Deterministic / regression unit testing for elliptic curves

[gbenattar]

Motivation

Curv is used as a low level library for crypto-currency wallets impacting the following critical features: address creation / derivation, master-key generation, signature. A framework for unit testing a curve should be defined and used.

Proposal

As a starting point, my proposal is to start with secp256 and add basic unit testing which make sure of basic features. Test output against previously verified hardcoded set of values.

[Silur]

If there's any plan to implement other curves as well, then I'd go with the methodology seen at https://github.com/openssl/openssl/blob/master/test/ectest.c and don't make tests curve-specific.

[omershlo]

Can you elaborate more please on this methodology and when it should be applied ?