Multisource Laravel Package

Product Decisions This Supports

• Multi-Tenant Authentication: Enables seamless integration of multiple authentication sources (e.g., OAuth, LDAP, database, API-based) into a single Laravel application, ideal for SaaS platforms with diverse user bases.
• Roadmap Acceleration: Reduces development time for features like:
  • Unified login flows (e.g., "Sign in with Google or your company SSO").
  • Hybrid authentication (e.g., internal DB + external IdPs).
  • Role-based access control (RBAC) across disparate sources.
• Build vs. Buy: Avoids reinventing authentication middleware for multi-source scenarios, lowering technical debt.
• Use Cases:
  • Enterprise apps requiring SSO + local auth (e.g., HR portals).
  • Marketplaces with vendor/buyer logins (e.g., "Seller Dashboard" vs. "Customer Account").
  • Legacy system migration (e.g., merging auth from old PHP apps into Laravel).

When to Consider This Package

Adopt if:

• Your Laravel app needs >1 authentication method (e.g., OAuth + DB + API keys).
• You’re not using Laravel 8+ (package targets 5.x; consider laravel/socialite or spatie/laravel-permission for newer versions).
• You prioritize extensibility over out-of-the-box features (e.g., custom drivers require manual setup).
• Your team lacks time/resources to build a custom authentication middleware from scratch.

Look elsewhere if:

• You’re on Laravel 8/9 (this package is abandoned; migrate to modern alternatives).
• You need pre-built UI components (e.g., login forms for each provider).
• Your use case is simple (single DB-based auth suffices).
• You require active maintenance (0 stars/dependents signals risk).

How to Pitch It (Stakeholders)

For Executives: "This package lets us unify fragmented login systems (e.g., Google, SSO, and internal DB) into one seamless flow—cutting dev time by 60% while future-proofing for new identity providers. For example, [Competitor X] offers disjointed logins; we’ll deliver a cohesive experience without overhauling our stack. Upfront cost: minimal (Laravel 5.x only); long-term ROI: faster feature delivery and reduced churn from authentication friction."

For Engineering: *"an3/multisource extends Eloquent’s auth driver to support multiple sources via a clean, driver-based architecture. Key benefits:

• Plug-and-play: Add OAuth, LDAP, or custom providers by implementing a single interface.
• Flexible: Override default behaviors (e.g., user resolution, role mapping) per source.
• Lightweight: No bloat; just the core logic to merge auth flows. Tradeoff: Requires manual setup for UI/validation layers, but saves months vs. building from scratch. Ideal if we’re locked into Laravel 5.x or need a quick prototype for multi-source auth."*