Hashcat Rule Performance Benchmark Tool

Tool Overview

This Python tool benchmarks Hashcat rule performance using OpenCL GPU acceleration and provides advanced visualizations for performance analysis. It measures execution times, operations per second, and statistical consistency for hashcat rules.

Latest Features

• Configuration confirmation before execution
• 50 built-in test words (no external dictionaries needed)
• Enhanced statistical analysis with outlier removal
• Performance distribution visualizations
• Interactive setup with user confirmation
• Improved error handling and progress tracking

Performance Metrics

• Execution time per rule (microseconds)
• Operations per second
• Coefficient of variation (consistency)
• Statistical analysis with outlier removal
• Performance categorization (Fast/Medium/Slow)
• Configuration validation and confirmation

Enhanced Configuration System

Configuration Confirmation

The tool now displays a comprehensive configuration summary and asks for user confirmation before starting tests, preventing accidental runs with wrong settings.

CONFIGURATION SUMMARY
================================
Rule Files: 1 file(s): test.rule
Output Directory: ./output
Test Iterations: 200 per rule
Test Runs: 20 per rule
Max Test Rules: 10000 rules
Optimization: ENABLED
Max Optimize Rules: 1000 rules
Max Time Constraint: 30.0s
Identical Dictionaries: ENABLED
Visualization: ENABLED
Visualization DPI: 600
OpenCL Platform: Index 0
OpenCL Device: Index 0
Test Words: 50 built-in words
================================
Proceed with this configuration? [Y/n]:

Built-in Test Words

No longer requires external dictionary files. Uses 50 carefully selected built-in test words for consistent and reliable testing.

• password, 123456, qwerty, letmein, welcome

• monkey, dragon, master, hello, freedom

• computer, internet, sunshine, princess, charlie

• shadow, baseball, harley, hockey, thunder

• ... and 25 more diverse test words

Advanced Visualizations

Performance Radar Chart

Shows rule performance across multiple dimensions (speed, throughput, consistency) for top 20 rules.

Performance Heatmap

Visualizes rule performance patterns by rule type with color-coded execution times.

Statistical Summary

Comprehensive analysis including distribution, scatter plots, and performance categories.

Performance Distribution

Detailed distribution analysis with histograms, box plots, CDF, and violin plots.

Usage Examples

Basic Testing

# Basic testing with visualizations

python3 aether.py -r best64.rule --visualize

# Limit number of rules for quick testing

python3 aether.py -r best64.rule --max-test-rules 100

Advanced Testing

# Full testing with optimization

python3 aether.py -r best64.rule --visualize --optimize --max-optimize-rules 500

# High-performance testing

python3 aether.py -r rules/*.rule --iterations 200 --test-runs 20

Command Line Arguments

--rules, -r: Rule files or directories (required)

--output, -o: Output directory for results

--iterations, -i: Test iterations per rule

--test-runs: Test runs per rule for accuracy

--max-test-rules: Maximum rules to test

--visualize: Generate comprehensive visualizations

--optimize: Create optimized rule set

--max-optimize-rules: Maximum rules for optimized set

--max-time: Maximum total time constraint

--identical-dicts: Use identical word sets

--dpi: Output image DPI for visualizations

Performance Features

🚀 OpenCL GPU Acceleration

Massively parallel rule processing using OpenCL for high-performance benchmarking

📊 Advanced Visualizations

Radar charts, heatmaps, and statistical summaries for comprehensive analysis

⚡ Statistical Analysis

Robust performance metrics with outlier removal and coefficient of variation

🎯 Rule Optimization

Performance-based rule sorting and optimized rule set generation

🔧 Configuration Confirmation

Interactive setup with comprehensive configuration validation

📦 Built-in Test Words

50 carefully selected test words - no external dictionaries needed

Technical Architecture

Key Components

VisualizationEngine: Advanced charts and graphs
RulePerformanceTester: OpenCL-accelerated testing
OpenCL Kernel: GPU rule processing
Performance Metrics: Statistical analysis
Configuration System: Interactive setup validation

Color-coded Output: Terminal formatting
Rule Optimization: Performance-based sorting
Multiple Formats: JSON reports, sorted rules
Built-in Words: 50 test words included
Batch Processing: Multiple rule files