains several resources for users and developers, including an official website at gnu.org and a comprehensive user manual hosted at docs.anastasis.lu. Technical issues are tracked via a dedicated Savannah project (ID: anastasis) and a public issue tracker. Communication is facilitated through mailing lists for general discussion and bug reporting.

## References

1. [Source](https://git.taler.net/anastasis.git/tree/COPYING)
2. [GNU Anastasis v0.1.0 released. 2021](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/info-gnu/2021-09/msg00004.html)
3. [GNU Anastasis v0.2.0 released. 2021](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/anastasis/2021-09/msg00001.html)
4. [GNU Anastasis v0.3.0 released. 2022](https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/anastasis/2022-09/msg00000.html)
5. [Source](https://git.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.3.1&id=9e7c29f6e4661f422c0bbb7d98e073ba12841632)
6. [Source](https://git.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?id=173c6f7d8f2a748471417350d3742cd28befc941)
7. [Source](https://git.taler.net/anastasis.git/tag/?h=v0.4.0)
8. [Source](https://git.taler.net/anastasis.git/tag/?h=v0.4.1)
9. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.4.3&id=9e4785a0a8e9fa29873aad8c6a8b97e4b6116931)
10. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.5.0&id=58411debdfe47b4b98395230f0a09e6b9e6bed59)
11. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.5.1&id=ee2a266ebaee5f28e6f3428815a6468cc197eb0a)
12. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.5.2&id=58d6351ff499dd7f2896b45ed9875ee3e093c39e)
13. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.6.0&id=3be9824017b1a1a692df25be1441675f800567b3)
14. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.6.1&id=61a7da13c1ad4b8923f56be57b8926991689ec45)
15. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.6.2&id=0aea97f63c0be1f53a58b2d47df4fe281033d59b)
16. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.6.3&id=80f9ab4f90032a93523047ccdf0fef95325e4596)
17. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.6.4&id=bafbe65fc878d4d44fa743c91069a19935e796ae)
18. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.6.5&id=2929480a9f48812fe43615a8b21e11d78330a19c)
19. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.6.6&id=f141c11cd5ede6254ab9db028a05be0a24407db3)
20. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.7.0&id=07911e291e067bb7b0952e50f5236ee82386dbc3)
21. [Source](https://git-www.taler.net/anastasis.git/commit/?h=v0.7.1&id=cd4869785f83536e4f42cba0ce295410d06b0b69)
22. [Source](https://git.taler.net/anastasis.git/tree/ChangeLog)
23. [Source](https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/anastasis)
24. [Source](https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-anastasis)