Installation Guide

Before you can defend your data, you need the right tools. Here's how to install Sietch in any environment-urban, rural, disconnected, or hostile.

Prerequisites

• Operating System: Linux, macOS, or Windows (WSL recommended)
• Go 1.18+: For building from source
• Git: For cloning the repository
• Disk Space: At least 50MB for the binary, plus storage for your vaults

Install Methods

Option 1: Pre-compiled Binaries

The fastest way to get operational:

curl -sSL https://sietch.io/install.sh

Or manually download from our releases page.

Option 2: Build from Source (Recommended)

For the security-conscious survivor who trusts only code they've verified and compiled:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/SubstantialCattle5/Sietch.git

# Enter the directory
cd Sietch

# Build the binary
go build -o sietch ./cmd/sietch

# Move to your PATH (optional)
sudo mv sietch /usr/local/bin/

# Verify the installation
sietch --version

# Expected output
Sietch v0.9.2 - Decentralized vault system

First Boot

Once installed, initialize your first vault:

# Create a basic vault with AES-256 encryption
sietch init --name spice-vault --encrypt aes256

# Create a vault with custom settings
sietch init --name secure-research \
 --encrypt gpg \
 --key-id your.email@example.com \
 --chunk-size 2MB \
 --compression zstd

Setting Up Encryption

Protect your vault with strong encryption:

• Passphrase: For AES-256 encryption (simpler, faster)
• GPG Keys: For asymmetric encryption (more flexible for teams)

sietch keys generate --type aes256

Basic Commands Cheat Sheet

Syncing

# Discover peers on LAN
sietch discover

# Add a known peer
sietch peer add 192.168.1.42

# Sync with a peer
sietch sync --peer 192.168.1.42

Key Management

# List your keys
sietch keys list

# Export keys (for backup)
sietch keys export --output ./secure/backup.keys

# Import keys (for recovery)
sietch keys import ./secure/backup.keys

Managing Files

# List your keys
# Add files to your vault
sietch add /path/to/file.pdf /target/dir/

# List files in your vault
sietch list

# Extract files from vault
sietch extract document.pdf ./output/

Troubleshooting Tips

• Can't sync? Check your local network, firewall settings, or try direct IP connection
• Slow performance? Adjust chunk size with --chunk-size during vault initialization
• Permission errors? Check file system permissions where your vault is stored
• Network dropping? Enable resilient mode with sietch sync --resilient