| name | cipher-type-planner |
| description | Plans the creation or modification of a cipher type (vault item type) across the Bitwarden clients monorepo. Use this skill when a user wants to add a new cipher type, modify an existing cipher type, or asks about what is needed to implement a cipher type. DO NOT invoke for general vault or cipher questions unrelated to adding or changing a cipher type. |
| user-invocable | true |
| argument-hint | target-client |
Cipher Type Planner
Workflow
Step 1: Gather Requirements
Ask the user the following questions (use AskUserQuestion). Adapt questions based on what
the user has already provided.
Required questions:
- Type name and value - What is the cipher type name and integer value? If the user hasn't specified a value, determine the next available integer by reading the
CipherType enum definition.
- Fields - What are the cipher's properties? Each property must contain:
- Field name
- Data type (string, number, boolean)
- Encryption required?
- Required
- Target client (
$0) - Which client should this plan focus on? (web, desktop, browser, cli, or all). Shared library changes (libs/common, libs/vault) are always included; $0 controls which apps/* files appear. Skip if already provided as an argument. Default: all.
- Autofill - Should this type participate in browser autofill? (Currently only Login, Card,
and Identity support autofill.) Only ask if
$0 is browser or all.
- Linked fields - Should this type support linked custom fields? If yes, which properties
should be linkable?
- Feature flag - What is the feature flag name?
- Prerequisites - Have all server and SDK prerequisites been completed? Do not proceed
with the plan until the user confirms these are done.
Additional questions:
Ask each of the following. If the engineer does not have an answer, accept "N/A" or "not yet decided" and note it as a gap in the plan.
- Import/export - Should import/export support be included in this plan?
- UI details - Are there specific UI requirements for the form or view sections (e.g., dropdowns, masked fields, copy buttons)?
- Subtitle - What value should the
subTitle getter on the view model return? This appears in vault list items.
- Icon - What icon represents this type in the vault? Bitwarden uses
bwi- icon classes.
- Organization policy - Does this type appear in the restricted item types policy UI?
Step 2: Enter Plan Mode
After gathering requirements, enter plan mode using EnterPlanMode. Explore the codebase to
verify current patterns and file locations. Use the SshKey cipher type (value 5) as the canonical
reference for implementation patterns.
Key files to inspect for patterns:
libs/common/src/vault/enums/cipher-type.ts - Enum definition
libs/common/src/vault/models/api/ssh-key.api.ts - API model pattern
libs/common/src/vault/models/data/ssh-key.data.ts - Data model pattern
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/ssh-key.ts - Domain model pattern
libs/common/src/vault/models/view/ssh-key.view.ts - View model pattern
libs/common/src/models/export/ssh-key.export.ts - Export model pattern
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/cipher.ts - Container switch patterns
libs/vault/src/cipher-form/components/sshkey-section/ - Form component pattern
libs/vault/src/cipher-view/sshkey-sections/ - View component pattern
Step 3: Build the Plan
Write a comprehensive plan to the plan file. The plan MUST include all sections below.
Plan Output Format
1. Overview
- Cipher type name:
- Integer value:
- Feature flag:
- Minimum client version:
- Fields: Table of all fields with name, type, encrypted (yes/no), required (yes/no)
- Supports autofill: Yes/No
- Supports linked fields: Yes/No
2. Clients - New Files to Create
List every file that needs to be created, with the full path and a brief description. Organize by
layer:
Model stack:
libs/common/src/vault/models/api/<type>.api.ts - API response shape
libs/common/src/vault/models/data/<type>.data.ts - Serializable storage format
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/<type>.ts - Encrypted business object
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/<type>.spec.ts - Domain model tests
libs/common/src/vault/models/view/<type>.view.ts - Decrypted view for UI
Export (if import/export is included):
libs/common/src/models/export/<type>.export.ts - Export model
UI components:
libs/vault/src/cipher-form/components/<type>-section/ - Form section component (TS, HTML, spec)
libs/vault/src/cipher-view/<type>-sections/ - View section component (TS, HTML)
3. Clients - Existing Files to Modify
List every file that needs modification, organized by concern. For each file, describe the specific
change needed.
