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Merge pull request #581 from objectstack-ai/copilot/evaluate-better-auth-approach
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‎packages/plugins/plugin-auth/ARCHITECTURE.md‎

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# Better-Auth Integration: Direct Forwarding Approach
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## Decision Summary
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**Chosen Approach:** Direct Request Forwarding
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**Implementation Date:** 2026-02-10
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**Status:** ✅ Implemented and Tested
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## Problem Statement
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When integrating the better-auth library (v1.4.18) into `@objectstack/plugin-auth`, we needed to decide between two architectural approaches:
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1. **Direct Forwarding**: Forward all HTTP requests directly to better-auth's universal handler
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2. **Manual Implementation**: Implement wrapper methods for each authentication operation
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## Analysis
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### Better-Auth Architecture
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Better-auth v1.4.18 provides a **universal handler** pattern:
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```typescript
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type Auth = {
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handler: (request: Request) => Promise<Response>;
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api: InferAPI<...>;
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// ...
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}
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```
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This handler:
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- Accepts Web standard `Request` objects
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- Returns Web standard `Response` objects
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- Handles ALL authentication routes internally
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- Is framework-agnostic (works with Next.js, Hono, Express, etc.)
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### Hono Framework Compatibility
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Our HTTP server uses Hono, which already uses Web standard Request/Response:
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- Hono Context provides `c.req.raw` → Web `Request`
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- Hono accepts Web `Response` objects directly
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- **No conversion needed!**
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### Approach Comparison
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| Aspect | Direct Forwarding ✅ | Manual Implementation |
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|--------|---------------------|----------------------|
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| Code Size | ~100 lines | ~250 lines |
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| Maintenance | Minimal - better-auth handles it | High - must sync with better-auth updates |
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| Features | All better-auth features automatic | Must implement each feature manually |
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| Type Safety | Full TypeScript from better-auth | Custom types, may drift |
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| Bug Risk | Low - using library as designed | High - custom code, edge cases |
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| Updates | Get better-auth updates automatically | Must update wrapper code |
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| OAuth Support | Built-in, configured via options | Must implement OAuth flows |
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| 2FA Support | Built-in, configured via options | Must implement 2FA logic |
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| Passkeys | Built-in, configured via options | Must implement WebAuthn |
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| Magic Links | Built-in, configured via options | Must implement email flows |
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## Decision: Direct Forwarding
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### Rationale
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1. **Library Design Intent**: Better-auth's universal handler is the **recommended integration pattern**
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2. **Minimal Code**: ~150 lines removed, simpler to maintain
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3. **Full Feature Support**: All better-auth features work automatically
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4. **Future-Proof**: Better-auth updates require no code changes
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5. **Type Safety**: Full TypeScript support from better-auth
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6. **Standard Pattern**: Aligns with better-auth documentation examples
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### Implementation
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#### Before (Manual Approach)
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```typescript
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// Custom wrapper methods (200+ lines)
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httpServer.post('/auth/login', async (req, res) => {
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const result = await authManager.login(req.body);
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res.json(result);
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});
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httpServer.post('/auth/register', async (req, res) => {
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const result = await authManager.register(req.body);
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res.json(result);
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});
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// ... many more routes
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```
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#### After (Direct Forwarding)
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```typescript
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// Single wildcard route (~30 lines)
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rawApp.all('/api/v1/auth/*', async (c) => {
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const request = c.req.raw; // Web Request
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const authPath = url.pathname.replace(basePath, '');
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const rewrittenRequest = new Request(authPath, { ... });
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const response = await authManager.handleRequest(rewrittenRequest);
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return response; // Web Response
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});
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```
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### Trade-offs
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**Given Up:**
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- Fine-grained control over individual routes
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- Ability to easily intercept/modify requests
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**Solutions:**
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- Use Hono middleware for request interception if needed
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- Use better-auth plugins for custom behavior
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- Access `authManager.api` for programmatic operations
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## Results
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### Metrics
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- **Lines of Code Removed**: 156 (261 → 105 in auth-manager.ts)
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- **Test Coverage**: 11/11 tests passing
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- **Build Status**: ✅ Success
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- **Type Safety**: ✅ Full TypeScript support
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### Features Enabled
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- ✅ Email/Password Authentication
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- ✅ OAuth Providers (Google, GitHub, etc.)
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- ✅ Session Management
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- ✅ Password Reset
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- ✅ Email Verification
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- ✅ 2FA (when enabled)
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- ✅ Passkeys (when enabled)
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- ✅ Magic Links (when enabled)
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- ✅ Organizations (when enabled)
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## Usage Example
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```typescript
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import { AuthPlugin } from '@objectstack/plugin-auth';
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const plugin = new AuthPlugin({
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secret: process.env.AUTH_SECRET,
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baseUrl: 'http://localhost:3000',
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// OAuth providers - just configuration, no implementation needed
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providers: [
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{
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id: 'google',
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clientId: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID,
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clientSecret: process.env.GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET,
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}
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],
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// Advanced features - just enable, no implementation needed
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plugins: {
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organization: true, // Multi-tenant support
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twoFactor: true, // 2FA
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passkeys: true, // WebAuthn
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magicLink: true, // Passwordless
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}
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});
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```
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All better-auth endpoints work immediately:
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- `/api/v1/auth/sign-up/email`
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- `/api/v1/auth/sign-in/email`
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- `/api/v1/auth/authorize/google`
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- `/api/v1/auth/two-factor/enable`
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- `/api/v1/auth/passkey/register`
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- And many more...
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## Lessons Learned
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1. **Use Libraries as Designed**: Better-auth provides a universal handler for a reason
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2. **Less Code = Less Bugs**: The simplest solution is often the best
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3. **Trust the Framework**: Better-auth has battle-tested auth logic
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4. **Embrace Standards**: Web standard Request/Response makes integration seamless
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## References
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- [Better-Auth Documentation](https://www.better-auth.com/docs)
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- [PR #580](https://github.com/objectstack-ai/spec/pull/580) - Initial better-auth integration
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- Analysis Document: `/tmp/better-auth-approach-analysis.md`

