[vimslayer]

Even without async/await, it could be better if some unnecessary nesting would be cleaned up

    openpgp.cleartext
      .readArmored(req.body.message)
      .then(message => {
        openpgp.key
          .readArmored(nodes[0].value.key)
          .then(key => {
            ...
          })
      })

could be

    openpgp.cleartext
      .readArmored(req.body.message)
      .then(message =>
        openpgp.key.readArmored(nodes[0].value.key)
      )
      .then(key => {
        ...
      })

[githubsucks]

Did you try running the code with the change you suggested? The lattermost closure in your snippet (`key => { ... }`) needs to be able to reference `message`, but you've moved it out of scope.

This and similar subthreads in this Show HN entry are a good example of pointless, hostile, obnoxiously-pedantic-without-even-being-technically-correct wankery that makes HN an often terrible place for conversations.

[vimslayer]

Ugh you're right, it wouldn't work then. For what it's worth I was mostly commenting on the "the poster child of why async/await was made" comment above with the idea that async/await wouldn't necessarily be needed to make the code cleaner. But as you pointed out, in this case it wouldn't work. I'm sorry if the commment came out as wankery.