BUSINESS POSTURE

Business Priorities and Goals:
Provide a mobile database solution that is efficient, easy to use, and performant for Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM) developers.
Enable developers to build offline-first applications with seamless data synchronization capabilities.
Offer a robust and reliable data management solution for mobile applications, reducing development complexity and time to market.
Support a wide range of mobile platforms and architectures through Kotlin Multiplatform.
Foster a strong open-source community around Realm Kotlin, encouraging contributions and adoption.
Business Risks:
Data integrity and consistency issues leading to application malfunction or data loss.
Security vulnerabilities in the database or synchronization components potentially exposing sensitive user data.
Performance bottlenecks impacting user experience and application responsiveness.
Compatibility issues across different mobile platforms and Kotlin versions.
Developer adoption challenges due to complexity, lack of documentation, or perceived instability.

SECURITY POSTURE

Existing Security Controls:
security control: Code reviews are conducted for contributions to the project. (Location: GitHub Pull Request process)
security control: Unit and integration tests are implemented to ensure code correctness and prevent regressions. (Location: GitHub repository - test directories)
security control: Reliance on operating system level security features for data storage and access control on mobile devices. (Location: Implicit in mobile application development)
accepted risk: Security vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies. (Location: Implicit risk in software development)
accepted risk: Potential for security misconfigurations by developers using the library in their applications. (Location: Implicit risk in library usage)
Recommended Security Controls:
security control: Implement automated static application security testing (SAST) in the CI/CD pipeline to identify potential vulnerabilities in the code.
security control: Integrate dependency scanning tools to identify and manage vulnerabilities in third-party libraries.
security control: Conduct regular penetration testing and security audits of the Realm Kotlin library and its components.
security control: Provide security guidelines and best practices documentation for developers using Realm Kotlin to build secure applications.
security control: Implement a process for security vulnerability reporting and response.
Security Requirements:
Authentication:
Requirement: Realm Kotlin itself does not handle user authentication. Applications using Realm Kotlin are responsible for implementing their own authentication mechanisms to verify user identity.
Requirement: If Realm Sync is used, it should support secure authentication mechanisms to verify client and server identities.
Authorization:
Requirement: Realm Kotlin should provide mechanisms for applications to implement fine-grained authorization to control access to data within the Realm database.
Requirement: If Realm Sync is used, it should enforce authorization rules to ensure users only access data they are permitted to see and modify.
Input Validation:
Requirement: Realm Kotlin should perform input validation to prevent injection attacks and data corruption when handling data from applications or external sources (e.g., Realm Sync).
Requirement: Applications using Realm Kotlin should validate user inputs before storing them in the Realm database.
Cryptography:
Requirement: Realm Kotlin should provide options for encrypting data at rest within the Realm database on mobile devices to protect sensitive information.
Requirement: If Realm Sync is used, it must encrypt data in transit between the client and server to ensure confidentiality and integrity.

DESIGN

C4 CONTEXT

flowchart LR
   subgraph Mobile App Developers
   direction TB
       dev("Mobile App\nDevelopers")
   end

   subgraph Realm Kotlin Project
   direction TB
       rk("Realm Kotlin\nLibrary")
   end

   subgraph Mobile Application
   direction TB
       ma("Mobile\nApplication")
   end

   subgraph Backend Systems
   direction TB
       bs("Backend\nSystems\n(Optional)")
   end

   dev -- "Uses" --> rk
   rk -- "Integrated into" --> ma
   ma -- "Stores and retrieves data using" --> rk
   ma -- "Optionally synchronizes data with" --> bs
   bs -- "Provides data and services to" --> ma

   classDef context stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px;
   class rk,ma,bs,dev context;