‎packages/plugins/plugin-auth/README.md‎

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@@ -12,23 +12,26 @@ Authentication & Identity Plugin for ObjectStack.
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- ✅ Service registration in ObjectKernel
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- ✅ Configuration schema support
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- ✅ **Better-Auth library integration (v1.4.18)**
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- ✅ **AuthManager class with lazy initialization**
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- ✅ **TypeScript types for all auth methods**
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- ✅ **Direct request forwarding to better-auth handler**
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- ✅ **Wildcard routing (`/api/v1/auth/*`)**
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- ✅ **Full better-auth API access via `auth.api`**
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- ✅ Comprehensive test coverage (11/11 tests passing)
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### Production Ready Features
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- ✅ **Email/Password Authentication** - Handled by better-auth
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- ✅ **OAuth Providers** - Configured via `providers` option
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- ✅ **Session Management** - Automatic session handling
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- ✅ **Password Reset** - Email-based password reset flow
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- ✅ **Email Verification** - Email verification workflow
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- ✅ **2FA** - Two-factor authentication (when enabled)
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- ✅ **Passkeys** - WebAuthn/Passkey support (when enabled)
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- ✅ **Magic Links** - Passwordless authentication (when enabled)
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- ✅ **Organizations** - Multi-tenant support (when enabled)
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### In Active Development
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- 🔄 **API Integration** - Connecting better-auth API methods to routes
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- 🔄 **Database Adapter** - Drizzle ORM integration for data persistence
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- 🔄 **Session Management** - Secure session handling with automatic refresh
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- 🔄 **User Management** - User registration, login, profile management
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### Planned for Future Releases
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- 📋 **Multiple Auth Providers** - Support for OAuth (Google, GitHub, etc.), email/password, magic links
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- 📋 **Organization Support** - Multi-tenant organization and team management
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- 📋 **Security** - 2FA, passkeys, rate limiting, and security best practices
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- 📋 **Advanced Features** - Magic links, passkeys, two-factor authentication
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The plugin uses [better-auth](https://www.better-auth.com/) for robust, production-ready authentication functionality.
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The plugin uses [better-auth](https://www.better-auth.com/) for robust, production-ready authentication functionality. All requests are forwarded directly to better-auth's universal handler, ensuring full compatibility with all better-auth features.
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## Installation
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## API Routes
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The plugin registers the following authentication endpoints:
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The plugin forwards all requests under `/api/v1/auth/*` directly to better-auth's universal handler. Better-auth provides the following endpoints:
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### Email/Password Authentication
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/sign-in/email` - Sign in with email and password
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/sign-up/email` - Register new user with email and password
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/sign-out` - Sign out current user
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### Session Management
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- `GET /api/v1/auth/get-session` - Get current user session
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### Password Management
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/forget-password` - Request password reset email
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/reset-password` - Reset password with token
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### Email Verification
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/send-verification-email` - Send verification email
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- `GET /api/v1/auth/verify-email` - Verify email with token
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### OAuth (when providers configured)
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- `GET /api/v1/auth/authorize/[provider]` - Start OAuth flow
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- `GET /api/v1/auth/callback/[provider]` - OAuth callback
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### 2FA (when enabled)
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/two-factor/enable` - Enable 2FA
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/two-factor/verify` - Verify 2FA code
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/login` - User login with email/password
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/register` - User registration
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/logout` - User logout
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- `GET /api/v1/auth/session` - Get current session
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### Passkeys (when enabled)
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/passkey/register` - Register a passkey
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/passkey/authenticate` - Authenticate with passkey
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**Note:** Routes are currently wired up and returning placeholder responses while better-auth API integration is completed. OAuth provider routes will be added in upcoming releases.
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### Magic Links (when enabled)
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- `POST /api/v1/auth/magic-link/send` - Send magic link email
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- `GET /api/v1/auth/magic-link/verify` - Verify magic link
