{"id":16734,"library":"next-lite-auth","title":"Lightweight JWT Auth for Next.js","description":"next-lite-auth is a lightweight, JWT-based authentication solution for Next.js applications, designed specifically for scenarios where a full database or third-party auth service is overkill. It uses static JSON for user management, loaded via environment variables, eliminating the need for database setup. The current stable version is 0.2.6. Release cadence appears to be iterative and feature-driven within the 0.x range, indicating active development. Its primary differentiators are its zero-database approach, ease of setup, and a built-in login UI, making it suitable for MVPs, internal tools, demos, and educational projects. It explicitly states it is not recommended for production environments requiring robust security or scalability, instead catering to rapid development and OSS projects where authentication can be easily toggled via environment variables.","status":"active","version":"0.2.6","language":"javascript","source_language":"en","source_url":"https://github.com/amide-init/next-lite-auth","tags":["javascript","nextjs","auth","jwt","lightweight","typescript"],"install":[{"cmd":"npm install next-lite-auth","lang":"bash","label":"npm"},{"cmd":"yarn add next-lite-auth","lang":"bash","label":"yarn"},{"cmd":"pnpm add next-lite-auth","lang":"bash","label":"pnpm"}],"dependencies":[{"reason":"Peer dependency for Next.js framework integration.","package":"next","optional":false},{"reason":"Peer dependency for React components and hooks.","package":"react","optional":false}],"imports":[{"note":"Primary factory function for core auth setup. Used in a server-side file like `auth.ts`.","wrong":"const { createLiteAuth } = require('next-lite-auth');","symbol":"createLiteAuth","correct":"import { createLiteAuth } from 'next-lite-auth';"},{"note":"Helper function to parse user data from the LITE_AUTH_USERS environment variable, typically used with `createLiteAuth`.","wrong":"const { usersFromEnv } = require('next-lite-auth');","symbol":"usersFromEnv","correct":"import { usersFromEnv } from 'next-lite-auth';"},{"note":"Client component context provider. Must be imported from 'next-lite-auth/client' and used in a client component due to 'use client' directive.","wrong":"import { LiteAuthProvider } from 'next-lite-auth';","symbol":"LiteAuthProvider","correct":"import { LiteAuthProvider } from 'next-lite-auth/client';"},{"note":"React hook for accessing authentication state and actions (e.g., user data, logout) within client components. Also imported from 'next-lite-auth/client'.","wrong":"import { useLiteAuth } from 'next-lite-auth';","symbol":"useLiteAuth","correct":"import { useLiteAuth } from 'next-lite-auth/client';"},{"note":"Refers to the handlers object (GET, POST) exported from your `auth.ts` file, not directly from the library. Handles API routes for authentication.","wrong":"import { handlers } from 'next-lite-auth';","symbol":"handlers","correct":"import { handlers } from '@/auth';"},{"note":"Refers to the middleware function exported from your `auth.ts` file, not directly from the library. Used in `middleware.ts` for route protection.","wrong":"import { middleware } from 'next-lite-auth';","symbol":"middleware","correct":"import { middleware } from '@/auth';"}],"quickstart":{"code":"import { createLiteAuth, usersFromEnv } from \"next-lite-auth\";\nimport { LiteAuthProvider } from \"next-lite-auth/client\";\nimport { cookies } from 'next/headers';\n\n// --- 1. Create auth.ts at your project root ---\n// auth.ts (server-side)\nexport const { handlers, middleware, getUserFromCookies } = createLiteAuth({\n  users: usersFromEnv(),\n  jwtSecret: process.env.LITE_AUTH_SECRET ?? 'fallback-secret-for-dev',\n  enabled: process.env.LITE_AUTH_ENABLED !== \"false\",\n});\n\n// .env.local example\n// LITE_AUTH_SECRET=your-random-secret-here\n// LITE_AUTH_ENABLED=true\n// LITE_AUTH_USERS=[{\"email\":\"admin@example.com\",\"password\":\"secret\",\"role\":\"admin\",\"name\":\"Admin\"}]\n\n// --- 2. Add one route file ---\n// app/api/auth/[...liteauth]/route.ts (API Route)\n// import { handlers } from \"@/auth\"; // Assuming '@/auth' resolves to the auth.ts file\n// export const { GET, POST } = handlers;\n\n// --- 3. Wrap root layout ---\n// components/auth-provider-wrapper.tsx (Client Component)\n\"use client\";\nexport function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {\n  return (\n    <LiteAuthProvider protect={[\"/dashboard\", \"/settings\"]} appName=\"My Next App\">\n      {children}\n    </LiteAuthProvider>\n  );\n}\n\n// app/layout.tsx (Server Component)\n// import { AuthProvider } from \"@/components/auth-provider-wrapper\";\n// export default function