Core enum:
libs/common/src/vault/enums/cipher-type.ts - Add <Type>: <N> to CipherType
libs/common/src/vault/enums/cipher-type.spec.ts - Update tests
Container switches (add case for new type):
libs/common/src/vault/models/data/cipher.data.ts - Constructor
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/cipher.ts - Constructor, decrypt(),
toCipherData(), fromJSON(), toSdkCipher(), fromSdkCipher()
libs/common/src/vault/models/view/cipher.view.ts - item getter, fromJSON(),
fromSdkCipherView(), getSdkCipherViewType(), toSdkCipherView()
libs/common/src/vault/models/request/cipher.request.ts - Constructor
libs/common/src/vault/models/response/cipher.response.ts - Constructor
libs/common/src/vault/services/cipher.service.ts - encryptCipherData()
Export (if import/export is included):
libs/common/src/models/export/cipher.export.ts - toView(), toDomain(), build()
SDK integration:
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/cipher-sdk-mapper.ts - Record mapper
- Domain and view model SDK methods (
toSdk*/fromSdk*)
UI wiring:
libs/vault/src/cipher-form/components/cipher-form.component.ts - Import and wire section
libs/vault/src/cipher-form/components/cipher-form.component.html - Add section template
libs/vault/src/cipher-view/cipher-view.component.ts - Import and wire section
libs/vault/src/cipher-view/cipher-view.component.html - Add section template
libs/common/src/vault/icon/build-cipher-icon.ts - Add icon case
Vault filters (CRITICAL â without these, ciphers won't appear in the vault list):
All vault filter files must be feature-flag-gated so the new type only appears when the flag is
enabled. Use ConfigService.getFeatureFlag$() with combineLatest to filter the type out of
arrays when the flag is off.
Always included (shared):
libs/vault/src/services/vault-filter.service.ts - CRITICAL: Add type to buildCipherTypeTree() allTypeFilters array. Without this, ciphers of the new type will not appear in the vault sidebar or list.
libs/vault/src/models/filter-function.ts - Add filter case for the new type
libs/angular/src/vault/components/vault-items.component.ts - Feature-flag-gate empty state type buttons
Include if $0 is web or all:
apps/web/src/app/vault/individual-vault/vault-filter/components/vault-filter.component.ts - Add to allTypeFilters, searchPlaceholder, and feature-flag-gate in buildAllFilters()
apps/web/src/app/admin-console/organizations/collections/vault-filter/vault-filter.component.ts - Feature-flag-gate in buildAllFilters()
Include if $0 is desktop or all:
apps/desktop/src/vault/app/vault-v3/vault-filter/filters/type-filter.component.ts - Add ConfigService, combineLatest with feature flag
Include if $0 is browser or all:
apps/browser/src/vault/popup/services/vault-popup-list-filters.service.ts - Add ConfigService, feature-flag-gate cipherTypes
New item menus (feature-flag-gated):
Always included (shared):
libs/common/src/vault/types/cipher-menu-items.ts - Add menu item entry for new type
libs/vault/src/components/new-cipher-menu/new-cipher-menu.component.ts - Add canCreate<Type> = input(false) signal, gate in cipherMenuItems observable
Include if $0 is web or all:
apps/web/src/app/vault/individual-vault/vault-header/vault-header.component.ts - Add canCreate<Type>$ observable from feature flag
apps/web/src/app/vault/individual-vault/vault-header/vault-header.component.html - Bind [canCreate<Type>] to <vault-new-cipher-menu>
Include if $0 is browser or all:
apps/browser/src/vault/popup/components/vault/new-item-dropdown/new-item-dropdown.component.ts - Add ConfigService, combineLatest with feature flag
Localization (add i18n keys):
Include only locale files for $0. If $0 is all, include all three:
apps/web/src/locales/en/messages.json (web)
apps/desktop/src/locales/en/messages.json (desktop)
apps/browser/src/_locales/en/messages.json (browser)
Linked fields (if applicable):
libs/common/src/vault/enums/linked-id-type.enum.ts
Autofill (if applicable â only if $0 is browser or all):
- List relevant autofill files from
apps/browser/src/autofill/ only if the type supports
autofill
Restricted item types (if applicable):
Restricted item type enforcement is used across all clients. Include files for $0:
Always included (shared):
libs/common/src/vault/services/vault-settings/vault-settings.service.ts - Restricted types service
Include if $0 is web or all:
apps/web/src/app/admin-console/organizations/policies/policy-edit-definitions/restricted-item-types.component.ts - Policy configuration UI
apps/web/src/app/admin-console/organizations/policies/policy-edit-definitions/restricted-item-types.component.html
Include if $0 is browser or all:
apps/browser/src/vault/popup/components/vault/item-more-options/item-more-options.component.ts - Restricted type checks
Include if $0 is cli or all:
apps/cli/src/vault/create.command.ts - Restricted type checks
apps/cli/src/commands/list.command.ts - Restricted type checks
apps/cli/src/commands/get.command.ts - Restricted type checks
4. Localization Keys
List all i18n keys that need to be added. At minimum:
- Type label
- Field labels for each type-specific field
5. Tests
List all test files that need to be created or updated:
libs/common/src/vault/enums/cipher-type.spec.ts
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/cipher.spec.ts
libs/common/src/vault/models/domain/<type>.spec.ts (new)
libs/common/src/vault/models/view/cipher.view.spec.ts
libs/common/src/vault/services/cipher.service.spec.ts
libs/common/src/vault/services/cipher-sdk.service.spec.ts
libs/common/src/vault/icon/build-cipher-icon.spec.ts
libs/common/src/models/export/cipher.export.spec.ts
libs/vault/src/cipher-form/components/cipher-form.component.spec.ts
libs/vault/src/cipher-view/cipher-view.component.spec.ts
- Form section component spec (new)
6. Recommended Implementation Order
Recommended implementation order, customized for this specific type. Only include steps relevant
to $0 (shared steps are always included):
- Core enum addition (shared)
- Feature flag registration (shared)
- Model stack (API, Data, Domain, View, Export if applicable) (shared)
- Container switch updates (shared)
- SDK bindings (
toSdk*/fromSdk*) (shared)
- Localization keys (
$0)
- Shared UI (icon, menu items) (shared)
- Vault filters with feature flag gating â CRITICAL for ciphers to appear (shared +
$0)
- New item menus with feature flag gating (shared +
$0)
- Per-app UI (form section, view section) (shared)
- Context menu / copy actions â see Section 8 (shared +
$0)
- CLI (only if
$0 is cli or all)
- Autofill (only if
$0 is browser or all)
- Tests (shared +
$0)
7. Risks and Considerations
- Cross-repo coordination requirements
- Feature flag rollout strategy
- Backward compatibility concerns
- Any fields that need special encryption handling (reminder: no new encryption logic in clients)
- Performance considerations for large vaults
- i18n key reuse - Before adding new locale keys, check whether existing keys already have the
desired display value. If an existing key has the same message text, reuse it instead of creating
a duplicate. Only create new keys when no existing key matches.
8. Context Menu / Copy Actions
Each cipher type can expose copiable fields in the vault list item context menus (right-click / more
menu). Include only the sections relevant to $0.
Core Infrastructure (always included)
| File | What to add |
|---|
libs/vault/src/services/copy-cipher-field.service.ts | Add field names to the CopyAction type union. Add entries to the CopyActions record with typeI18nKey (i18n key for the toast message), protected (whether it requires password re-prompt), and optional event (for event collection). |
libs/common/src/vault/utils/cipher-view-like-utils.ts | Add cases to hasCopyableValue() that check whether the cipher has a non-empty value for each copiable field. |
Browser (include if $0 is browser or all)
| File | What to add |
|---|
apps/browser/src/vault/popup/components/vault/item-copy-action/item-copy-actions.component.ts | Add a singleCopyable<Type> getter (for single-field quick copy button), a has<Type>Values getter, and a getNumberOf<Type>Values() method. Follow the Card pattern. |
apps/browser/src/vault/popup/components/vault/item-copy-action/item-copy-actions.component.html | Add a section using @if syntax (NOT *ngIf) with the single/multi field pattern. |
Web (include if $0 is web or all)
| File | What to add |
|---|
apps/web/src/app/vault/components/vault-items/vault-cipher-row.component.ts | Add is<Type>Cipher and hasVisible<Type>Options getters. Add hasVisible<Type>Options to the showMenuDivider check. |
apps/web/src/app/vault/components/vault-items/vault-cipher-row.component.html | Add copy buttons using @if syntax with appCopyField directive. |
Desktop (include if $0 is desktop or all)
| File | What to add |
|---|
apps/desktop/src/vault/app/vault-v3/vault-items/vault-cipher-row.component.ts | Add a CipherType.<Type> case to the copyFields computed signal, returning CopyFieldConfig[] entries. This is the most modern pattern â uses a computed signal rather than getters. |
Critical Warnings
- CLI has no copy menu UI â do not add copy-related i18n keys to the CLI locale.
- Only expose fields that should be copiable â not every cipher field needs a copy action. Check
with product requirements for which fields get copy buttons.