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For the complete API reference, see [better-auth documentation](https://www.better-auth.com/docs).
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## Implementation Status
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This package provides authentication services powered by better-auth. Current implementation status:
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1. ✅ Plugin lifecycle (init, start, destroy)
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2. ✅ HTTP route registration
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2. ✅ HTTP route registration (wildcard routing)
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3. ✅ Configuration validation
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4. ✅ Service registration
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5. ✅ Better-auth library integration (v1.4.18)
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6. ✅ AuthManager class with lazy initialization
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7. 🔄 Better-auth API method integration (in progress)
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8. ⏳ Database adapter integration (planned)
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9. ⏳ OAuth providers (planned)
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10. ⏳ Advanced features (2FA, passkeys, magic links)
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6. ✅ Direct request forwarding to better-auth handler
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7. ✅ Full better-auth API support
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8. ✅ OAuth providers (configurable)
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9. ✅ 2FA, passkeys, magic links (configurable)
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10. 🔄 Database adapter integration (in progress)
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### Architecture
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The plugin uses a **direct forwarding** approach:
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```typescript
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// All requests under /api/v1/auth/* are forwarded to better-auth
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rawApp.all('/api/v1/auth/*', async (c) => {
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const request = c.req.raw; // Web standard Request
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const response = await authManager.handleRequest(request);
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return response; // Web standard Response
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});
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```
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This architecture provides:
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- ✅ **Minimal code** - No custom route implementations
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- ✅ **Full compatibility** - All better-auth features work automatically
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- ✅ **Easy updates** - Better-auth updates don't require code changes
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- ✅ **Type safety** - Full TypeScript support from better-auth
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- ✅ **Programmatic API** - Access auth methods via `authManager.api`
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## Development
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‎packages/plugins/plugin-auth/examples/basic-usage.ts‎

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/**
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* Auth Plugin Usage Example
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*
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* This example demonstrates how to use the AuthPlugin
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* in an ObjectStack application.
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* This example demonstrates how to use the AuthPlugin with better-auth
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* in an ObjectStack application. All requests are forwarded directly
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* to better-auth's universal handler.
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*/
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import { ObjectKernel } from '@objectstack/core';
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await kernel.start();
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console.log('🚀 Server started with auth plugin');
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console.log('📍 Auth endpoints available at:');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/login');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/register');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/logout');
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console.log(' - GET http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/session');
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console.log('📍 Better-auth endpoints available at:');
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console.log('');
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console.log(' Email/Password:');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/sign-up/email');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/sign-in/email');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/sign-out');
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console.log(' - GET http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/get-session');
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console.log('');
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console.log(' Password Management:');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/forget-password');
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console.log(' - POST http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/reset-password');
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console.log('');
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console.log(' OAuth (if configured):');
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console.log(' - GET http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/authorize/google');
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console.log(' - GET http://localhost:3000/api/v1/auth/authorize/github');
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console.log('');
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console.log(' See https://www.better-auth.com/docs for complete API reference');
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console.log('');
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// Access the auth service from the kernel
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const authService = kernel.getService('auth');

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