Toko Cloud Drive: Decentralized File Storage on ICP

The Future of Cloud Storage is Here

In an era where data privacy concerns and centralized control dominate the cloud storage landscape, Toko Cloud Drive emerges as a revolutionary solution. Built on the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), this decentralized file storage platform offers censorship-resistant, scalable cloud storage that puts users back in control of their data.

What Makes Toko Cloud Drive Different?

Decentralized by Design

Unlike traditional cloud storage providers like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud, Toko Cloud Drive operates on a decentralized network. Your files aren't stored on centralized servers controlled by a single company - they're distributed across thousands of independent nodes on the Internet Computer.

CanDB-Powered Scalability

At the heart of Toko Cloud Drive is CanDB, a revolutionary database technology specifically designed for ICP. CanDB enables horizontal scaling, meaning the storage capacity grows seamlessly as more users join the network. There's no artificial storage limit - the system scales with demand.

Orthogonal Persistence

Toko Cloud Drive leverages ICP's Enhanced Orthogonal Persistence (EOP), ensuring your data survives canister upgrades and system updates. This means zero downtime and guaranteed data integrity, even during software updates.

Key Features

🔒 Security First

• End-to-end encryption protects your files before they reach the network
• Principal-based authentication using ICP's identity system
• Zero-knowledge architecture - even the protocol can't access your content

📁 Intuitive File Management

• Web-based file explorer that works like familiar cloud storage interfaces
• Drag-and-drop uploads for seamless file operations
• Folder organization and metadata support
• File sharing without intermediaries

⚡ Performance & Reliability

• Global CDN-like access through ICP's worldwide node network
• Predictable costs using ICP cycles instead of subscription fees
• 99.9% uptime guaranteed by blockchain consensus

Live Demo

🌐 Try Toko Cloud Drive Now

Connect with your Internet Identity and start storing files immediately. No sign-up required, no credit card needed.

How It Works

The Technology Stack

Frontend: A responsive web application built with modern JavaScript frameworks Backend: Motoko smart contracts running on ICP canisters Database: CanDB for horizontal scaling and efficient data management Storage: ICP's stable memory with orthogonal persistence

File Storage Architecture

When you upload a file to Toko Cloud Drive:

1. Client-side encryption secures your data before transmission
2. File chunking breaks large files into manageable pieces
3. Distributed storage across multiple ICP subnets
4. Metadata indexing in CanDB for fast retrieval
5. Redundant backup ensures data availability

Use Cases

Personal Cloud Storage

Replace your current cloud storage with a censorship-resistant alternative. Store personal documents, photos, and important files knowing they're protected from government overreach or corporate data mining.

Business Document Management

Companies can use Toko Cloud Drive for secure document storage and sharing. Compliance with data sovereignty requirements becomes automatic - no more worrying about where your data physically resides.

Content Distribution

Creators and publishers can distribute media files without platform restrictions. Videos, music, and digital art can be shared directly with audiences, cutting out middlemen and reducing costs.

Research Data Sharing

Academic institutions and researchers can share large datasets securely. The decentralized nature ensures research data remains accessible even if institutions face funding cuts or political pressure.

Cost Comparison

Getting Started

For Users

1. Visit the live application
2. Connect with Internet Identity
3. Start uploading files immediately

For Developers

The codebase is open-source and available on GitHub. Contributions welcome for:

• Mobile app development
• API integrations
• Advanced search features
• Collaboration tools

Future Roadmap

Phase 1 (Current): Core Storage

• ✅ File upload/download
• ✅ Basic file organization
• ✅ Sharing capabilities
• ✅ Web interface

Phase 2 (Q1 2026): Enhanced Features

• 🔄 Advanced search and filtering
• 🔄 File versioning
• 🔄 Compression and deduplication
• 🔄 Mobile applications

Phase 3 (Q2 2026): Enterprise Features

• 🔄 Team collaboration tools
• 🔄 Audit trails and compliance
• 🔄 API integrations
• 🔄 Advanced security features

Technical Deep Dive

CanDB Architecture

		// File entity structure in CanDB
type File = {
  id: Text;
  name: Text;
  size: Nat;
  contentType: Text;
  owner: Principal;
  uploadTime: Time;
  chunks: [Blob];  // File data split into chunks
  metadata: Map<Text, Text>;  // Custom metadata
};
	

Orthogonal Persistence Benefits

• Automatic persistence: No manual save/load operations
• Upgrade safety: Data survives canister updates
• Type safety: Compile-time guarantees
• Performance: No serialization overhead

Join the Decentralized Storage Revolution

Toko Cloud Drive represents more than just another cloud storage service - it's a fundamental shift toward user-controlled, censorship-resistant data storage. By leveraging the power of the Internet Computer and CanDB's innovative scaling technology, we've created a storage solution that grows with the internet itself.

Ready to take control of your data? Visit Toko Cloud Drive and experience the future of cloud storage today.

This post is part of DappJak Labs' exploration of decentralized technologies. Follow us for more deep dives into ICP-powered applications.

Standards

filemetadata#<sha256> filechunk#<sha256>#<chunkid>

		// routing.services.ts
export async function putFile(
	serviceClient: ActorClient<IndexCanister, AppService | UserService>,
	pk: string, // app
	sha256: string, // d626b6fc8303502056664d2ad9af32581ddd5fbf902d794890e7790f4e87c3a7
	inFile: FileWithChunks, // { metadata: { name: string, size: bigint, type: string }, chunks: Uint8Array[] }
) {
	let fileSk: string = `filemetadata#${sk}`;
	await serviceClient.update<any['putObject']>(pk, fileSk, (actor: any) =>
		actor.putObject(fileSk, { filemetadata: inFile.metadata })
	);
	// put file chunks
	for (let [index, val] of inFile.chunks.entries()) {
		let chunkSk = `filechunk#${sk}#${pack(index, 'hex')}`;
		let chunkArray = [...new Uint8Array(val)];
		await serviceClient.update<any['putObject']>(pk, chunkSk, (actor: any) =>
			actor.putObject(chunkSk, { filechunk: chunkArray })
		);
	}
}