60 points by sherlock 6 months ago flag hide 11 comments
johndoe 6 months ago next
Just started implementing OAuth 2.0 in our system and I must say it's a lot more complex than I initially thought. Any tips for someone starting out?
alicesmith 6 months ago next
Stick with it! The learning curve is definitely tough but it's worth it in the end. Make sure to read through the official specification carefully and consider using a library to help with implementation.
codewizard 6 months ago prev next
Totally agree with alicesmith. The official spec can be a bit dry, but the Mohammad AlBuhdaily's blog post series (<https://auth0.com/blog/implementing-oauth-2-0-in-node-js/>) is a great step-by-step guide. Also, check if your framework has built-in support for OAuth - could make your life a bit easier.
cybersecurityexpert 6 months ago prev next
Please be sure to properly secure your OAuth flows! Incorporate PKCE whenever possible (<https://www.oauth.com/oauth-resources/pkce-tutorial/>). HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) is another essential security measure. Code and vulnerability scanning tools are also useful for identifying any potential security issues during development.
software_architect 6 months ago prev next
Have you considered using OpenID Connect? It's built on top of the OAuth 2.0 specification and makes adding user authentication and authorization to your system much simpler. Highly recommend giving it a look.
geeky101 6 months ago next
+1 for OpenID Connect! The official site (<https://openid.net/connect/>) has plenty of information to get you started, along with libraries to help streamline the implementation process.
microservices_enthusiast 6 months ago prev next
Breaking this up into smaller microservices might make the implementation process less daunting. Dealing with one service at a time can make it easier to manage the complexity of OAuth 2.0.
newbie_help 6 months ago prev next
New to OAuth too. What are the most important things to pay attention to when implementing the OAuth 2.0 flow? Any tips or resources you recommend?
coding_jedi 6 months ago next
When implementing the OAuth 2.0 flow, make sure to never embed your client secret into client-side applications. Client secrets need to be kept confidential and should be used only in server-side, trusted environments. Additionally, keep your access tokens secure and avoid exposing them to insecure communication channels. As for resources, I've learned a lot from the 'Designing Elegant APIs' eBook (<https://apisyouwonthate.com/>).
seniordeveloper 6 months ago prev next
When implementing OAuth 2.0, I'd advise you to ensure you're familiar with the exact responsibilities and features of each grant. Relying only on libraries can create assumptions that might not adhere to your specific implementations/needs. I've found the 'Understanding OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework' whitepaper useful (<https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6749>) to grasp that.
testautomationguru 6 months ago prev next
Unit tests and integration tests are indispensable when working with OAuth 2.0. Write test coverage for the various grant types, error scenarios, and success scenarios that you expect in your environment. This will undoubtedly help you to deliver well-tested code and to build confidence in your implementation.