An Alternative (Simpler) Initialization

[jamesmh]

The quick start docs for .NET Core have a code snippet for the initial Okta middleware setup to be used in the ConfigureServices method.

(This one 👇)

services.AddAuthentication(options =>
{
    options.DefaultAuthenticateScheme = CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
    options.DefaultSignInScheme = CookieAuthenticationDefaults.AuthenticationScheme;
    options.DefaultChallengeScheme = OktaDefaults.MvcAuthenticationScheme;
})
.AddCookie()
.AddOktaMvc(new OktaMvcOptions
{
    OktaDomain = "https://{yourOktaDomain}",
    ClientId = "{clientId}",
    ClientSecret = "{clientSecret}"
});

// ... the rest of ConfigureServices
services.AddMvc();

This is pretty simple 😊

I just want to throw out an alternative option for devs who:

• Want to test out the middleware a bit more quickly
• Don't need any additional customization

It might look something like this (whatever the name might be):

services.AddOktaCookieAuth(configuration);

This would internally do what the above snippet does.

It would reduce the using statements from 2 to 1 - removing the need for:

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authentication.Cookies;

It's not a big deal but it's a tiny "win." And tiny "wins" over time can compound, right?

This would match some of the conventions built into .NET Core too. For example, adding the entire MVC infrastructure is simply:

services.AddMvc();

Under the covers that would add a bunch of stuff that the dev could otherwise add himself. But the simple convenience is part of what makes .NET Core so great.

Other pros:

• Could lead to simplifying the "quick start" docs a tiny bit
• Help make demos etc. a bit quicker to get started

If you guys think this is a good idea I'd be up for implementing that. Otherwise, no harm done 🤣

Thanks! Keep up the good work guys 👌

[laura-rodriguez]

Hi @jamesmh,

Thanks for your feedback ❤️! It sounds like a good idea.
I'll discuss this feature with the team and I'll get back to you soon.

[jamesmh]

Great - thank you so much @laura-rodriguez !

[laura-rodriguez]

Hi @jamesmh!
We all agreed this is a good idea 😄 . Are you still up to implement this?

[jamesmh]

Yes I am 👍

I'll ask any questions etc. on this thread - I'm sure I'll have a few 😋

Thanks Laura!

[laura-rodriguez]

You will have to sign our Okta Individual Contributor License Agreement. All the info you need is here: https://developer.okta.com/cla/

[jamesmh]

I'll sign that off soon 👍

Question: In order to test the new extension method properly, it looks like I'll have to create a new integration test project - is that OK with you guys?

[laura-rodriguez]

Hi @jamesmh,
Integration tests are welcome! We already have some projects created for this purpose (look for those with IntegrationTests suffix 😄), feel free to add your tests in there.