A better way to handle user authentication in Rails

· 2 min read

When it comes to authentication in Rails, most developers reach for Devise. However, there’s an alternative approach that gives you more control: Authentication Zero.

Authentication Zero is a generator that creates authentication code directly in your application. Unlike Devise, which abstracts authentication away into a gem, Authentication Zero gives you the code to own and customize.

Why Authentication Zero?

  • Full control - The code lives in your app, not hidden in a gem
  • Easy to customize - Modify any part of the authentication flow
  • No magic - You can read and understand every line
  • Modern features - Supports passwordless, WebAuthn, and more

Getting Started

Add to your Gemfile:

gem "authentication-zero"

Then generate:

rails generate authentication
rails db:migrate

This creates:

  • User model with secure password
  • Sessions controller
  • Password reset functionality
  • Email verification
  • Views you can customize

The Result

You get a complete authentication system with code you own. Need to add 2FA? Modify the login flow? Add social login? You have the code right there.

Check out the Authentication Zero repository for more details.