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System Requirement

Before proceeding with the installation and usage of GpgFrontend, it’s crucial to understand the system requirements that ensure optimal performance. This section provides comprehensive details about the necessary software dependencies, hardware specifications, and the compatible operating systems. Meeting these requirements will ensure a smooth, efficient experience while using GpgFrontend.

Please read the following subsections carefully to confirm that your system aligns with the recommended configurations.

Hardware

While the specific hardware requirements largely depend on the size and complexity of the data you’re working with, we generally recommend:

A computer with at least 1 GB of RAM. However, 2 GB or more is preferable for smoother performance. The majority of these resources are allocated to your operating system, but around 100 MB of memory is needed to ensure the smooth running of GpgFrontend. At least 200 MB of free disk space for software installation. Additional space will be needed for ongoing work.

Please note, these requirements are intended to be guidelines rather than strict rules. It’s possible that GpgFrontend will work on lower-spec hardware, but for optimal performance, the above specifications are recommended.

Operating System

GpgFrontend is compatible with major operating systems including Linux, macOS, and Windows. Specifically, it recommends Windows 7 and later, macOS 11 and later, and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or other equivalent Linux distributions.

Software

To ensure GpgFrontend functions seamlessly, it relies on the following software dependencies:

  • Qt Framework: GpgFrontend is developed using the Qt framework to offer a rich user experience and cross-platform compatibility. The application includes:

    • Qt6: The primary build utilizes Qt6, ensuring a modern interface and robust performance. Qt6 is included in the release packages for Linux, macOS, and Windows, offering straightforward setup without additional installations.
    • Qt5 Support for Windows: Recognizing the need to accommodate users on older versions of Windows, GpgFrontend also provides a Qt5-based version. This variant ensures compatibility with earlier Windows environments, extending the tool’s accessibility and usability.
  • GnuPG 2.1.0 or Higher: GpgFrontend integrates with GnuPG for its cryptographic operations, including encryption, decryption, and digital signing. While GpgFrontend supports GnuPG version 2.1.0 or newer, some features may not be fully functional with versions below 2.4.0. For the best compatibility and to ensure access to all features, it is strongly recommended to use GnuPG 2.4.0 or higher. Please note that GnuPG 1.x versions are not supported due to significant differences in functionality and lack of modern security updates.

By catering to a wide range of operating systems and ensuring backward compatibility with older Windows versions through Qt5 support, GpgFrontend strives to be as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Network

Although not necessary for basic operation, an active Internet connection may be required for software updates and accessing online help resources.

Please note that these are the minimal requirements that we tested, and actual requirements for your use case could be higher, especially for large datasets.