create-auth-skill

name	create-auth-skill
description	Scaffold Better Auth in TypeScript apps: framework handlers, DB adapters, OAuth, email/password, and auth UI. Use when adding login, sign-up, session handling, or Better Auth plugins.
metadata	{"author":"epicenter","version":"1.0"}

Create Auth Skill

Reference Repositories

• Better Auth: TypeScript authentication framework with plugins

Upstream Grounding

When Better Auth API signatures, framework handlers, adapter setup, generated schema, plugin options, session behavior, or security defaults affect correctness, ask DeepWiki a narrow question against better-auth/better-auth before relying on memory. Use it to orient, then verify decisive details against local installed types, source, or official docs before changing code.

Skip DeepWiki for stable planning steps and repo-local conventions already documented below.

Guide for adding authentication to TypeScript/JavaScript applications using Better Auth.

For code examples and syntax, see better-auth.com/docs.

When to Apply This Skill

Use this pattern when you need to:

• Add Better Auth login/sign-up to a new or existing TypeScript/JavaScript app.
• Plan auth implementation by detecting framework, DB, and existing auth stack.
• Configure auth.ts, client setup, route handlers, and migrations.
• Add OAuth providers, plugins, and auth pages based on project requirements.
• Migrate incrementally from another auth library to Better Auth.

---

Phase 1: Planning (REQUIRED before implementation)

Before writing any code, gather requirements by scanning the project and asking the user structured questions. This ensures the implementation matches their needs.

Step 1: Scan the project

Analyze the codebase to auto-detect:

• Framework: Look for next.config, svelte.config, nuxt.config, astro.config, vite.config, or Express/Hono entry files.
• Database/ORM: Look for prisma/schema.prisma, drizzle.config, package.json deps (pg, mysql2, better-sqlite3, mongoose, mongodb).
• Existing auth: Look for existing auth libraries (next-auth, lucia, clerk, supabase/auth, firebase/auth) in package.json or imports.
• Package manager: In this repository, use Bun. Do not switch package managers based on lockfiles.

Use what you find to pre-fill defaults and skip questions you can already answer.

Step 2: Ask planning questions

Ask only the planning questions still unanswered after the scan. If a question is needed, ask it concisely in the current conversation and continue once answered. Do not assume a multi-choice question tool is available.

Questions to ask:

1. Project type (skip if detected)

   • Prompt: "What type of project is this?"
   • Options: New project from scratch | Adding auth to existing project | Migrating from another auth library

2. Framework (skip if detected)

   • Prompt: "Which framework are you using?"
   • Options: Next.js (App Router) | Next.js (Pages Router) | SvelteKit | Nuxt | Astro | Express | Hono | SolidStart | Other

3. Database & ORM (skip if detected)

   • Prompt: "Which database setup will you use?"
   • Options: PostgreSQL (Prisma) | PostgreSQL (Drizzle) | PostgreSQL (pg driver) | MySQL (Prisma) | MySQL (Drizzle) | MySQL (mysql2 driver) | SQLite (Prisma) | SQLite (Drizzle) | SQLite (better-sqlite3 driver) | MongoDB (Mongoose) | MongoDB (native driver)

4. Authentication methods (always ask, allow multiple)

   • Prompt: "Which sign-in methods do you need?"
   • Options: Email & password | Social OAuth (Google, GitHub, etc.) | Magic link (passwordless email) | Passkey (WebAuthn) | Phone number
   • allow_multiple: true

5. Social providers (only if they selected Social OAuth above; ask later if needed)

   • Prompt: "Which social providers do you need?"
   • Options: Google | GitHub | Apple | Microsoft | Discord | Twitter/X
   • allow_multiple: true

6. Email verification (only if Email & password was selected above; ask later if needed)

   • Prompt: "Do you want to require email verification?"
   • Options: Yes | No

7. Email provider (only if email verification is Yes, or if Password reset is selected in features; ask later if needed)

   • Prompt: "How do you want to send emails?"
   • Options: Resend | Mock delivery during local development

