Sops Add Key

SOPS Add Key

Add a new machine's age public key to the project and re-encrypt all files so the new machine can decrypt them.

Workflow

1. Detect current state:

``bash python3 ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../sops-setup/scripts/detect_sops.py ``

1. Verify prerequisites:

• project.sops_yaml.exists must be true — if not, tell user to run /devtools:sops-setup first
• project.encrypted_files should be non-empty — warn if there are no .enc.yaml files to re-encrypt
• If project.tmp_files is non-empty, warn about stale temporary files (leftover from a failed decrypt/re-encrypt) and suggest the user delete them

1. Audit key propagation (if encrypted files exist):

For each encrypted file, read its YAML and check the sops.age recipients list against project.sops_yaml.authorized_keys. If any authorized key is missing from any file's recipients: ``` WARNING: Key age1xxx...yyy is in .sops.yaml but NOT a recipient in:

• apps/web/.env.local.enc.yaml
• apps/api/.env.local.enc.yaml

These files need re-encryption before the corresponding machine can decrypt them. `` Offer to run sops updatekeys -y ` for each affected file before proceeding with the new key addition.

1. Show current authorized keys from project.sops_yaml.authorized_keys:

``` Currently authorized keys (N):

1. age1abc...def (truncated)
2. age1ghi...jkl (truncated)

```

1. Use AskUserQuestion — ask user to paste the new machine's age public key. Validate it starts with age1.

1. Read .sops.yaml and add the new key to the age: field in creation_rules. Use the Edit tool to append the key to the comma-separated list or multi-line block.

1. Re-encrypt all files using sops updatekeys:

``bash sops updatekeys -y .enc.yaml ` For each encrypted file. The -y` flag auto-confirms. This re-wraps only the data encryption key for the new recipient list — values and MAC are unchanged, producing a minimal diff.

If sops updatekeys is not available (older sops version), fall back to decrypt + re-encrypt: ``bash sops --decrypt .enc.yaml > .tmp.yaml sops --encrypt .tmp.yaml > .enc.yaml rm .tmp.yaml ``

Verify: After re-encrypting, read each file's sops.age recipients block and confirm all keys from .sops.yaml (including the newly added key) appear as recipients. If any key is missing, warn the user that re-encryption may have failed.

1. Summary:

`` | Action | Detail | |--------|--------| | Key added | age1xyz... (new machine) | | .sops.yaml | Updated (now N+1 authorized keys) | | Re-encrypted | .env.local.enc.yaml | | Re-encrypted | .env.production.enc.yaml | ` Remind user to **commit** both .sops.yaml and the updated .enc.yaml` files.

Key Rotation vs Key Addition

• Adding a key (sops updatekeys): Re-wraps the DEK for the new recipient list. Safe, minimal diff. Use for onboarding machines.
• Rotating keys (sops rotate -i): Generates a new DEK and re-encrypts every value. Use when a key is compromised or for periodic security hygiene.
• If the user mentions a compromised key, recommend sops rotate -i after removing the compromised key from .sops.yaml.

Key Rules

• Validate the public key format (must start with age1) before modifying .sops.yaml
• Always show the current keys before adding a new one
• Re-encrypt ALL .enc.yaml files — missing any would lock out the new machine for those files
• Use sops updatekeys (not full decrypt/re-encrypt) for routine key additions
• After re-encryption, the new machine can clone and decrypt immediately

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: joaquimscosta
• Source: joaquimscosta/arkhe-claude-plugins
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.