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alknet/docs/architecture/README.md
glm-5.2 dd1ca1de70 docs(architecture): add alknet-vault spec, ADR-018, ADR-019, OQ-20/21/22 
Spec the vault crate from its existing implementation. The vault is
stable (implementation exists); this spec documents what IS so the
implementation-sync agent can reconcile source drift.

New spec documents (crates/vault/):
- README.md — crate index, security constraints, public API
- mnemonic-derivation.md — BIP39, SLIP-0010, BIP-0032, derivation paths
- encryption.md — AES-256-GCM, EncryptedData, key versioning, salt
- service.md — VaultServiceHandle lifecycle, actor dispatch, cache
- protocol.md — VaultProtocol irpc messages, DerivedKey redaction

New ADRs:
- ADR-018: Vault as standalone crate (zero alknet deps; own types/errors)
- ADR-019: Vault assembly-layer-only access (CLI is sole caller)

New open questions:
- OQ-20: Salt/KDF Phase B (open, low priority — salt field reserved)
- OQ-21: Remote vault administration (deferred — needs ADR if ever needed)
- OQ-22: Key rotation mechanism (open, low priority — workflow not specced)

Spec-vs-source drift explicitly flagged (for the sync agent):
- rand::random() used for IVs instead of OsRng (security-critical)
- unwrap() on every RwLock acquisition (must use unwrap_or_else)
- ADR-038 / OQ-SVC-03 references in source comments are stale (old numbering)
- VaultServiceActor::spawn returns a non-functional second actor (source bug)
- KeyVersionMismatch error variant is defined but unused in v1
2026-06-19 09:23:47 +00:00

