How I'm doing authentication on my simple Go app (with Fiber) | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This content explains creating a simple password-based authentication system in a Go web application.

Key Insights

• 🙃 The application utilizes password authentication paired with session IDs to manage user access effectively.
• 👣 By implementing an internal memory map, the application can track active sessions securely and efficiently.
• 👤 Error messages for login failures enhance user experience by providing immediate feedback on authentication problems.
• 🙃 The logout mechanism emphasizes security by ensuring session IDs are completely cleared from both memory and cookies.
• 👤 HTMX integration simplifies client-side interactions, resulting in a smoother user experience with less reliance on JavaScript.
• 😒 The approach described combines simplicity with security, making it suitable for personal use without unnecessary complexity.
• 😑 Fiber's pre-built authentication middleware can save development time and effort by providing established solutions.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main purpose of the application being built?

The application serves as an internal tool for the author, focusing on building a simple authentication system that uses password verification and session management to control access to a dashboard of emails.

Q: How does the session management work in the application?

The session management involves storing session IDs in an internal memory map. When a user logs in successfully, a random session ID is generated and added to this map. Future requests check this ID to confirm user authentication before granting access to specific pages.

Q: What happens if the user enters an incorrect password?

If an incorrect password is entered, the application is designed to redirect the user back to the login page. The author also plans to implement an error message to notify the user of the failed login attempt, enhancing user experience.

Q: How does the application maintain user security during sessions?

The application checks that the session ID in the cookie matches an entry in the internal memory map on each request. Additionally, it ensures the session ID is not an empty string, adding an extra layer of security against unauthorized access.

Q: What is the purpose of the logout functionality?

The logout functionality clears the session ID from the map and sets the session cookie to an empty value. This effectively logs the user out, preventing them from making further requests without re-authenticating.

Q: Why is the author using HTMX in their application?

HTMX is used for enhanced interactivity and functionality without extensive JavaScript coding. It allows for dynamic effects such as redirects accompanying HTTP responses, improving the user experience when interacting with the web application.

Q: What considerations should be made regarding authentication middleware?

The author advises checking for existing middleware packages in the Go framework, as many often provide built-in solutions for basic authentication and session management, preventing the need to "reinvent the wheel" when developing similar functionalities.

Q: What is the author’s overall goal with this application?

The author’s aim is to create a functional and efficient internal tool for personal use that enables secure access to email-related data while continually learning and experimenting with Go and HTMX for better web development practices.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author builds a simple authentication mechanism using Go, which involves a password check and session management through cookies. A successful login sets a session ID for subsequent requests.

• The content discusses redirecting users based on authentication status, explaining the internal map structure that stores active sessions, and ensuring users are authenticated before accessing certain pages.

• Additional features like error messaging for failed logins and logout functionality are described, emphasizing security best practices and exploring available middleware for more advanced authentication options.