Tiri Vault daemon: SIA local folder integration

Introduction

Project name

Tiri Vault (ARC data wallet)

Name of the organization or individual submitting the proposal:

Registered Legal Entity: BELA SUPERNOVA, sistemske rešitve d.o.o.

Registered Address: Tabor 5a, 1380 Cerknica, Slovenia

Describe your project

Bela Supernova has developed a simple browser extension – the Tiri Vault – an easy to use SIA network data wallet with features for managing files stored in the SIA network. The Tiri Vault data wallet is a light client-end solution enabling private users to use the SIA storage network independently through a browser extension without a need to download and sync the SIA local node.

A test operation of the dAapp has shown that it is a simple and convenient method for retail use of the SIA decentralized storage. However, user feedback clearly indicates that it is necessary to develop the Tiri Vault application towards a desktop background app so that users could work with files directly in the local file system.

This task partially addresses the RFP “renterd iSCSI/NFS integration.” However, since we are working on a personal application, integration with a file folder on the local disk seems more applicable in this case, rather than emulating a network disk. Moreover, such functionality can be developed using JavaScript, which will allow us to leverage the existing JS code of the Tiri backend.

Who benefits from your project?

With the increasing reliance on cloud storage solutions for managing digital assets, individuals often find themselves grappling with the challenges of managing files across multiple cloud providers. Furthermore, concerns about data privacy and security have prompted users to seek alternative solutions to safeguard their sensitive information. In response to these challenges, third-party data management applications have emerged as a viable solution, offering users the convenience of managing files within a single interface while bolstering data privacy through client-end encryption mechanisms. This convenience and increased privacy cost users an extra price, usually comparable to the cost of the storage itself.

The Tiri Vault concept is to bring crypto wallets use case to a files storage workflow to provide private users with the highest level of privacy by leveraging the blockchain technology and client-end encryption with the convenieте workflow of common web2 era storage services – all that for a reasonable price in crypto.

How does the project serve the Foundation’s mission of user-owned data?

Personal files are considered as crypto assets and managed alike in a non-custodial manner. Only the user holds the keys, not a solution provider. Considering the implementation of the SIA network, Tiri Vault acts as a gateway for multi-user access to the storage network, but users’ files are encrypted on the client side with the user’s wallet key, so Tiri does not have access to any of the user’s files or other data. Tiri Vault is an open source project and uses common SIA wallets for authorization and encryption.

Grant Specifics

The project will be supported by a group of 2 developers, 1 QA + PO and a UI/UX designer.

The total budget for the MVP development is estimated at $ 50.400 including: team’s salary (estimated FTE for this proposal is 8,4). The team is better to be paid on a monthly basis, but we can also split the work in 3 milestones to be paid upon delivery, but with the first milestone prepaid.

The timeline for the Tiri Vault local daemon MVP development is considered to be four months. As a result of this project we will deliver a working Windows app that supports files synchronization between a local file folder and the SIA blockchain using user’s wallet credentials for access and encryption/decryption.

We plan to execute the work in three milestones/steps:

  • Disk change Tracking and Synchronization (17.600 USD);
  • WebSocket Server and Storage Change Tracking (17.600 USD);
  • Application UI/UX (15.200 USD);

Development Information

All code will be delivered under the Apache 2.0 license. The code will be accessible for review in our GitHub repo: https://github.com/orgs/bsn-si/repositories

We agree to submit monthly progress reports here in the forum.

  1. Disk Change Tracking and Synchronization

Deliverables:

  • implement recursive downloading of all folders and files and saving them to a local disk;
  • develop a mechanism for tracking changes on the disk like adding/deleting/modifying folders and files. These changes will trigger synchronization with the SIA storage. Files will be encrypted with the user’s key and sent to the network using the Tiri Vault node/server. Before sending, all files will be split into chunks.
  1. WebSocket Server and SIA Storage Change Tracking

Deliverables:

  • create a WebSocket server to receive information about changes in folders/files in the SIA storage;
  • implement changes tracking in the SIA storage disk like adding/deleting/modifying folders and files. Changes in the SIA storage will be synchronized with the local app using the WebSocket server. Received data will be decrypted with the user’s key and saved to the local disk to the appropriate folder. This will enable users to work across multiple devices, with changes synchronized between them.
  1. Application UI/UX

Deliverables:

  • develop a Windows application with various settings, including: user authorization with a wallet key, setting a local password that encrypts the user’s secret key for file encryption and stores it encrypted on the local disk, managing tariffs, managing synchronization settings, managing local folders for synchronization;
  • the app should work in the background when.

Future plans:

We see the development of the Tiri Vault as two complementary products: the entire Tiri Vault and the Tiri Collaboration Suite.

The Tiri Vault should consist of a personal file storage wallet developed for use in all desktop and mobile environments and a Secret Notebook for storing short text credentials like passwords, credit cards data and etc. in a user’s browser. All data will be stored in a separate encrypted file in a user’s SIA storage and uploaded by a user’s browser to be safely used in online forms on web sites.

The second product is the Tiri Collaboration Suite, that includes safe files sharing functionality: a dedicated ACL file encrypted and stored in a user’s personal SIA storage:

Currently we are developing the Tiri Vault whitepaper and a financial model for the product presentation and funding acquisition.

Contact info

Email: [email protected]

Telegram: @dsrdrk11a

Thanks for your proposal to The Sia Foundation Grants Program! The committee has reviewed this grant and will be rejecting it in its current state. We’ll share our concerns here if you’d like to revise your proposal to resubmit.

  • We’ll need better timing on the milestones. Specific dates aren’t required (especially since we don’t know if/when this will be approved) but we should see the estimated completion time for each milestone.
  • You noted that “Tiri Vault is an open source project”, but we need a specific answer to the question of “Will all of your project’s code be open-source?”. Simply including that question and your answer in the revised proposal will be suitable.
  • Most importantly, we attempted to test ARC and it didn’t seem to be working. We downloaded the extension, entered an unlock password, and couldn’t get it working. Recording a demo video showcasing the results of the first grant that would be helpful if you plan to resubmit.

As we noted, this will be moved to the Rejected section of the forum. If you want to revise and resubmit, create a new post in Proposed. Thanks and best of luck!

Hello, Steve!
Yes, the SSL certificate went out of date, now fixed.
Here’s the demo video or you can try to download it, should be ok.

I’ll correct and resubmit the application.