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C4 CONTEXT Elements:
Element:
Name: Mobile App Developers
Type: Person
Description: Developers who use the Realm Kotlin library to build mobile applications.
Responsibilities: Develop mobile applications using Realm Kotlin, integrate Realm Kotlin into their projects, and manage data within their applications.
Security controls: Responsible for secure coding practices in their applications, including proper usage of Realm Kotlin APIs and handling of sensitive data.
Element:
Name: Realm Kotlin Library
Type: Software System
Description: The Realm Kotlin library itself, providing database functionalities for mobile applications.
Responsibilities: Provide efficient and reliable data storage and retrieval, offer data synchronization capabilities (if Realm Sync is included), and ensure data integrity.
Security controls: Implements security features such as data encryption, input validation within the library, and secure coding practices during development.
Element:
Name: Mobile Application
Type: Software System
Description: Mobile applications built by developers that integrate and use the Realm Kotlin library.
Responsibilities: Utilize Realm Kotlin for local data management, implement application-specific logic, handle user interactions, and optionally synchronize data with backend systems.
Security controls: Implements application-level security controls such as user authentication, authorization, input validation, and secure data handling, leveraging Realm Kotlin's security features.
Element:
Name: Backend Systems (Optional)
Type: Software System
Description: Optional backend systems that mobile applications might interact with for data synchronization or other services.
Responsibilities: Provide data synchronization services, user authentication services, or other backend functionalities for mobile applications.
Security controls: Implements backend security controls such as authentication, authorization, secure APIs, and data protection measures.
C4 CONTAINER

flowchart LR
   subgraph Mobile Application Container
   direction TB
       realm_sdk("Realm Kotlin SDK\n(Library)")
       app_code("Application Code")
   end

   subgraph Device Operating System
   direction TB
       local_storage("Local Storage\n(File System,\nOS DB)")
   end

   realm_sdk -- "Uses for data persistence" --> local_storage
   app_code -- "Integrates and uses" --> realm_sdk

   classDef container stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px;
   class realm_sdk,app_code,local_storage container;

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C4 CONTAINER Elements:
Element:
Name: Realm Kotlin SDK (Library)
Type: Container - Library
Description: The Realm Kotlin SDK library that is integrated into mobile applications. It provides the core database functionalities.
Responsibilities: Data modeling, data persistence, query execution, data synchronization (if Realm Sync features are included in this SDK).
Security controls: Data encryption at rest, input validation within the library, secure memory management, and adherence to secure coding practices.
Element:
Name: Application Code
Type: Container - Application Component
Description: The application-specific code developed by mobile app developers, which utilizes the Realm Kotlin SDK.
Responsibilities: Application logic, user interface, data handling specific to the application, user authentication and authorization (application level).
Security controls: Input validation at the application level, secure data handling within the application logic, implementation of authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Element:
Name: Local Storage (File System, OS DB)
Type: Container - Data Store
Description: The local storage on the mobile device where Realm Kotlin persists the database files. This could be the file system or an operating system-level database.
Responsibilities: Persistent storage of Realm database files, providing access control based on the mobile operating system's security features.
Security controls: Operating system-level file system permissions, data encryption provided by the OS (if enabled), physical security of the mobile device.
DEPLOYMENT
Deployment Architecture Options:
Option 1: Standalone Mobile Application: Realm Kotlin is embedded within a mobile application that operates entirely offline or connects directly to backend services without using Realm Sync.
Option 2: Mobile Application with Realm Sync: Realm Kotlin is used with Realm Sync to synchronize data between the mobile application and a backend Realm Object Server or Realm Cloud.
Option 3: Library Distribution: Realm Kotlin SDK is built and deployed as a library to be consumed by developers.
Detailed Deployment Architecture (Option 1: Standalone Mobile Application):

flowchart LR
   subgraph Mobile Device
   direction TB
       mobile_os("Mobile OS\n(Android, iOS)")
       subgraph Mobile App
       direction TB
           realm_kotlin_sdk("Realm Kotlin SDK\n(Library)")
           application_code("Application Code")
       end
       local_storage_device("Local Storage\n(Device)")
   end

   realm_kotlin_sdk -- "Persists data to" --> local_storage_device
   application_code -- "Uses" --> realm_kotlin_sdk
   mobile_app -- "Runs on" --> mobile_os
   mobile_os -- "Provides storage" --> local_storage_device

   classDef deployment stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px;
   class mobile_os,mobile_app,realm_kotlin_sdk,application_code,local_storage_device deployment;

