Introduction

Understanding Zero-Knowledge Proofs

What is zkkit?

zkkit is a command-line toolkit that simplifies the zero-knowledge proof workflow. It wraps powerful tools like snarkjs (zk-SNARK library) and circom (circuit compiler) to provide a streamlined developer experience.

🔧 How the Tools Work Together

1.
circom - Circuit programming language that compiles your ZK circuits into R1CS constraints and WASM files
2.
snarkjs - JavaScript and Pure WebAssembly library that performs the actual zk-SNARK cryptographic operations (setup, proof generation, verification)
3.
zkkit - Convenience wrapper that orchestrates these tools with sensible defaults, making the entire workflow simpler

What Do Zero-Knowledge Proofs Do?

Zero-knowledge proofs allow you to prove that something is true without revealing why it's true. It's like proving you know a secret without showing the secret itself.

A Simple Example

🔐 The Password Scenario

❌ Traditional Way (Not Private):

You type your password → Server sees your actual password → Server checks if it matches

Problem: The server knows your password!

✅ Zero-Knowledge Way (Private):

You create a mathematical proof → Server verifies the proof → Server confirms you know the password

Success: Server never sees your actual password!

💡 Real-World Example: Age Verification

Scenario: You need to prove you're over 18 to enter a website.

Old way: Show your ID card (reveals birthdate, address, photo, ID number)

ZK way: Generate a proof that says "Yes, I'm over 18" without showing any other information

The website gets its answer, but your privacy is protected!

Why This Matters

🔒 Privacy

Keep your sensitive data private while still proving facts about it

🛡️ Security

Less data shared means fewer chances for data breaches

🌐 Trust

Verify claims without needing to trust the person making them

⚡ Efficiency

Proofs are small and fast to verify, even for complex computations

Common Use Cases

  • •
    Financial Privacy: Prove you have enough funds without revealing your balance
  • •
    Identity Verification: Prove you're eligible (age, citizenship, etc.) without exposing personal details
  • •
    Blockchain Scaling: Process thousands of transactions and prove they're valid with a single proof
  • •
    Private Voting: Prove your vote was counted without revealing who you voted for
  • •
    Credential Systems: Prove you have a valid license/certificate without sharing the actual document

What is zkkit?

zkkit is a toolkit that makes it easy to build zero-knowledge proofs. It handles all the complex cryptography so you can focus on what you want to prove.

zkkit provides simple commands to compile circuits, generate proofs, and verify them using the industry-standard Groth16 proving system with Circom circuit language.

Ready to Get Started?

Follow these steps to start building with zero-knowledge proofs:

1
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Installation

Install zkkit and all required dependencies (Rust, Circom, SnarkJS)

2
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Quick Start

Build your first zero-knowledge proof with a step-by-step tutorial

3
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Commands

Explore all available zkkit commands and their options

💡 Tip: Start with the Quick Start guide to get hands-on experience immediately, or dive into Installation if you want to set up your environment first.