[Question] Encrypt using the same data key

I am building a custom python wrapper over sops (called via subprocess), and i currently am following this approach

1. Decrypt the file to stdout
2. Convert that yaml content into a python dict
3. Operate on the dict in memory
4. Encrypt it and dump it back to the same file path

This works great and all but, it will always re-encrypt the entire file (and uses a different data key), which makes sense.

The reason why I'm doing it like this is because it's easier to operate on a dict rather than having to do type conversions, dump as json string, etc.

I am wondering, is there a reasonable way I could do this where sops would use the same data key to encrypt the context again before saving it to the final file path ?

Thank you

The issue names no repository file, test, or entry point. Start by reviewing the described Python subprocess flow and how SOPS handles data keys during decrypt and re-encrypt operations. Done means determining whether reusing the same data key is supported and documenting the confirmed behavior or required interface.