FlutterFlow Custom Authentication with Xano

In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk through the process of setting up custom authentication in your Flutter Flow application using Xano as the backend. This will allow you to leverage Xano's powerful authentication and authorization capabilities while building your app with Flutter Flow's intuitive no-code platform.

Setting up Xano

1. Create a Xano Workspace: Start by creating a new workspace in Xano or using an existing one. For this example, we'll use a simple workspace with a single "Users" table.
2. Add Authentication APIs: Xano can automatically generate authentication API endpoints for you. Navigate to the "APIs" section and click on "Add API Endpoint". Under the "Authentication" category, add the following endpoints:

• Login
• Sign Up
• Auth Me

1. Customize Login API (Optional): While the default behavior of the Login API is sufficient, you can optionally customize it to return additional user data along with the authentication token. In the "Login" API, add an "Update Variable" step to include the user record and authentication token in the response.
2. Test the APIs: Use the "Run & Debug" feature in Xano to test your authentication APIs. Ensure that the Sign Up and Login endpoints are working as expected and returning the necessary data.

Setting up Flutter Flow

1. Create a New Project: Start by creating a new project in Flutter Flow or using an existing one.
2. Add User Data Type: Navigate to the "Data Types" section and create a new data type called "User". Add fields like "username" and "email" to store user data.
3. Enable Custom Authentication: In the "Project Settings" under "Authentication", enable custom authentication and set the appropriate initial and logged-in pages. Associate the "User" data type with the authentication flow.
4. Create Sign Up API Call: Add a new API call for sign-up by navigating to the "APIs" section. Set the method to "POST" and the URL to the Sign Up endpoint URL from Xano. Configure the request body with the required fields (e.g., name, email, password) and map them to variables.
5. Create Login API Call: Repeat the process for the Login API call, using the Login endpoint URL from Xano.
6. Set Up Sign Up Flow: In your Sign Up page, add an action flow that triggers the Sign Up API call when the user submits the form. Handle success and error cases appropriately, including logging in the user upon successful sign-up using the "Custom Authentication" > "Login" action.
7. Set Up Login Flow: Similar to the sign-up flow, create an action flow for the Login page that triggers the Login API call. Handle success and error cases, and log in the user upon successful authentication.
8. Fetch User Data: To retrieve user data after successful authentication, create a new API call for the "Auth Me" endpoint in Xano. This endpoint will return the user's information if the request includes a valid authentication token. Add an action flow to your "Logged In" page that triggers this API call and displays the user data.
9. Test the Application: Use Flutter Flow's "Test Mode" to test the complete authentication flow, including sign-up, login, and fetching user data.

By following these steps, you'll have successfully integrated Xano's custom authentication capabilities into your Flutter Flow application. Users can now sign up, log in, and access their data seamlessly, leveraging the power of Xano's backend services.

Remember, this guide provides a basic implementation, and you may need to customize it further based on your specific application requirements. Additionally, ensure that you follow best practices for secure authentication and authorization, such as hashing passwords and using appropriate access controls.