Create Auth Skill

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

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

Decision Tree

Is this a new/empty project?
├─ YES → New project setup
│   1. Identify framework
│   2. Choose database
│   3. Install better-auth
│   4. Create auth.ts + auth-client.ts
│   5. Set up route handler
│   6. Run CLI migrate/generate
│   7. Add features via plugins
│
└─ NO → Does project have existing auth?
    ├─ YES → Migration/enhancement
    │   • Audit current auth for gaps
    │   • Plan incremental migration
    │   • See migration guides in docs
    │
    └─ NO → Add auth to existing project
        1. Analyze project structure
        2. Install better-auth
        3. Create auth config
        4. Add route handler
        5. Run schema migrations
        6. Integrate into existing pages

Installation

Core:

npm install 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

env

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

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

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

npx @better-auth/cli@latest migrate

(applies directly)

Prisma

npx @better-auth/cli@latest generate --output prisma/schema.prisma

then

npx prisma migrate dev

Drizzle

npx @better-auth/cli@latest generate --output src/db/auth-schema.ts

then

npx 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:

signIn.email({ email, password })

signIn.social({ provider, callbackURL })

Handle
```
error
```
in response
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

create-auth-skill

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content