The pcsc-sharp library is wrapper that provides access to the Personal Computer/Smart Card Resource Manager using the system's native PC/SC API. It implements partial ISO7816 support and is written to run on both Windows and Unix (Mono using PCSC Lite).

pcsc-sharp is not a fully featured library for accessing vendor specific protocols. You must implement those protocols / applications yourself. For example: You can use pcsc-sharp to access NXP's Mirfare RFID chips, but pcsc-sharp does not provide any APDUs to request KEYs, authorize, etc.

You can find PC/SC specific documentation here:

• Windows: Smart Card Resource Manager API
• Linux: PCSC lite project

• Windows (winscard.dll)

  • Windows 10 64-bit Professional (confirmed)
  • Windows 10 32-bit Professional
  • Windows 7 64-bit
  • Windows 7 32-bit

• Linux (PC/SC lite)

  • Ubuntu Linux 64-bit (confirmed)
  • Ubuntu Linux 32-bit

• MacOS X (unconfirmed, software prerequisites unclear)

Each operation requires a valid context. See SCardEstablishContext for more information.

var contextFactory = ContextFactory.Instance;
using (var context = contextFactory.Establish(SCardScope.System)) {
   // your code
}

Basic rules / best practices:

• One context per smartcard / reader.
• One context per SCardMonitor .
• The context must be disposed of after usage to free system resources.
• The context must not be disposed of if your application still accesses the smartcard / reader.

See SCardListReaders.

var contextFactory = ContextFactory.Instance;
using (var context = contextFactory.Establish(SCardScope.System)) {
    Console.WriteLine("Currently connected readers: ");
    var readerNames = context.GetReaders();
    foreach (var readerName in readerNames) {
        Console.WriteLine("\t" + readerName);
    }
}

var contextFactory = ContextFactory.Instance;
using (var ctx = contextFactory.Establish(SCardScope.System)) {
    using (var isoReader = new IsoReader(ctx, "ACME Smartcard reader", SCardShareMode.Shared, SCardProtocol.Any, false)) {
        
        var apdu = new CommandApdu(IsoCase.Case2Short, isoReader.ActiveProtocol) {
            CLA = 0x00, // Class
            Instruction = InstructionCode.GetChallenge,
            P1 = 0x00, // Parameter 1
            P2 = 0x00, // Parameter 2
            Le = 0x08 // Expected length of the returned data
        };

        var response = isoReader.Transmit(apdu);
        Console.WriteLine("SW1 SW2 = {0:X2} {1:X2}", response.SW1, response.SW2);
        // ..
    }
}

var contextFactory = ContextFactory.Instance;
var monitor = new SCardMonitor(contextFactory, SCardScope.System);

// connect events here..
monitor.StatusChanged += (sender, args) => 
    Console.WriteLine($"New state: {args.NewState}");

monitor.Start("OMNIKEY CardMan 5x21-CL 0");

Console.ReadKey(); // Press any key to exit

monitor.Cancel();
monitor.Dispose();

Checkout the Examples directory.

pcsc-sharp uses the great FAKE DSL for build tasks and the awesome Paket for NuGet package management. To build the solution, simply start the build.cmd on Windows or the build shell script on Unix. Add NuGet as command line argument to create NuGet packages.

If you want to open the solution with your favorite IDE, restore the NuGet packages first.

On Windows run

 paket.cmd restore 

On Unix/Linux run

 ./paket restore

on Unix/Linux. to download NuGet dependencies before opening the solution in Visual Studio or MonoDevelop.