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DEPLOYMENT Elements:
Element:
Name: Mobile OS (Android, iOS)
Type: Deployment Environment - Operating System
Description: The mobile operating system on which the mobile application runs (e.g., Android, iOS).
Responsibilities: Provides the runtime environment for the mobile application, manages system resources, and enforces operating system-level security controls.
Security controls: Operating system-level security features, such as sandboxing, permissions management, and data encryption.
Element:
Name: Mobile App
Type: Deployment Unit - Application
Description: The mobile application that integrates and uses the Realm Kotlin SDK.
Responsibilities: Executes application logic, interacts with the user, manages data using Realm Kotlin, and handles application-specific security concerns.
Security controls: Application-level security controls, such as input validation, secure data handling, and implementation of authentication and authorization.
Element:
Name: Realm Kotlin SDK (Library)
Type: Deployment Unit - Library
Description: The Realm Kotlin SDK library deployed within the mobile application.
Responsibilities: Provides database functionalities within the mobile application, manages data persistence, and enforces library-level security controls.
Security controls: Security features embedded within the library, such as data encryption and input validation.
Element:
Name: Application Code
Type: Deployment Unit - Application Component
Description: The application-specific code deployed as part of the mobile application.
Responsibilities: Implements application logic and utilizes the Realm Kotlin SDK.
Security controls: Secure coding practices applied in the application code.
Element:
Name: Local Storage (Device)
Type: Deployment Environment - Data Storage
Description: The local storage on the mobile device where the Realm database files are stored.
Responsibilities: Persistent storage of data for the mobile application.
Security controls: Operating system-level file system permissions and data encryption.
BUILD

flowchart LR
   subgraph Developer Workstation
   direction TB
       dev_pc("Developer\nPC")
       source_code("Source Code\n(Realm Kotlin)")
   end

   subgraph GitHub
   direction TB
       github_repo("GitHub\nRepository")
       github_actions("GitHub\nActions\n(CI/CD)")
   end

   subgraph Build Environment
   direction TB
       build_agent("Build Agent")
       build_tools("Build Tools\n(Kotlin Compiler,\nGradle)")
       security_scanners("Security Scanners\n(SAST, Dependency)")
   end

   subgraph Artifact Repository
   direction TB
       maven_central("Maven Central\n(or similar)")
       build_artifacts("Build Artifacts\n(JAR/AAR)")
   end

   dev_pc -- "Code Commit" --> github_repo
   github_repo -- "Triggers Build" --> github_actions
   github_actions -- "Runs Build Process on" --> build_agent
   build_agent -- "Uses" --> build_tools
   build_agent -- "Runs" --> security_scanners
   build_agent -- "Publishes" --> artifact_repository
   artifact_repository -- "Distributes" --> maven_central

   classDef build stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px;
   class dev_pc,source_code,github_repo,github_actions,build_agent,build_tools,security_scanners,artifact_repository,maven_central,build_artifacts build;