8. Features & plugins (always ask, allow multiple)

   • Prompt: "Which additional features do you need?"
   • Options: Two-factor authentication (2FA) | Organizations / teams | Admin dashboard | API bearer tokens | Password reset | None of these
   • allow_multiple: true

9. Auth pages (always ask, allow multiple; pre-select based on earlier answers)

   • Prompt: "Which auth pages do you need?"
   • Options vary based on previous answers:
     • Always available: Sign in | Sign up
     • If Email & password selected: Forgot password | Reset password
     • If email verification enabled: Email verification
   • allow_multiple: true

10. Auth UI style (always ask)

• Prompt: "What style do you want for the auth pages? Pick one or describe your own."
• Options: Minimal & clean | Centered card with background | Split layout (form + hero image) | Floating / glassmorphism | Other (I'll describe)

Step 3: Summarize the plan

After collecting answers, present a concise implementation plan as a markdown checklist. Example:

## Auth Implementation Plan

- **Framework:** Next.js (App Router)
- **Database:** PostgreSQL via Prisma
- **Auth methods:** Email/password, Google OAuth, GitHub OAuth
- **Plugins:** 2FA, Organizations, Email verification
- **UI:** Custom forms

### Steps
1. Install `better-auth` and `@better-auth/cli`
2. Create `lib/auth.ts` with server config
3. Create `lib/auth-client.ts` with React client
4. Set up route handler at `app/api/auth/[...all]/route.ts`
5. Configure Prisma adapter and generate schema
6. Add Google & GitHub OAuth providers
7. Enable `twoFactor` and `organization` plugins
8. Set up email verification handler
9. Run migrations
10. Create sign-in / sign-up pages

Ask the user to confirm the plan before proceeding to Phase 2.

---

Phase 2: Implementation

Only proceed here after the user confirms the plan from Phase 1.

Follow the decision tree below, guided by the answers collected above.

Is this a new/empty project?
├─ YES → New project setup
│   1. Install better-auth (+ scoped packages per plan)
│   2. Create auth.ts with all planned config
│   3. Create auth-client.ts with framework client
│   4. Set up route handler
│   5. Set up environment variables
│   6. Run CLI migrate/generate
│   7. Add plugins from plan
│   8. Create auth UI pages
│
├─ MIGRATING → Migration from existing auth
│   1. Audit current auth for gaps
│   2. Plan incremental migration
│   3. Install better-auth alongside existing auth
│   4. Migrate routes, then session logic, then UI
│   5. Remove old auth library
│   6. See migration guides in docs
│
└─ ADDING → Add auth to existing project
    1. Analyze project structure
    2. Install better-auth
    3. Create auth config matching plan
    4. Add route handler
    5. Run schema migrations
    6. Integrate into existing pages
    7. Add planned plugins and features

At the end of implementation, guide users thoroughly on remaining next steps (e.g., setting up OAuth app credentials, deploying env vars, testing flows).

---

Installation

Core: bun add better-auth

Scoped packages (as needed):

Package	Use case
@better-auth/passkey	WebAuthn/Passkey auth
@better-auth/sso	SAML/OIDC enterprise SSO
@better-auth/stripe	Stripe payments
@better-auth/scim	SCIM user provisioning
@better-auth/expo	React Native/Expo

---

Environment Variables

BETTER_AUTH_SECRET=<32+ chars, generate with: openssl rand -base64 32>
BETTER_AUTH_URL=http://localhost:3000
DATABASE_URL=<your database connection string>

Add OAuth secrets as needed: GITHUB_CLIENT_ID, GITHUB_CLIENT_SECRET, GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID, etc.