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---
status: draft
last_updated: 2026-06-19
---
# Alknet Architecture
## Current State
**Pre-implementation.** The project has completed a pivot from a three-layer model to an ALPN-as-service model. The greenfield workspace contains only `alknet-vault` (stable — implementation exists) and research/reference material. Foundational ADRs (001–019) are in place, including the BiStream type definition (ADR-007), vault integration (ADR-008), ALPN router/endpoint (ADR-010), AuthContext structure (ADR-011), call protocol stream model (ADR-012), Rust as canonical implementation language (ADR-013), secret material flow with capability injection (ADR-014), privilege model with authority context (ADR-015), abort cascade for nested calls (ADR-016), call protocol client and adapter contract (ADR-017), vault standalone crate (ADR-018), and vault assembly-layer-only access (ADR-019). The alknet-core, alknet-call, and alknet-vault crate specs are in draft.
**Next step**: Review the vault spec documents (newly added), then begin implementation. All open questions for the core and call crates are resolved; the vault crate has three open/deferred OQs (OQ-20, OQ-21, OQ-22) that do not block implementation.
## Architecture Documents
| Document | Status | Description |
|----------|--------|-------------|
| [overview.md](overview.md) | draft | Workspace-level overview, crate graph, shared types, design principles |
| [open-questions.md](open-questions.md) | draft | Centralized OQ tracker with door-type classifications |
| [crates/core/README.md](crates/core/README.md) | draft | alknet-core crate index |
| [crates/core/core-types.md](crates/core/core-types.md) | draft | ProtocolHandler, HandlerError, Connection, BiStream, StreamError |
| [crates/core/endpoint.md](crates/core/endpoint.md) | draft | ALPN router, HandlerRegistry, accept loop, shutdown |
| [crates/core/auth.md](crates/core/auth.md) | draft | AuthContext, Identity, IdentityProvider, AuthToken, resolution flow |
| [crates/core/config.md](crates/core/config.md) | draft | StaticConfig, DynamicConfig, ArcSwap, ConfigReloadHandle |
| [crates/call/README.md](crates/call/README.md) | draft | alknet-call crate index |
| [crates/call/call-protocol.md](crates/call/call-protocol.md) | draft | CallAdapter, EventEnvelope framing, stream model, PendingRequestMap, bidirectional calls, streaming subscribe example |
| [crates/call/operation-registry.md](crates/call/operation-registry.md) | draft | OperationSpec, Handler, OperationRegistry, AccessControl, capability injection, service discovery, irpc integration |
| [crates/vault/README.md](crates/vault/README.md) | draft | alknet-vault crate index |
| [crates/vault/mnemonic-derivation.md](crates/vault/mnemonic-derivation.md) | draft | BIP39, SLIP-0010, BIP-0032, derivation paths, key types |
| [crates/vault/encryption.md](crates/vault/encryption.md) | draft | AES-256-GCM, EncryptedData, key versioning, salt (Phase B reserved) |
| [crates/vault/service.md](crates/vault/service.md) | draft | VaultServiceHandle lifecycle, actor dispatch, cache, error model |
| [crates/vault/protocol.md](crates/vault/protocol.md) | draft | VaultProtocol irpc messages, DerivedKey redaction, serialization |
## ADR Table
| ADR | Title | Status |
|-----|-------|--------|
| [001](decisions/001-alpn-protocol-dispatch.md) | ALPN-Based Protocol Dispatch | Accepted |
| [002](decisions/002-protocol-handler-trait.md) | ProtocolHandler Trait | Accepted |
| [003](decisions/003-crate-decomposition.md) | Crate Decomposition | Accepted |
| [004](decisions/004-auth-as-shared-core.md) | Auth as Shared Core (IdentityProvider) | Accepted |
| [005](decisions/005-irpc-as-call-protocol-foundation.md) | irpc as Call Protocol Foundation | Accepted |
| [006](decisions/006-alpn-convention-and-connection-model.md) | ALPN String Convention and Connection Model | Accepted |
| [007](decisions/007-bistream-type-definition.md) | BiStream Type Definition | Accepted |
| [008](decisions/008-secret-service-integration.md) | Vault Integration Point | Accepted |
| [009](decisions/009-one-way-door-decision-framework.md) | One-Way Door Decision Framework | Accepted |
| [010](decisions/010-alpn-router-and-endpoint.md) | ALPN Router and Endpoint | Accepted |
| [011](decisions/011-authcontext-structure.md) | AuthContext Structure and Resolution Flow | Accepted |
| [012](decisions/012-call-protocol-stream-model.md) | Call Protocol Stream Model | Accepted |
| [013](decisions/013-rust-canonical-implementation.md) | Rust as Canonical Implementation Language | Accepted |
| [014](decisions/014-secret-material-flow-and-capability-injection.md) | Secret Material Flow and Capability Injection | Accepted |
| [015](decisions/015-privilege-model-and-authority-context.md) | Privilege Model and Authority Context | Accepted |
| [016](decisions/016-abort-cascade-for-nested-calls.md) | Abort Cascade for Nested Calls | Accepted |
| [017](decisions/017-call-protocol-client-and-adapter-contract.md) | Call Protocol Client and Adapter Contract | Accepted |
| [018](decisions/018-vault-standalone-crate.md) | Vault as Standalone Crate | Accepted |
| [019](decisions/019-vault-assembly-layer-only.md) | Vault Assembly-Layer-Only Access | Accepted |
## Open Questions
See [open-questions.md](open-questions.md) for the full tracker.
**Resolved one-way doors:**
- **OQ-01**: BiStream type — trait with Connection parameter (ADR-007)
- **OQ-02**: AuthContext timing — hybrid model (ADR-004)
- **OQ-03**: ALPN naming — `alknet/` prefix, no version (ADR-006)
- **OQ-05**: Multi-connectivity endpoint — quinn + iroh, both feature-gated (ADR-010)
- **OQ-06**: ALPN per connection, not per stream (ADR-006)
- **OQ-08**: Vault integration — CLI-embedded, assembly-layer only (ADR-008, ADR-014)
- **OQ-16**: Safe vault operations for call protocol exposure — none for now (ADR-014)
- **OQ-18**: Privilege model — `internal` = authority switch, External/Internal visibility, handler identity + scoped env (ADR-015)
- **OQ-17**: Abort cascade — `call.aborted` cascades to descendants; default `abort-dependents`, `continue-running` opt-in (ADR-016)
- **OQ-15**: Call protocol client and adapter contract — `CallClient` opens connections; `from_call` imports remote ops; connection direction independent of call direction (ADR-017)
**Resolved two-way doors:**
- **OQ-04**: Dynamic handler registration — static at startup (ADR-010)
- **OQ-07**: Call protocol scope — bidirectional streams, EventEnvelope, ID-based correlation (ADR-012)
- **OQ-11**: Handler-level auth resolution observability — handlers store resolved identity on Connection (Option B); two identity scopes: connection-level (observability) and per-request (ACL)
- **OQ-12**: TLS identity provisioning — two use cases: RFC 7250 raw keys (default, P2P) and X.509 certs (domain-hosted, browsers). ACME is a proven pattern.
- **OQ-13**: Operation path format — `/{service}/{op}` is the correct design for alknet-call, not a simplification
- **OQ-14**: Batch operation semantics — multiple correlated `call.requested` events is the correct protocol design, not a simplification
- **OQ-19**: Session-scoped registries — agent-written operations via `OperationEnv` trait layering; protocol doesn't need changes; `OperationEnv` must remain a trait
**Open (low priority, does not block implementation):**
- **OQ-20**: Salt/KDF Phase B — the `EncryptedData.salt` field is reserved; v1 does not use it. Two-way door.
- **OQ-22**: Key rotation mechanism — key versioning is in place; the rotation workflow is not specced. Two-way door.
**Deferred (not active):**
- **OQ-09**: WASM target boundaries — design constraint, not deliverable
- **OQ-10**: Git adapter scope — start with smart protocol, add ERC721 later
- **OQ-21**: Remote vault administration — network unlock not supported; needs ADR if ever needed
## Document Lifecycle
| Status | Meaning | Transitions |
|--------|---------|-------------|
| `draft` | Under active development. May change significantly. | → `reviewed` when open questions are resolved |
| `reviewed` | Architecture is final. Implementation may begin. Changes require review. | → `stable` when implementation is complete and verified |
| `stable` | Locked. Changes require review and may warrant an ADR. | → `deprecated` when superseded |
| `deprecated` | Superseded. Kept for reference. | Removed when no longer referenced |
## References
- Pivot proposal: `docs/research/pivot/alpn-service-architecture.md`
- Cleanup plan: `docs/research/pivot/cleanup-plan.md`
- SDD process: `docs/sdd_process.md`
- Reference implementation: `/workspace/@alkdev/alknet-main/`
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