Login and Sessions

Goal

This snapshot advances Harborline Digest by teaching you to authenticate with signed session cookies.

Every numbered folder is a complete app. Run this stage independently, then compare it with the previous folder.

Prerequisites

Use Node.js 20+, npm, and Docker for Postgres stages.

Port 3003 must be free. Copy .env.example before starting database stages.

• Node.js and npm
• A code editor and terminal
• Docker from part 4 onward

Concepts

Keep only the user id in the session and load the user per request.

Keep server routes thin: pages present data, server handlers enforce rules, and templates escape output by default.

Walkthrough

Verify credentials, set the session, and clear it on logout.

Read the example, then open the matching snapshot. The repository includes the surrounding setup and error handling.

await setUserSession(event, { userId: user.id })
return sendRedirect(event, '/')

Run and verify

Enter 07-Login-And-Sessions, install dependencies, copy .env.example, and start Nuxt on port 3003.

Open http://127.0.0.1:3003. Watch the terminal for validation and database errors.

docker compose up -d
git clone https://github.com/michaeldunga1/fcc-nuxt-blog.git
cd fcc-nuxt-blog/07-Login-And-Sessions
npm install
cp .env.example .env
npm run dev -- --port 3003

Troubleshooting

Changing SESSION_SECRET invalidates cookies.

For database failures, confirm Docker/Wrangler and the harborline_NN name when applicable. Never commit .env or node_modules.

• Read the first error first
• Restart after environment changes
• Never commit secrets

Try this

Log in, restart, confirm session, then log out.

Test a happy path and one invalid or unauthorized request.

• Make one small change
• Test it in the browser
• Compare with the next snapshot only after it works