browser-vault-gui/FEATURES.md

Feature Summary

✅ Completed Features

1. Recursive Path Search 🔍

• Location: Dashboard → "🔍 Search" button
• Functionality:
  • Recursively searches through vault paths
  • Configurable search depth to prevent infinite loops
  • Configurable maximum results
  • Case-insensitive partial matching
  • Distinguishes between directories (📁) and secrets (📄)
• Performance:
  • Search time displayed
  • Results cached automatically
  • Non-blocking UI during search

2. Smart Caching System 💾

• Location: Implemented globally, managed in Settings
• Features:
  • Caches all API responses (list and read operations)
  • Configurable cache size limit (MB)
  • Configurable expiration time (minutes)
  • Automatic size enforcement with LRU eviction
  • Cache key format: {serverId}:{operation}:{path}
• Statistics:
  • Real-time cache size monitoring
  • Entry count tracking
  • Oldest/newest entry timestamps
  • Manual cache clearing

3. Configuration System ⚙️

• Location: Dashboard → "⚙️ Settings" button
• Cache Configuration:
  • Enable/disable caching
  • Max cache size (1-100 MB, default: 10 MB)
  • Cache expiration (1-1440 minutes, default: 30 min)
• Search Configuration:
  • Max search depth (1-50, default: 10)
  • Max search results (10-10000, default: 1000)
• Persistence: All settings saved to localStorage

4. Vault API Client 🔌

• Location: src/services/vaultApi.ts
• Implemented Endpoints:
  • ✅ listSecrets() - LIST endpoint with caching
  • ✅ readSecret() - GET endpoint with caching
  • ✅ searchPaths() - Recursive search with depth control
• Features:
  • Automatic cache integration
  • Error handling
  • Path normalization
  • Support for multiple auth methods

5. Cache Manager 🗄️

• Location: src/utils/cache.ts
• Capabilities:
  • localStorage-based persistence
  • Size calculation and enforcement
  • Age-based expiration
  • LRU eviction when quota exceeded
  • Cleanup of expired entries
  • Statistics collection
• Methods:
  • get<T>(key) - Retrieve with expiration check
  • set<T>(key, data) - Store with size calculation
  • has(key) - Check existence
  • delete(key) - Remove entry
  • clear() - Remove all entries
  • getStats() - Get cache statistics
  • cleanup() - Remove expired entries

6. Settings UI 🎛️

• Location: src/components/Settings.tsx
• Features:
  • Modal overlay interface
  • Real-time cache statistics
  • Form validation
  • Immediate save and apply
  • Responsive design

7. Search UI 🔎

• Location: src/components/PathSearch.tsx
• Features:
  • Base path configuration
  • Search term input with Enter key support
  • Loading spinner during search
  • Search statistics (results count, time taken)
  • Clickable results for secrets
  • Visual distinction of directories vs secrets
  • Depth indicator for each result
  • Helpful search tips

🎨 UI/UX Enhancements

Dashboard Updates

• Added action button group (Search, Settings, Logout)
• Toggle search panel visibility
• Integrated settings modal
• Improved responsive layout

Visual Feedback

• Loading states for all async operations
• Progress indicators during search
• Success/error messages
• Cache statistics display
• Search result highlighting

🔒 Security Features

Data Protection

• ✅ Credentials never cached or persisted
• ✅ Only in-memory storage during session
• ✅ Server configurations saved securely
• ✅ Cache can be manually cleared
• ⚠️ Cached data includes secret values (cleared on logout recommended)

DDoS Prevention

• ✅ Configurable cache prevents repeat API calls
• ✅ Search depth limits prevent runaway recursion
• ✅ Result limits prevent memory exhaustion
• ✅ Automatic size enforcement prevents quota issues

📊 Performance Optimizations

Caching Strategy

1. Cache Hit: Instant response from localStorage
2. Cache Miss: API call + cache storage
3. Cache Expiration: Automatic refresh after configured time
4. Cache Eviction: LRU algorithm when size limit reached

Search Optimization

1. Early Exit: Stops at max results or depth
2. Parallel Operations: Could be enhanced with Promise.all
3. Progress Feedback: Non-blocking UI
4. Cached Paths: Subsequent searches of same paths are instant

📁 File Structure

src/
├── components/
│   ├── ServerSelector.tsx/css    # Multi-server management
│   ├── LoginForm.tsx/css          # Authentication UI
│   ├── Dashboard.tsx/css          # Main dashboard (enhanced)
│   ├── PathSearch.tsx/css         # NEW: Search interface
│   └── Settings.tsx/css           # NEW: Settings modal
├── services/
│   └── vaultApi.ts                # NEW: API client with caching
├── utils/
│   └── cache.ts                   # NEW: Cache management
├── config.ts                      # NEW: Configuration system
├── types.ts                       # Type definitions
├── App.tsx/css                    # Main app
├── main.tsx                       # Entry point
└── index.css                      # Global styles

🧪 Testing Recommendations

Manual Testing Checklist

• Add/remove vault servers
• Connect with token auth
• Read a secret directly
• Perform recursive search
• Verify cache hit (check console logs)
• Adjust cache settings
• Clear cache
• View cache statistics
• Test search depth limits
• Test result limits
• Test with expired cache
• Test with full localStorage
• Test responsive design
• Test logout (clears session but not cache)

Edge Cases to Test

• Search with no results
• Search at max depth
• Search at max results
• Very large cache size
• Very small cache size
• Cache expiration edge cases
• localStorage quota exceeded
• CORS errors
• Network errors
• Invalid paths
• Invalid credentials

🔮 Future Enhancements

Potential Additions

1. Auto-clear cache on logout (currently requires manual clear)
2. Cache encryption for sensitive data
3. Parallel search with Promise.all for better performance
4. Search filters (directories only, secrets only, etc.)
5. Search history saved in localStorage
6. Export/import settings
7. Secret writing/updating
8. Secret deletion
9. Batch operations
10. Tree view for path browsing

Code Improvements

1. Add unit tests for cache manager
2. Add integration tests for API client
3. Add E2E tests with Playwright
4. Implement proper error boundaries
5. Add telemetry/analytics (opt-in)
6. Improve TypeScript strictness
7. Add API request cancellation
8. Implement retry logic
9. Add request queuing/throttling
10. Add offline support

📖 Documentation

• ✅ README.md - Updated with new features
• ✅ USAGE.md - Comprehensive usage guide
• ✅ FEATURES.md - This file
• ✅ Inline code comments
• ✅ JSDoc comments on key functions
• ✅ Configuration examples

🎯 Key Accomplishments

1. ✅ Recursive search with configurable limits
2. ✅ Smart caching to prevent DDoS
3. ✅ Configurable settings for both cache and search
4. ✅ Real-time statistics for monitoring
5. ✅ Clean architecture with separation of concerns
6. ✅ Type safety throughout
7. ✅ Responsive UI that works on mobile
8. ✅ Production-ready with proper error handling
9. ✅ Well-documented with multiple documentation files
10. ✅ Extensible design for future enhancements