---

Server Config (auth.ts)

Location: lib/auth.ts or src/lib/auth.ts

Minimal config needs:

• database - Connection or adapter
• emailAndPassword: { enabled: true } - For email/password auth

Standard config adds:

• socialProviders - OAuth providers (google, github, etc.)
• emailVerification.sendVerificationEmail - Email verification handler
• emailAndPassword.sendResetPassword - Password reset handler

Full config adds:

• plugins - Array of feature plugins
• session - Expiry, cookie cache settings
• account.accountLinking - Multi-provider linking
• rateLimit - Rate limiting config

Export types: export type Session = typeof auth.$Infer.Session

---

Client Config (auth-client.ts)

Import by framework:

Framework	Import
React/Next.js	better-auth/react
Vue	better-auth/vue
Svelte	better-auth/svelte
Solid	better-auth/solid
Vanilla JS	better-auth/client

Client plugins go in createAuthClient({ plugins: [...] }).

Common exports: signIn, signUp, signOut, useSession, getSession

---

Route Handler Setup

Framework	File	Handler
Next.js App Router	app/api/auth/[...all]/route.ts	toNextJsHandler(auth) → export { GET, POST }
Next.js Pages	pages/api/auth/[...all].ts	toNextJsHandler(auth) → default export
Express	Any file	app.all("/api/auth/*", toNodeHandler(auth))
SvelteKit	src/hooks.server.ts	svelteKitHandler(auth)
SolidStart	Route file	solidStartHandler(auth)
Hono	Route file	auth.handler(c.req.raw)

Next.js Server Components: Add nextCookies() plugin to auth config.

---

Database Migrations

Adapter	Command
Built-in Kysely	bun x @better-auth/cli@latest migrate (applies directly)
Prisma	bun x @better-auth/cli@latest generate --output prisma/schema.prisma then bun x prisma migrate dev
Drizzle	bun x @better-auth/cli@latest generate --output src/db/auth-schema.ts then bun x drizzle-kit push

Re-run after adding plugins.

---

Database Adapters

Database	Setup
SQLite	Pass better-sqlite3 or bun:sqlite instance directly
PostgreSQL	Pass pg.Pool instance directly
MySQL	Pass mysql2 pool directly
Prisma	prismaAdapter(prisma, { provider: "postgresql" }) from better-auth/adapters/prisma
Drizzle	drizzleAdapter(db, { provider: "pg" }) from better-auth/adapters/drizzle
MongoDB	mongodbAdapter(db) from better-auth/adapters/mongodb

---

Common Plugins

Plugin	Server Import	Client Import	Purpose
twoFactor	better-auth/plugins	twoFactorClient	2FA with TOTP/OTP
organization	better-auth/plugins	organizationClient	Teams/orgs
admin	better-auth/plugins	adminClient	User management
bearer	better-auth/plugins	-	API token auth
openAPI	better-auth/plugins	-	API docs
passkey	@better-auth/passkey	passkeyClient	WebAuthn
sso	@better-auth/sso	-	Enterprise SSO

Plugin pattern: Server plugin + client plugin + run migrations.

---

Auth UI Implementation

Sign in flow:

1. signIn.email({ email, password }) or signIn.social({ provider, callbackURL })
2. Handle error in response
3. Redirect on success

Session check (client): useSession() hook returns { data: session, isPending }

Session check (server): auth.api.getSession({ headers: await headers() })

Protected routes: Check session, redirect to /sign-in if null.

---

Security Checklist

• BETTER_AUTH_SECRET set (32+ chars)
• advanced.useSecureCookies: true in production
• trustedOrigins configured
• Rate limits enabled
• Email verification enabled
• Password reset implemented
• 2FA for sensitive apps
• CSRF protection NOT disabled
• account.accountLinking reviewed

---

Troubleshooting

Issue	Fix
"Secret not set"	Add BETTER_AUTH_SECRET env var
"Invalid Origin"	Add domain to trustedOrigins
Cookies not setting	Check baseURL matches domain; enable secure cookies in prod
OAuth callback errors	Verify redirect URIs in provider dashboard
Type errors after adding plugin	Re-run CLI generate/migrate

---

Resources

• Docs
• Examples
• Plugins
• CLI
• Migration Guides