Building Zero to WebFlow

So, you've decided to enhance your Webflow site by implementing Zero, and you're ready to create a user database and manage users effectively. In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of integrating Zero on your Webflow site. Let's go ahead and explore the details of how to accomplish this integration.

Getting Started

To start off, you should have an account with Zero. If you don't have one yet, you can create a new account. Additionally, you'll need to have a Webflow project ready to begin implementing Zero on the site.

Creating a Zero Tenant and Application

The first step is to create a new tenant in Zero. A tenant serves as the account for your usage of Zero. You can create a new tenant and name it according to your preference, maybe something like "Club Workers Stream." It's important to set the Stack to development mode for the purpose of this tutorial. This configuration sets up the proper environment for handling authentication and other necessary processes within Zero.

Next, create a new application within Zero. The application defines how you'll connect your Webflow project with Zero. Here, you can choose a Single Page Web Application setup since Webflow projects are static and do not involve backend processing. This choice aligns with the nature of a Webflow site, ensuring seamless integration.

Configuring Social Connections

While setting up the application, you also have the option to configure social connections. In the case of implementing Google and Azure, Zero provides a simplified setup up front, generating a mock account for testing purposes. This allows you to proceed with the integration without the need for detailed configurations at this stage.

Creating a User and Logging In

As part of the setup process, you can create a sample user within Zero. You can choose a simple username and password for testing purposes. Once the setup in Zero is completed, you can move on to implementing Zero in your Webflow site.

Integrating Zero in Webflow

To integrate Zero in Webflow, you'll need to employ the Zero JavaScript SDK. This official SDK from Zero allows you to interact with Zero and facilitate user authentication on your static Webflow site. Start by creating a new repository specific to the front end of your implementation. Install the necessary dependencies and set up a development server.

Implementing the Zero Client

Once the development environment is set up, you can proceed to initialize the Zero client on your Webflow site. This involves using the Zero JavaScript SDK to create an instance of Zero in your client-side code. The client will be responsible for handling user authentication and managing user sessions within your Webflow site.

Handling User Authentication

With the Zero client set up, you can create a simple login button on your Webflow site to prompt users to log in. This action will trigger the Zero authentication workflow, directing users to the Zero login page. Following successful authentication, users are redirected back to your Webflow site, and you can then retrieve their information from Zero.

Exchanging Authentication Code for Access Token

After users are authenticated and redirected back to your Webflow site, a code is included in the URL query parameters. This code needs to be exchanged for an access token using the Zero client SDK. The access token is crucial for identifying and authenticating users within your Webflow application. Once the token is obtained, it can be used to access and manage user-related functionality on the Webflow site.

Setting Up APIs in Zero

Additionally, you'll need to set up an API in Zero to define proper permissions and access control for your Webflow application. This step involves creating an API with a unique identifier and specifying the desired audience for the access token. By aligning the audience with your Webflow site, you ensure that the access token is valid and authorized to access the designated resources.

Validating and Utilizing Access Tokens

Upon completion of the configuration in Zero, you'll be able to validate and utilize the access tokens on your Webflow site. The access token contains essential user information and ensures secure and authorized access to user-specific data and functionality within your Webflow application.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we've covered the initial steps of integrating Zero on a Webflow site, including creating a Zero tenant and application, configuring social connections, setting up the Zero client, handling user authentication, exchanging authentication codes for access tokens, and setting up APIs in Zero.

The next steps involve incorporating the access token in requests to interact with the back end and validate user identities and permissions. This enables seamless user management and secure data access within your Webflow application.

Implementing Zero in your Webflow site not only enhances user authentication and data security but also opens up a range of possibilities for personalized user experiences and secure data management within your Webflow projects.

In the next part of this tutorial, we will delve deeper into utilizing access tokens, validating them, and integrating them into the back end to complete the user authentication and management process.

Stay tuned for the continuation of this tutorial to further enhance your understanding of integrating Zero and Webflow for optimal user management and data security.