To run this software you need:

• The python interpreter (tested with 2.1.3+, 2.2.3+ and 2.3+; you will need Python 2.2.x or newer if you want to run the GUI)
• The Python Crypto module (http://www.amk.ca/python/code/crypto.html)

Additionally, to run the GUI you will need:

• PyGTK 2 - The python bindings for the GTK Widget Set (http://www.daa.com.au/~james/software/pygtk/)
• libglade2-0

To install the KedPM source code into your python tree and the KedPM scripts into /usr/local/bin (substitute that path with whatever is appropriate for your system). You will need to have write permission for the selected location, e.g: being root on Unix:

[code]
python setup.py install
[/code]

If you would like to place the KedPM scripts in a directory other than /usr/local/bin, then specify the preferred location with --install-script. For example, to install them in /opt/kedpm/bin:

[code]
python setup.py install --install-scripts=/opt/kedpm/bin
[/code]

You can also use the --prefix /path/to/install option to use a completely different base directory, if you do not want to use administrator rights. If you choose to do this, take note of the message at the end of installation and modify the python path accordingly.

RUNNING THE GUI VERSION

After the installation was finished, I had ked password manager available under the KDE menu in Utilities with an icon

ked password manager can also be run from a shell or the run menu by using the command (you may need to adjust the path for your installation) -- (for a true cli version of ked pm, see below RUNNING THE CLI VERSION):

[code]
/usr/bin/kedpm
[/code]

After the application is started, you are presented with a window to chose your password for the database. Make sure you chose a secure password:

After you enter your password, you will be presented with the main application window which visually appears similar to the other graphical password managers we have reviewed (keepassx, gpass). You will notice in the main application window a quick way to add new passwords via the + add button, also highlighting a password will enable the edit and delete buttons if you need to edit or delete and existing password. There is also a save button that will only be visible if there have been changes made to the current database. There is also a flatten button and a search box.

The next image show that the Add password is available from the Edit menu like other graphical password managers. One thing that is unique about ked password manager is the entry for Edit parser patterns. This feature allows ked password manager to intercept emails that are received by the user containing passwords (note from the author: anyone sending permanent passwords via unencrypted email should be shot)

The next image shows the parser configuration window that appears when you select the parser editor from the previous image. The parser looks simple enough to use even for those not familiar with regular expressions and there are several examples given to help a user configure this feature.

The next image shows the preferences window that is also in the Edit drop down menu. The save-mode is to select the option of warning if you try to close the application and there have been changes made. You can also configure the default location of the database, which is currently ~/.fpm/fpm

Clicking on the Flatten button removes the pane on the left side of the main application window.

RUNNING THE CLI VERSION

The cli version of ked pm can be accessed by using the kedpm command with the -c option. There is also a basic help:

[code] kedpm --help Ked Password Manager Usage /usr/bin/kedpm [option]: Recognized options: -c, --frontend=cli: Run command line interface. -g, --frontend=gtk: Run GTK2 graphical interface. -?, -h, --help: print this message [/code]

Running kedpm -c results in:

[code] kedpm -c Creating directory ~/.kedpm Ked Password Manager (version 0.4.0) Creating new password database. Provide password: Repeat password: Creating directory ~/.fpm Password accepted. Ked Password Manager is ready for operation. try 'help' for brief description of available commands kedpm:/> [/code]

Typing help in the running application gives:

[code] kedpm:/> help Documented commands (type help ): ======================================== EOF edit help mkdir new pwd rm save show cd exit ls mv patterns rename rmdir set [/code]

I am going to guess that new is how we create a new password, show is how we display them, ls to list the entries, rm deletes them, save saves them, edit will edit them, etc. So, I am going to try help new which results in:

[code] kedpm:/> help new Add new password to current category. You will be prompted to enter fields. Syntax: new [-p] -p - Get properties by parsing provided text. Will open default text editor for you to paste text in. [/code]

Creating a new password using the new command:

[code] kedpm:/> new Enter Title (""): test Enter Username (""): testusername2 Enter URL (""): testurl2.com Enter Notes (""): testnotes2 Enter Password: Repeat: Passwords don't match. Try again. Enter Password: Repeat: Database was modified. Do you want to save it now? [Y/n]: Y Saving...OK [/code]

Listing entered passwords using ls:

[code] kedpm:/> ls === Directories === ==== Passwords ==== Title Username URL ===== ============= ============ test testusername2 testurl2.com [/code]

Showing a password using show:

[code] kedpm:/> show --------------------------------------- Title: test Username: testusername2 URL: testurl2.com Notes: testnotes2 Password: test2 --------------------------------------- [/code]

And here is an actual screen image of the running cli version of ked pm (which I think will be very useful to Linux minimalist desktop environments)