Credence Deployment & Integration Guides

⚠️ IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
These guides describe the target deployment experience for Credence. While the core services exist in the codebase, the Docker containers, CI/CD pipelines, installers, and some SDKs described here are not yet implemented. Download links and some deployment scripts represent the target state. This documentation serves as a specification for DevOps implementation.

Welcome to the Credence ecosystem! Choose your path based on your role and needs:

🔧 For Users

End User Wallet Guide

Just want to use Credence? Download the desktop wallet and start building your decentralized identity.

Perfect for:

• Individuals managing their digital identity
• Students receiving credentials
• Professionals building trust networks
• Anyone wanting privacy-first identity management

No technical setup required - just download and go!

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🏗️ For Network Operators

Light Node Guide

Want to help the network? Run a light node to participate in P2P gossip and data availability.

Perfect for:

• Community members wanting to contribute
• Users with basic technical skills
• Those wanting modest rewards for network participation

Requirements: Basic VPS, 4GB RAM, Docker knowledge

Full Node Guide

Serious about infrastructure? Run a complete node with all Credence services for maximum rewards.

Perfect for:

• Organizations wanting full network participation
• Technical teams with DevOps experience
• Infrastructure providers seeking higher rewards

Requirements: Dedicated server, 16GB+ RAM, professional deployment

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🏢 For Organizations

Service Provider Guide

Need to issue credentials? Set up issuer services for your institution, company, or organization.

Perfect for:

• Universities issuing diplomas
• Companies providing employment verification
• Government agencies issuing licenses
• Healthcare providers managing certifications

Custom solutions for credential issuance, verification, and management.

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👩‍💻 For Developers

Developer Integration Guide

Building applications? Integrate Credence into your existing systems and applications.

Perfect for:

• Frontend/backend developers
• Mobile app developers
• Enterprise integration teams
• API consumers

Comprehensive SDKs for JavaScript, Go, Python, and more.

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🚀 Quick Start Matrix

Your Role	Time to Setup	Technical Level	Guide	Commands
End User	5 minutes	None	Wallet Guide	Commands
Light Node Operator	30 minutes	Basic	Light Node	Commands
Full Node Operator	2-4 hours	Advanced	Full Node	Commands
Credential Issuer	1-2 hours	Intermediate	Service Provider	Commands
App Developer	30 minutes	Programming	Developer Guide	Commands

📝 Need Copy-Paste Commands?

→ See DEPLOYMENT.md for ready-to-run commands for all scenarios

💡 Architecture Overview

graph TB
    subgraph "End Users"
        W[Desktop Wallets]
        M[Mobile Apps]
        B[Web Apps]
    end
    
    subgraph "Service Providers"  
        U[Universities]
        E[Employers]
        G[Government]
        H[Healthcare]
    end
    
    subgraph "Network Infrastructure"
        L[Light Nodes]
        F[Full Nodes]
        S[Seed Nodes]
    end
    
    subgraph "Credence P2P Network"
        P[Gossip Protocol]
        D[DHT Discovery] 
        C[Consensus Layer]
        T[Trust Scoring]
    end
    
    W --> P
    M --> P
    B --> P
    
    U --> P
    E --> P
    G --> P
    H --> P
    
    L --> P
    F --> P
    S --> P
    
    P --> D
    P --> C
    P --> T

🎯 Use Case Examples

Individual Users

• Students: Receive and manage academic credentials
• Professionals: Build verifiable work history
• Citizens: Store government-issued documents
• Consumers: Manage online reputation and trust

Organizations

• Educational Institutions: Issue tamper-proof diplomas and certificates
• Employers: Provide verifiable employment history
• Licensing Bodies: Issue professional licenses and certifications
• Healthcare Systems: Manage vaccination records and medical licenses

Developers

• dApp Builders: Add trust scoring to decentralized applications
• Enterprise Teams: Integrate credential verification into existing systems
• Identity Providers: Build on decentralized identity standards
• Platform Creators: Enable trust-based features in applications

🔒 Security & Privacy

All deployment patterns prioritize:

• Privacy by Design - Minimal data collection and sharing
• Self-Sovereign Identity - Users control their own data
• Zero-Knowledge Proofs - Verify without revealing unnecessary details
• Decentralized Architecture - No single point of failure or control

🌐 Network Effects

The more participants in each role, the stronger the network becomes:

• More Users → Higher demand for services → Better economics for operators
• More Nodes → Better redundancy → More reliable network
• More Issuers → Richer credential ecosystem → Higher utility
• More Developers → Better tooling → Easier adoption

🆘 Need Help?

1. Start with the guide that matches your role
2. Join the community at discord.gg/credence
3. Check the FAQ at credence.network/faq
4. Open an issue at github.com/ParichayaHQ/credence/issues

Ready to get started? Pick your guide above and dive in! 🌊