An encryption system in assembly language

Abstract

This case study discusses the incorporation of encryption systems development into the educational journey of undergraduate computer science or game development majors. We discuss the experience of first semester Daniel Webster College sophomores who attempted to develop the German WWII ENIGMA encryption system in assembly language. By incorporating a real world encryption system project into a beginning computer architecture class students become deeply immersed in numbering systems, hardware logic design, operating system services and, of course instruction set architectures. Of necessity, they also must refine and develop their programming skills to an extraordinary degree. During the past seven years we have found that most students can develop a complete software version of the complex and amazing ENIGMA encryption system. We outline in this paper the strategy that seems to lead to a successful outcome for most students.