File Operations

Once you've set up your Sietch vault, you'll need to know how to work with files inside it. Sietch provides several commands for adding, retrieving, and managing files within your encrypted vault.

Adding Files

sietch add

The add command lets you add files or directories to your vault. Files are automatically chunked, encrypted, and stored according to your vault's configuration.

Options:

# Add a single file to the vault
sietch add document.pdf

# Add a file to a specific path in the vault
sietch add research.pdf /research/

# Add entire directory recursively
sietch add --recursive ./field-notes/

Extracting Files

sietch extract

Extract files from your vault to the filesystem.

Options:

# Extract a file to current directory
sietch extract document.pdf

# Extract a file to a specific directory
sietch extract document.pdf ./extracted/

# Extract multiple files (supports glob patterns)
sietch extract "research/*.pdf" ./output/

Decrypting Files

sietch decrypt

The decrypt command allows you to decrypt files directly from the vault.

Options:

Listing Files

sietch list

View the contents of your vault.

Options:

# List all files in the vault
sietch list

# List files in a specific directory
sietch list --path /research/

# Show detailed information about files
sietch list --details

Advanced File Operations

sietch status

Check the status of files in your vault.

This command shows:

• Files staged for sync
• Files with conflicts
• Recently modified files
• Sync status with known peers

sietch diff

Compare files across versions or with peers.

Options:

sietch rm

Remove files from your vault.

• Removes files from the vault index
• Can specify --purge to delete chunks (if not used by other files)
• Use --dry-run to preview what would be removed

File Verification

sietch verify

Verify file integrity within your vault.

Practical Examples

Working with Sensitive Documents

# Add a sensitive document to your vault
sietch add ~/Documents/passport-scan.pdf /identity/

# Verify the file was properly stored
sietch verify /identity/passport-scan.pdf

# Later, extract when needed
sietch extract /identity/passport-scan.pdf ~/temp/

Creating a Research Archive

# Add a directory of research documents
sietch add --recursive ~/research/desert-ecology/ /research/

# Check what's been stored
sietch list --path /research/ --details

# Sync with a collaborator
sietch sync --peer 192.168.1.42 --paths /research/