Keep code encrypted on disk, decrypt it only in memory, and still run it normally.
AiLock encrypts files in place so filesystem-level AI access (read_file
, grep
,
cat
, codebase indexing) sees only binary ciphertext. At the same time, developers can run encrypted Python code, import encrypted modules, read encrypted data files, and edit locked files through controlled plaintext views. The central idea is memory-only decryption: plaintext is materialized inside the AiLock runtime process, not written back to the working tree.
Disk: ciphertext for AI and ordinary file readers. Runtime: plaintext only inside the controlled execution process.
Most encryption tools protect files at rest, but make the code unusable until it is decrypted back onto disk. AiLock is built for a different workflow:
AI-opacity: coding assistants that read the working tree see ciphertext.** Memory-only execution**:ailock run
decrypts encrypted Python files inside the process and executes them without restoring plaintext on disk.Transparent imports: encrypted modules can import each other.** Transparent file I/O**:open()
,Path.read_text()
, andPath.read_bytes()
can return plaintext inside the runtime.GUI plaintext viewport:ailock open
lets the developer inspect and edit files without leaving plaintext in the working tree.Recovery path: encrypted backups and optional recovery keys help recover damaged or forgotten-password files.
-
Python 3.11 or newer
pip -
Runtime packages installed automatically from
pyproject.toml
:argon2-cffi
,cryptography
, andpyzipper
tkinter
forailock open
; it is bundled with many Python installations, but some Linux distributions package it separately aspython3-tk
Install from GitHub:
git clone https://github.com/lo2589/AILOCK.git
cd AILOCK
pip install .
For editable development installs:
git clone https://github.com/lo2589/AILOCK.git
cd AILOCK
pip install -e .
Check the command:
ailock --help
If the command is not on your PATH
, use the module entry point:
python -m aloc --help
ailock lock secret.py
cat secret.py
grep "password" .
ailock show secret.py
ailock run secret.py
ailock open .
ailock unlock secret.py
The key idea:
ailock lock app.py # app.py becomes ciphertext on disk
ailock run app.py # app.py is decrypted in memory and executed
ailock run
is the core feature. It decrypts the entry file in memory, executes the plaintext inside the Python process, and leaves the working-tree file as ciphertext. No plaintext copy is written next to the encrypted file.
ailock run main.py
ailock run -m mypackage
ailock run app.py -- --port 8080
While the program is running, AiLock installs hooks so application code can behave as if the files were plain:
encrypted .py on disk -> decrypt in memory -> exec/import inside Python
encrypted data file -> decrypt in memory -> open()/Path.read_text()
Inside your program, no AiLock-specific code is required:
import json
from secret_module import algorithm
with open("config.json") as f:
config = json.load(f)
print(algorithm(config))
If secret_module.py
or config.json
is locked, AiLock decrypts it for the runtime while the filesystem still contains ciphertext.
Encrypt a file or directory in place.
ailock lock secret.py
ailock lock src/
ailock lock secret.py --recovery
Notes:
- Directories are processed recursively.
- Already locked files are skipped.
- Plaintext backups are stored as encrypted ZIP backups under
.ailock/backups/
by default. --recovery
prints a recovery key. Save it separately; it is not shown again.
Run encrypted Python code without writing plaintext back to disk.
ailock run main.py
ailock run -m mypackage
ailock run app.py -- --port 8080
Runtime interception layers:
-
import hook for encrypted Python modules
-
patched
builtins.open -
patched
pathlib.Path.read_text
andpathlib.Path.read_bytes
Open a GUI plaintext viewport/editor for a directory.
ailock open .
ailock open src/
Locked files are decrypted for display. Saving writes encrypted content back to disk.
Print decrypted content to stdout without modifying the file.
ailock show secret.py
ailock show secret.py | head
Decrypt a file or directory back to plaintext on disk.
ailock unlock secret.py
ailock unlock src/ --backup
Recover a locked file using a recovery key generated by --recovery
.
ailock recover secret.py
Start a stdin/stdout JSON-RPC workspace server for controlled plaintext access.
ailock freelock .
Example requests:
{"method": "list_files", "params": {}, "id": 1}
{"method": "read_file", "params": {"path": "main.py"}, "id": 2}
{"method": "grep", "params": {"pattern": "TODO"}, "id": 3}
{"method": "write_file", "params": {"path": "main.py", "content": "..."}, "id": 4}
{"method": "flush", "params": {}, "id": 5}
ailock status file.py
ailock forget
ailock forget --all
ailock config
ailock config backup-dir /path/to/backups
ailock init --as aa
ailock init --as <name>
installs a local launcher under a custom command name. This is useful when you want the unlock command to be deployment-specific.
AiLock targets filesystem-level AI access. It is designed for coding assistants and indexers that inspect files through ordinary reads. In that model, locked files reveal only ciphertext.
AiLock does not claim to stop a fully informed local adversary who can run arbitrary commands, capture process memory, or trick the user into decrypting files. For stronger isolation, combine AiLock with operating-system execution policy, process isolation, and careful secret handling.
- Argon2id for password-derived keys
- ChaCha20-Poly1305 for authenticated encryption
- independent random file keys
- password wrapping for file keys
- optional recovery-key wrapping
- encrypted ZIP backups for emergency recovery
aloc/
cli.py command-line interface
runner.py in-memory execution engine
workspace.py decrypted workspace API and JSON-RPC handler
gui.py tkinter GUI editor
crypto.py Argon2id and ChaCha20-Poly1305 helpers
format.py locked-file format parser/encoder
fileops.py atomic writes and backup helpers
cache.py sudo-style password cache
manifest.py .ailock manifest and backup management
recovery.py recovery key support
install.py custom command-name launcher
argon2-cffi
cryptography
pyzipper
tkinter
for the GUI, provided by many Python installations
MIT