RootLayout({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {\n//   return (\n//     <html>\n//       <body>\n//         <AuthProvider>{children}</AuthProvider>\n//       </body>\n//     </html>\n//   );\n// }\n\n// Example of server-side usage outside middleware/API routes\nasync function getServerSideUser() {\n  const user = await getUserFromCookies(cookies());\n  console.log('Server-side user:', user?.email);\n}\n\n// Call the function (e.g., in a Server Component or route handler)\ngetServerSideUser();","lang":"typescript","description":"This quickstart demonstrates the core 3-step setup: initializing auth utilities with environment variables, exposing API handlers, wrapping the application with the client-side provider, and an example of server-side user retrieval."},"warnings":[{"fix":"For production applications, consider more established authentication solutions with database integration, multi-factor authentication, and comprehensive security audits.","message":"next-lite-auth is explicitly stated as 'Not for production'. It is designed for demos, OSS projects, internal tools, and quick Vercel deployments. It may lack the robust security, scalability, and feature set required for public-facing production applications.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=0.1.0"},{"fix":"Ensure client-side imports correctly reference `next-lite-auth/client`: `import { LiteAuthProvider } from 'next-lite-auth/client';`","message":"The `LiteAuthProvider` component and `useLiteAuth` hook must be imported from `next-lite-auth/client`. Importing directly from `next-lite-auth` will cause errors in client components due to missing 'use client' directive.","severity":"breaking","affected_versions":">=0.1.0"},{"fix":"For applications with many users or needing dynamic user management, switch to a solution that integrates with a database. Ensure `.env.local` files containing `LITE_AUTH_USERS` are never committed to version control and are only accessible by authorized personnel.","message":"User data is stored directly in environment variables (LITE_AUTH_USERS) as a JSON string. This approach is not suitable for large numbers of users or dynamic user management and could pose security risks if `.env.local` files are not properly secured.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=0.1.0"},{"fix":"Always use a strong, randomly generated secret for `process.env.LITE_AUTH_SECRET` and ensure it is managed securely (e.g., via environment variables in deployment platforms) without exposing it in code.","message":"The `jwtSecret` is a critical security component. Using a hardcoded or easily guessable secret, or allowing a fallback like `fallback-secret-for-dev` in a non-development environment, significantly compromises the security of the JWTs.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=0.1.0"}],"env_vars":null,"last_verified":"2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z","next_check":"2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z","problems":[{"fix":"Ensure `process.env.LITE_AUTH_SECRET` is set in your `.env.local` file and accessible in the environment where `createLiteAuth` is called. For development, a fallback might be acceptable, but avoid in production.","cause":"The `jwtSecret` property was missing or undefined when calling `createLiteAuth`.","error":"Error: `createLiteAuth` must be called with a `jwtSecret`."},{"fix":"Import `LiteAuthProvider` from `next-lite-auth/client` and ensure it is used within a component marked with `'use client'`, as shown in the quickstart example of `components/auth-provider.tsx`.","cause":"Attempting to import `LiteAuthProvider` directly from `next-lite-auth` into a Server Component or not wrapping it in a client component.","error":"Error: `LiteAuthProvider` is a client component and cannot be rendered directly in a Server Component without 'use client'."},{"fix":"Always check if `user` is truthy before attempting to access its properties (e.g., `if (user) { console.log(user.email); }`). Handle the case where no user is logged in gracefully.","cause":"The `user` object returned by `useLiteAuth` or `getUserFromCookies` is `null` or `undefined`, indicating no user is logged in.","error":"TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'email') when accessing user data."},{"fix":"Verify that the `LITE_AUTH_USERS` environment variable is a valid JSON string representing an array of user objects, for example: `[{\"email\":\"test@example.com\",\"password\":\"pass\"}]`.","cause":"The `LITE_AUTH_USERS` environment variable contains malformed JSON, preventing `usersFromEnv()` from parsing it correctly.","error":"Error: Invalid JSON in LITE_AUTH_USERS environment variable."}],"ecosystem":"npm"}