How to Design a User Management System Using JWTs, Ktor, and Exposed
A developer tutorial from the Vesper Design Diaries series explains the critical distinctions between identity, authentication, and authorization in app development. Identity refers to who the user actually is, typically represented by a stable value like an email address, while authentication is the process of verifying that claim through passwords, OTPs, or biometrics. Authorization, by contrast, governs what a verified user is permitted to do within the system. The article argues that conflating these three concepts causes problems when apps need to support multiple login methods, role-based access, or account suspension without deletion. The series uses Kotlin Multiplatform app Vesper as a practical case study for implementing a production-grade user management system on a limited budget.
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