# What’s Improved in the New Implementation

_and why Encryption and Password Protection should be implemented in the Vault crate_

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## 1. Introduction

This document compares the old and new designs of the key-value store (kvstore) module, highlights improvements in the new implementation, and explains the architectural decision to move encryption and password protection to the vault crate.

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## 2. Improvements in the New Implementation

### a. **Async/Await API**
- All operations are asynchronous, enabling non-blocking I/O.
- Essential for WASM/browser and scalable server environments.

### b. **Backend Abstraction**
- The `KVStore` trait abstracts over multiple storage backends (native and WASM).
- Enables cross-platform support and easier testing.

### c. **Separation of Concerns**
- The storage layer (`kvstore`) is now focused solely on key-value persistence.
- No longer mixes storage with cryptography or user authentication.

### d. **WASM and Native Support**
- Out-of-the-box support for both browser (IndexedDB) and native (sled) environments.
- Easy to extend with new backends in the future.

### e. **Cleaner, More Testable Design**
- Each layer is independently testable and mockable.
- Simpler to reason about and maintain.

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## 3. Why Encryption and Password Protection Belong in the Vault Crate

### a. **Single Responsibility Principle**
- `kvstore` should only handle storage, not cryptographic operations or user authentication.
- `vault` is responsible for security: encryption, decryption, password management.

### b. **Flexibility and Extensibility**
- Different applications may require different encryption schemes or policies.
- By implementing encryption in `vault`, you can easily swap algorithms, add multi-user support, or support new crypto features without touching the storage backend.

### c. **Security Best Practices**
- Keeping cryptography separate from storage reduces the attack surface and risk of subtle bugs.
- All key material and secrets are encrypted before being handed to the storage layer.

### d. **Cross-Platform Consistency**
- The same vault logic can be used regardless of storage backend (sled, IndexedDB, etc).
- Ensures consistent encryption and password handling on all platforms.

### e. **Easier Upgrades and Auditing**
- Security code is isolated in one place (`vault`), making it easier to audit and upgrade.

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## 4. Summary Table

| Layer     | Responsibility          | Encryption | Passwords | Storage Backend |
|-----------|------------------------|------------|-----------|----------------|
| kvstore   | Persistence/Storage    | ❌         | ❌        | sled, IndexedDB|
| vault     | Security, Key Mgmt     | ✅         | ✅        | Uses kvstore   |

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## 5. Conclusion

- The new design is more modular, secure, and maintainable.
- Encryption and password logic in `vault` enables strong, flexible security while keeping storage simple and robust.