Implementing Auth Shouldn't Be This Hard
If you’ve been a developer for any length of time, you’ve probably faced the dreaded task of implementing user authentication and authorization. Whether you’re working with SSO providers like Google, managing local accounts, or building role-based access, the process can be a massive headache.
- The documentation often feels fragmented or outdated.
- Tutorials are hit-or-miss and rarely work out of the box.
- Frameworks like ASP.NET Core Identity are powerful but come with a steep learning curve.
And at the end of the day, all you want is a clean, straightforward way to sign users in and secure your API.
This was my frustration, too—so I built SimpleAuth for .NET.
What is SimpleAuth?
SimpleAuth for .NET is a free, open-source solution that makes implementing user and role-based authentication simple and fast for .NET WebAPI applications.
It’s built for small to medium-sized businesses and developers who want to:
- Skip the complexity of ASP.NET Core Identity.
- Avoid expensive identity providers for basic auth needs.
- Get started quickly with local accounts or Google SSO.
In short, SimpleAuth lets you focus on your application’s features, not the tedious work of setting up authentication.
Why Build SimpleAuth?
Over my 25 years of software development, I’ve spent weeks wrestling with authentication setups—weeks that should have been spent building valuable features.
Here’s the thing: auth shouldn’t take weeks.
I built SimpleAuth because I believe:
- Small projects shouldn’t require a bloated solution for identity management.
- You shouldn’t need to spend hours debugging complex frameworks or tutorials.
- Free, self-hosted solutions are critical for developers and businesses on a budget.
What Does SimpleAuth Offer?
SimpleAuth prioritizes ease of use while delivering essential features:
- Quick Integration: Add it to an existing .NET WebAPI project in minutes.
- Core Workflows: Includes login, logout, registration, and password recovery—out of the box.
- Local Accounts + Google SSO: Use built-in local accounts or integrate Google as an identity provider.
- User and Role Management: Manage users and roles without building an entire UI from scratch.
SimpleAuth + Your Front-End Framework
SimpleAuth isn’t just about the back end. To make your life even easier, I’ve started building front-end examples for popular frameworks:
- Angular (v18): A polished client example using Angular Material.
- React (v18): A functional implementation that can be extended further.
- Vue (v3): A solid starting point with Vue Router and Composition API.
These front-end clients authenticate with the API, handle user workflows, and can serve as blueprints for your own implementation.
How to Get Started
Getting started with SimpleAuth is simple (pun intended).
You can find detailed instructions, API documentation, and client setup guides in the documentation.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning for SimpleAuth. I’m actively improving it based on feedback and planning to integrate it into my flagship product, LymeStack—a modern web application template designed to save developers time and effort.
If you think SimpleAuth is useful, I’d love for you to:
- Try it out in your own project.
- Contribute to the project (front-end, back-end, or docs).
- Share it with other developers who are tired of struggling with authentication.
Final Thoughts
Authentication is a necessary evil in modern applications, but it doesn’t have to be painful. SimpleAuth is here to make implementing auth suck less—so you can focus on what matters: building great applications.
Check it out, give it a spin, and let us know what you think.
Stay tuned for updates, and thanks for reading!
If you’re curious about LymeStack and how SimpleAuth fits into the bigger picture, learn more here.
Want to Contribute?
SimpleAuth is an open-source project, and contributions are welcome! Whether it’s improving the front-end clients, adding a new feature, or sharing feedback, you can make SimpleAuth even better.
Follow the project on GitHub and be part of the journey.
Ready to simplify authentication? Start with SimpleAuth and get back to building. 🚀