Show HN: Enigma – a walkthrough from Caesar ciphers to a working Enigma machine
A walk from the simplest ciphers to a working Enigma machine, told one stage at a time.
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I recently went on a long walk (to get newborn twins to nap) and ended up having a long discussion with ChatGPT in voice mode; asking it to explain how the Enigma machine worked and clarifying all the errors in my current understanding.
I ended up going right back to basics and then subsequently spent ages failing to understand how it was cracked. Anyway, I built this in an attempt to recreate that arc for people (like me) who find Enigma intimidating: 13 stages, ~15 minutes, ending in a sandbox machine and the "no letter encrypts to itself" flaw that doomed it.
Built with React + SVG + GSAP. Rotor wirings and stepping are historically accurate; an Advanced toggle exposes Ringstellung and M4. Feedback very welcome, especially on stages that drag or lose you.
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