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BUILD Elements:
Element:
Name: Developer PC
Type: Build Component - Workstation
Description: Developer's local machine where source code is written and changes are committed.
Responsibilities: Writing and testing code, committing changes to the source code repository.
Security controls: Developer workstation security practices, code review before commit.
Element:
Name: Source Code (Realm Kotlin)
Type: Build Artifact - Source Code
Description: The source code of the Realm Kotlin project, stored in a version control system.
Responsibilities: Maintaining the codebase, tracking changes, and providing the basis for the build process.
Security controls: Version control system access controls, code review process, branch protection policies.
Element:
Name: GitHub Repository
Type: Build System - Repository
Description: The GitHub repository hosting the Realm Kotlin source code and build configurations.
Responsibilities: Source code management, triggering CI/CD pipelines, storing build configurations.
Security controls: GitHub access controls, branch protection, audit logs.
Element:
Name: GitHub Actions (CI/CD)
Type: Build System - CI/CD
Description: GitHub Actions workflows used for automating the build, test, and release processes.
Responsibilities: Automating the build pipeline, running tests, performing security scans, and publishing build artifacts.
Security controls: Secure configuration of CI/CD pipelines, access control to workflows and secrets, audit logs.
Element:
Name: Build Agent
Type: Build Environment - Execution Environment
Description: The environment where the build process is executed, typically a virtual machine or container.
Responsibilities: Executing build steps, compiling code, running tests, and generating build artifacts.
Security controls: Secure build environment configuration, access control, and isolation.
Element:
Name: Build Tools (Kotlin Compiler, Gradle)
Type: Build Tool - Software
Description: Software tools used during the build process, such as the Kotlin compiler and Gradle build system.
Responsibilities: Compiling source code, managing dependencies, and packaging build artifacts.
Security controls: Using trusted and up-to-date build tools.
Element:
Name: Security Scanners (SAST, Dependency)
Type: Build Tool - Security
Description: Security scanning tools integrated into the build process to identify vulnerabilities.
Responsibilities: Performing static application security testing (SAST) and dependency scanning to detect potential security issues.
Security controls: Properly configured and up-to-date security scanners, automated vulnerability reporting.
Element:
Name: Artifact Repository
Type: Build System - Repository
Description: A repository for storing and managing build artifacts (e.g., JAR, AAR files).
Responsibilities: Storing build artifacts, managing versions, and providing access for distribution.
Security controls: Access control to the artifact repository, integrity checks for artifacts.
Element:
Name: Maven Central (or similar)
Type: Distribution Channel - Public Repository
Description: A public repository like Maven Central where Realm Kotlin SDK artifacts are published for developers to consume.
Responsibilities: Distributing the Realm Kotlin SDK to developers.
Security controls: Signing of artifacts, secure publishing process to Maven Central.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Critical Business Processes:
Secure and reliable data storage and retrieval within mobile applications.
Maintaining data integrity and consistency for applications using Realm Kotlin.
Ensuring the availability and performance of the Realm Kotlin library.
Protecting the confidentiality and integrity of user data managed by applications using Realm Kotlin.
Data Sensitivity:
Data handled by Realm Kotlin depends entirely on the applications using it.
Sensitivity can range from low (application settings, non-sensitive data) to high (personal data, financial information, health records) depending on the application's purpose.
The sensitivity level is determined by the application developers and the nature of the data they choose to store in Realm databases.
Potential impact of data breaches or data loss varies significantly based on the sensitivity of the data stored in applications using Realm Kotlin.

QUESTIONS & ASSUMPTIONS

BUSINESS POSTURE:
Question: What are the primary target platforms for Realm Kotlin (Android, iOS, others)?
Assumption: Primarily targeting Android and iOS, with potential for other Kotlin Multiplatform targets.
Question: Is Realm Sync considered part of the core Realm Kotlin project or a separate component?
Assumption: Realm Sync is a related but potentially separate component, and this design document focuses primarily on the core Realm Kotlin library.
Question: What is the expected scale of applications using Realm Kotlin (small apps, enterprise-level apps)?
Assumption: Designed to support a wide range of applications, from small to large scale.
SECURITY POSTURE:
Question: Are there specific industry compliance requirements that Realm Kotlin needs to adhere to (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR)?
Assumption: Realm Kotlin as a library itself does not directly adhere to specific industry compliance, but provides features to help applications achieve compliance. Application developers are responsible for compliance.
Question: What is the process for handling security vulnerability reports for Realm Kotlin?
Assumption: Standard open-source vulnerability reporting process, likely through GitHub security advisories or a dedicated security contact.
Question: Is data encryption enabled by default in Realm Kotlin, or is it an optional feature?
Assumption: Data encryption is likely an optional feature that developers need to explicitly enable for sensitive data.
DESIGN:
Question: What are the key architectural components within the Realm Kotlin SDK itself?
Assumption: Internally, it likely has components for data modeling, query processing, storage engine interaction, and potentially synchronization logic (if Realm Sync features are included).
Question: What are the performance considerations for Realm Kotlin on resource-constrained mobile devices?
Assumption: Designed to be performant on mobile devices, with optimizations for memory usage and processing speed.
Question: How does Realm Kotlin handle data migrations and schema changes over time?
Assumption: Provides mechanisms for schema migrations to handle evolving data models in applications.

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