Protected password (credentials) storage inside of R6 rocker class

Nikolaus Pawlowski

Password storage

Some efforts were undertaken to encrypt and to protect the password in the private area of the class. The class stores the password hidden and inaccessible. Please let me know, in case you discover a way how to access the password!

db <- rocker::newDB() # New database handling object
#> dctr | New object
db$setupDriver( # Setup PostgreSQL database with stored password (password and user are hidden - default behavior)
  RPostgres::Postgres(),
  host = "127.0.0.1", port = "5432", dbname = "mydb",
  user = "postgres", password = "password",
  protect = c("password", "user")
)
#> Dctr | Driver load RPostgres
db$connect() # Open connection 1; Password is stored in the class and does not need to be provided.
#> DCtr | Database connected
output1 <- db$getQuery("SELECT * FROM mtcars;") # Get query 1
#> DCtR | Send query 21 characters 
#> DCtR | Fetch rows all -> Received 32 rows, 11 columns, 4824 bytes 
#> DCtR | Rows fetched 32 
#> DCtR | Has completed yes 
#> DCtr | Clear result
db$disconnect() # Close connection 1
#> Dctr | Database disconnected
db$connect() # Open connection 2; Password is stored in the class and does not need to be provided.
#> DCtr | Database connected
output2 <- db$getQuery("SELECT * FROM mtcars;") # Get query 2
#> DCtR | Send query 21 characters 
#> DCtR | Fetch rows all -> Received 32 rows, 11 columns, 4824 bytes 
#> DCtR | Rows fetched 32 
#> DCtR | Has completed yes 
#> DCtr | Clear result
db$disconnect() # Close connection 2
#> Dctr | Database disconnected
db$unloadDriver() # Reset database handling object
#> dctr | Driver unload RPostgres

In case you do not want to store the password in the class, you will need to provide it each time a connection is opened.

db <- rocker::newDB() # New database handling object
#> dctr | New object
db$setupDriver( # Setup PostgreSQL database without stored password
  RPostgres::Postgres(),
  host = "127.0.0.1", port = "5432", dbname = "mydb",
  user = "postgres"
)
#> Dctr | Driver load RPostgres
db$connect(password = "password") # Open connection 1; Password needs to be provided.
#> DCtr | Database connected
output1 <- db$getQuery("SELECT * FROM mtcars;") # Get query 1
#> DCtR | Send query 21 characters 
#> DCtR | Fetch rows all -> Received 32 rows, 11 columns, 4824 bytes 
#> DCtR | Rows fetched 32 
#> DCtR | Has completed yes 
#> DCtr | Clear result
db$disconnect() # Close connection 1
#> Dctr | Database disconnected
db$connect(password = "password") # Open connection 2; Password needs to be provided.
#> DCtr | Database connected
output2 <- db$getQuery("SELECT * FROM mtcars;") # Get query 2
#> DCtR | Send query 21 characters 
#> DCtR | Fetch rows all -> Received 32 rows, 11 columns, 4824 bytes 
#> DCtR | Rows fetched 32 
#> DCtR | Has completed yes 
#> DCtr | Clear result
db$disconnect() # Close connection 2
#> Dctr | Database disconnected
db$unloadDriver() # Reset database handling object
#> dctr | Driver unload RPostgres