Solana Vault

Project Overview

This project is a web-based Solana wallet that allows users to securely manage their Solana accounts, send/receive SOL and SPL tokens, and interact with dApps on the Solana blockchain.

Overall Approach: Phased Development with Modularity

Since your project spans multiple platforms—web, browser extension, and mobile—it’s smart to design the wallet with a modular architecture. This allows you to reuse core functionality across all three phases while tailoring the user interface (UI) to each platform. Here’s the roadmap:

1. Web App (Phase 1): Build a fully functional wallet as a web application to establish the foundation.
2. Browser Extension (Phase 2): Adapt the core logic for browser-based dApp interactions.
3. Mobile App (Phase 3): Extend the wallet to mobile devices, leveraging cross-platform tools for efficiency.

Let’s dive into the first phase—building the web app—and outline how it sets the stage for the later phases.

Phase 1: Building the Web App ✅

The web app is your starting point and will include all the core features of a Web3 wallet on Solana. Here’s how to approach it:

Key Features

• Account Management:
  • Create new Solana accounts (generate keypairs).
  • Import existing accounts via private keys or mnemonic phrases.
  • Display account balances and transaction history.
• Transaction Handling:
  • Send SOL and SPL tokens to other addresses.
  • Receive SOL and SPL tokens from others.
  • Sign and broadcast transactions to the Solana network.
• dApp Integration:
  • Connect to Solana-based decentralized applications (dApps).
  • Handle transaction requests from dApps securely.
• Security:
  • Store private keys or mnemonics securely (e.g., encrypted in browser storage).
  • Implement secure transaction signing with user confirmation.
  • Offer backup and recovery options (e.g., exportable mnemonic phrases).
• User Interface:
  • Design an intuitive, user-friendly UI with clear instructions.
  • Ensure responsiveness to prepare for mobile adaptation later.

Technical Implementation

Here’s a suggested tech stack and approach:

• Frontend:
  • Use React with TypeScript for a robust, scalable UI.
  • Consider a component library like shadcn to speed up development.
• Blockchain Integration:
  • Use @solana/web3.js for core Solana operations (e.g., keypair generation, transaction signing).
  • Integrate @solana/spl-token for managing SPL tokens.
  • Leverage @solana/wallet-adapter for easy dApp connectivity.
• State Management:
  • Use Redux or Context API to manage wallet state (e.g., accounts, balances).
• Security:
  • Encrypt private keys before storing them in the browser’s localStorage or use the Web Crypto API for better security.
  • Prompt users to confirm transactions to prevent unauthorized actions.
• Backend (Optional):
  • If needed, use Node.js for off-chain tasks like caching token metadata or proxying RPC requests to Solana nodes (to avoid rate limits).

Development Tips

• Test on Solana’s devnet first—request free SOL via airdrops to experiment without real funds.
• Focus on core functionality (e.g., account creation, sending SOL) before adding advanced features like dApp support.
• Build security in from the start—plan for encrypted key storage and clear user prompts.

This web app will serve as the foundation, with its logic reusable for the next phases.

Phase 2: Browser Extension

Once the web app is stable, you’ll adapt it into a browser extension (think Phantom or MetaMask) for seamless dApp integration within the browser.

Key Considerations

• UI Adaptation:
  • Extensions have limited space, so design a compact UI (e.g., a popup for account management and transaction signing).
• dApp Communication:
  • Use window.postMessage to handle transaction requests from web pages.
• Security:
  • Implement strict content security policies and secure key storage (e.g., chrome.storage).
• Platform Constraints:
  • Work within browser extension APIs, which may limit access to certain features.

Technical Adjustments

• Reuse the web app’s core logic (account management, transaction handling).
• Modify the UI to fit a popup or background page.
• Add background scripts to manage dApp requests and transaction signing without disrupting the user’s browsing.

Phase 3: Mobile App

Finally, extend the wallet to mobile platforms (iOS and Android), adapting it for touch interfaces and mobile-specific features.

Key Features

• Mobile-Optimized UI:
  • Design for smaller screens and touch navigation.
• Biometric Authentication:
  • Add fingerprint or face recognition for secure access.
• Push Notifications:
  • Notify users of incoming transactions or dApp requests (optional).
• Camera Integration:
  • Use the camera to scan QR codes for addresses or seed phrases.

Technical Implementation

• Framework:
  • Use React Native or Flutter to reuse code from the web app, minimizing rework.
• Native Features:
  • Integrate platform-specific modules (e.g., Keychain on iOS, Keystore on Android) for secure storage and biometrics.
• Blockchain Logic:
  • Port the @solana/web3.js-based logic from the web app, adjusting for mobile constraints.

Documentation Plan

Document both the development process and how to use the wallet.

1. Code Documentation:

• Add inline comments explaining key functions and modules.
• Generate API docs for any reusable libraries or backend services.

2. User Guides:

• Write step-by-step instructions for account creation, token transactions, and dApp connections.
• Include screenshots or short videos for clarity.

3. Developer Documentation:

• Provide an architecture overview (e.g., how the wallet interacts with Solana).
• Include setup instructions and contribution guidelines if you open-source the project.

4. Process Blog:

• Create a blog or article series chronicling your journey—share challenges, solutions, and insights to engage the community.