Evaluation of WolfSSL as an OpenSSL Alternative for HAProxy Server
By
thomasjb
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
The article details the author's negative experience attempting to use WolfSSL as a drop-in replacement for OpenSSL in an HAProxy server. Despite WolfSSL's advertised OpenSSL API compatibility layer, the author encountered unexplained errors and found the library to be incomplete and poorly documented. The piece critiques various SSL/TLS libraries including OpenSSL, BoringSSL, AWS-LC, GnuTLS, and LibreSSL, concluding that there are no good alternatives for certain use cases.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledOpenSSL sucks. The BoringSSL and AWS-LC forks are Googled and Amazoned to death; they don't care about anyone but their own use cases.
I can't remember ever having a good experience with software using GnuTLS. LibreSSL is incomplete...
This post is about the experience of taking a leap of faith and using WolfSSL as a drop-in replacement for an existing Haproxy server which traditionally uses OpenSSL.
The WolfSSL project specifically has an OpenSSL API compatibility layer so you can presumably swap out OpenSSL almost anywhere.
I encountered some unexplainable errors with it in my implementation.
You might also wanna read
Guide: Using Custom Cross Compilers with Nix Package Manager
This technical guide explains how to use a custom cross compiler with the Nix package manager, specifically for targeting the Risc OS operat
hobson.space·5mo ago
Standardizing Software Installation: Why Configuration Should Use System Defaults
The article discusses software installation practices, arguing that installers should respect standard configuration and cache directory loc
news.ycombinator.com·7mo ago
Avoid Scheduling Cron Jobs at 2-3 AM Due to Daylight Saving Time Issues
The article warns against scheduling cron jobs (automated tasks) for 2:00 am or 3:00 am on Sunday mornings due to daylight saving time trans
endpointdev.com·7mo ago
Perl Programming Language: Why It Still Matters in 2025
The article discusses the continued relevance and importance of the Perl programming language in 2025, highlighting its practical applicatio
github.com·8mo ago
Why Average LLM Use Is Likely Destroying Value in Software Development
The author argues that, contrary to prevailing hype, the average use of Large Language Models (LLMs) is likely destroying value rather than
unessays.substack.com·10h ago
How AI Accelerated Prototyping: From Idea to Tangible in Record Time
The author reflects on how AI has transformed their prototyping workflow. Previously, the biggest bottleneck was the time needed to scaffold
darylcecile.net·10h ago