Skiff Drive

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Key Features

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File Management

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Upload Files

• Drag and Drop: Drag files directly into the browser window
• File Picker: Click “Upload” button to select files
• Folder Upload: Upload entire folder structures
• Bulk Upload: Upload multiple files simultaneously
• Mobile Upload: Camera and photo library integration on mobile

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File Operations

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Folder Organization

• Nested Folders: Create unlimited folder depth
• Folder Colors: Color-code folders for visual organization
• Folder Sharing: Share entire folders with permissions
• Breadcrumb Navigation: Easy navigation through folder hierarchy
• Sidebar Navigation: Quick access to all folders
• Move/Copy Folders: Reorganize folder structures

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File Encryption

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Encryption Process

1. File Selection: User selects file to upload
2. Read File: File is read into memory in chunks
3. Generate Key: Unique symmetric key generated for file
4. Encrypt Chunks: File encrypted in chunks using ChaCha20-Poly1305
5. Encrypt Key: File key encrypted with user’s public key
6. Upload: Encrypted chunks uploaded to server
7. Store Metadata: Encrypted filename and metadata stored

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Encryption Implementation

import { 
  generateSymmetricKey,
  encryptSymmetric,
  decryptSymmetric 
} from 'skiff-crypto';
import { ChaCha20Poly1305 } from '@stablelib/chacha20poly1305';

// Generate unique key for each file
const fileKey = generateSymmetricKey();

// Encrypt file contents
const encryptedFile = encryptFileChunked(fileData, fileKey);

// Encrypt the file key with user's public key
const encryptedKey = encryptAsymmetric(
  userPrivateKey,
  recipientPublicKey,
  fileKey
);

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Chunked Encryption

• Chunk Size: Files split into manageable chunks (typically 4MB)
• Parallel Processing: Chunks encrypted in parallel
• Memory Efficient: Doesn’t require loading entire file into memory
• Resume Support: Failed uploads can resume from last chunk
• Integrity Checks: Each chunk has checksum verification

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File Sharing

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Share Permissions

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Sharing Methods

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Share Link Security

https://app.skiff.com/drive/file/abc123#key=def456
                                       ^
                                       |
                        Fragment (not sent to server)

• Never sent to the server
• Only accessible to link recipients
• Can be combined with password for extra security

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Supported File Types

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Preview Support

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File Type Icons

• Document icons for PDFs, Word, etc.
• Image icons for photos and graphics
• Video icons for media files
• Folder icons for directories
• Code icons for source files
• Archive icons for compressed files

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Storage Management

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Storage Quota

• Usage Indicator: Real-time storage usage display
• File Size Display: See size of individual files and folders
• Large File Warning: Warnings for large uploads
• Storage Breakdown: View storage by file type
• Upgrade Options: Increase storage with paid plans

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Storage Plans

• Free: 10 GB storage
• Pro: 100 GB - 1 TB storage
• Business: Custom storage options
• Family: Shared storage pool

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File Versioning

• Auto-Versioning: New version on each upload of same filename
• Version Limit: Number of versions based on plan
• Restore: Restore any previous version
• Download Old Versions: Access historical file versions
• Version Comparison: Compare different versions (premium)
• Storage Impact: Old versions count toward storage quota

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Mobile Experience

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Mobile Features

• Camera Upload: Take photos and upload instantly
• Photo Library: Upload from phone photo library
• Offline Access: Mark files for offline availability
• Auto Upload: Automatic camera roll backup
• Mobile Preview: Preview all supported file types
• Share Extension: Share files from other apps to Drive

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Mobile Apps

• iOS App: Native iPhone and iPad application
• Android App: Native Android application
• Cross-Platform Sync: Seamless sync across all devices
• Push Notifications: Alerts for shares and updates

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Integration Features

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Email Integration

• Attach from Drive: Attach Drive files to emails
• Save to Drive: Save email attachments to Drive
• Share via Email: Send Drive share links via email
• Large File Sending: Send large files via Drive links

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Pages Integration

• Embed Files: Embed Drive files in Pages documents
• Save Pages to Drive: Export Pages docs to Drive
• Preview in Pages: Open compatible files in Pages editor

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Calendar Integration

• Event Attachments: Attach Drive files to calendar events
• Share via Calendar: Share files with event attendees

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Search Functionality

• Filename Search: Search by file and folder names
• Fast Results: Instant search results as you type
• Filter Search: Combine search with filters
• Recent Searches: Quick access to previous searches
• Search Suggestions: Auto-complete search terms

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Privacy and Security

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Zero-Knowledge Storage

• Files encrypted before upload
• Servers cannot decrypt file contents
• Filenames and metadata encrypted
• Private keys never leave your device
• Search indices encrypted locally

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Security Features

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Compliance

• GDPR Compliant: European data protection standards
• HIPAA Compatible: Healthcare data protection (enterprise)
• SOC 2 Type II: Security certification
• Zero-Knowledge: Cannot comply with content-based requests

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Technical Implementation

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File Upload Flow

import { encryptFileInChunks } from 'skiff-crypto';
import { uploadFileChunk } from './api';

async function uploadFile(file: File) {
  // Generate encryption key
  const fileKey = generateSymmetricKey();
  
  // Split into chunks
  const chunks = splitFileIntoChunks(file, CHUNK_SIZE);
  
  // Encrypt and upload each chunk
  for (const chunk of chunks) {
    const encrypted = encryptChunk(chunk, fileKey);
    await uploadFileChunk(encrypted);
  }
  
  // Encrypt file metadata
  const metadata = encryptFileMetadata({
    name: file.name,
    size: file.size,
    type: file.type
  }, fileKey);
  
  // Store encrypted key
  const encryptedKey = encryptFileKey(fileKey, userPublicKey);
  
  return { metadata, encryptedKey };
}

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GraphQL Operations

• uploadFile: Upload encrypted file chunks
• downloadFile: Download and decrypt file
• deleteFile: Move to trash or permanent delete
• shareFile: Create sharing link or invite user
• updatePermissions: Modify sharing permissions
• createFolder: Create new folder
• moveFile: Move file to different folder
• getFileVersions: Retrieve version history

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Local Caching

import { set, get } from 'idb-keyval';

// Cache encrypted file chunks
await set(`file-${fileId}-chunk-${chunkIndex}`, encryptedChunk);

// Retrieve from cache
const cachedChunk = await get(`file-${fileId}-chunk-${chunkIndex}`);

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Advanced Features

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Performance Optimization

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Efficient File Handling

• Lazy Loading: Load files on-demand
• Virtual Scrolling: Handle large file lists efficiently
• Thumbnail Caching: Cache image thumbnails locally
• Incremental Loading: Load folders incrementally
• Web Workers: Encryption in background threads

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Bandwidth Optimization

• Resumable Uploads: Resume interrupted uploads
• Chunked Download: Download large files in chunks
• Compression: Optional compression before encryption
• Deduplication: Server-side deduplication (encrypted)

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Getting Started

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Learn More

• Skiff Security Model
• Skiff Crypto Library
• Source Code
• Privacy Policy