Airlock Laravel Package

Technical Evaluation

Architecture Fit

• Lightweight Authentication: Sanctum is designed for SPAs (Single Page Applications) and simple APIs, making it ideal for projects requiring token-based authentication without the overhead of OAuth2 (e.g., Laravel Passport). It integrates seamlessly with Laravel’s ecosystem, leveraging Laravel’s built-in session/cookie mechanisms and API token guards.
• Stateless Tokens: Uses personal access tokens (stored in personal_access_tokens table) and session-based authentication, aligning with modern stateless API design.
• Laravel-Centric: Deep integration with Laravel’s authentication contracts, middleware, and request lifecycle, reducing custom boilerplate.
• Use Case Fit:
  • ✅ Internal APIs (e.g., admin dashboards, mobile apps).
  • ✅ SPA-backed APIs (React/Vue/Blazor consuming Laravel APIs).
  • ❌ Complex OAuth2 workflows (e.g., third-party auth, social logins).
  • ❌ High-scale public APIs (Sanctum lacks rate-limiting, token revocation hooks, or advanced token management).

Integration Feasibility

• Laravel Dependency: Requires Laravel 10.x+ (PHP 8.1+). Compatibility with older Laravel versions may need polyfills or adjustments.
• Database Schema: Adds a personal_access_tokens table (migrations provided). Minimal schema changes if using Laravel’s default auth structure.
• Middleware: Leverages Laravel’s built-in auth:sanctum middleware for API routes. No custom middleware required for basic use.
• Token Generation: Supports manual token creation (via createToken()) and automatic token assignment (e.g., after login).
• CSRF Protection: Works with Laravel’s CSRF middleware for web routes; tokens are stateless for APIs.

Technical Risk

Key Questions for TPM

1. Authentication Scope:

   • Is this for internal APIs only, or will third-party clients consume it? (Sanctum lacks OAuth2 features.)
   • Do we need token expiration hooks or automatic revocation (e.g., on password change)?

2. Token Storage:

   • How will tokens be stored on the client (localStorage, cookies, or HTTP-only cookies)?
   • Are there compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR right to erasure for tokens)?

3. Scaling Needs:

   • Will the API scale to millions of tokens? (Sanctum’s DB-based storage may become a bottleneck.)
   • Is Redis caching for token validation feasible?

4. Integration with Existing Auth:

   • How will Sanctum interact with existing Laravel auth (e.g., users table, guards)?
   • Are there custom user models or multi-tenant requirements?

5. Security Hardening:

   • Should tokens be encrypted at rest (e.g., using Laravel Encryption)?
   • Is token blacklisting needed (e.g., for compromised tokens)?

Integration Approach

Stack Fit

• Laravel Ecosystem: Perfect fit for Laravel projects. No additional infrastructure needed beyond Laravel’s core.
• Frontend Compatibility:
  • SPAs: Works with React, Vue, Angular, etc., via fetch/axios with Authorization: Bearer <token>.
  • Mobile Apps: Native HTTP clients can use tokens directly.
• Microservices: Can be used as a centralized auth service for other Laravel microservices.
• Non-Laravel Systems: Limited; requires custom adapters for non-Laravel backends.

Migration Path

Compatibility

• Laravel Features:
  • ✅ Works with Laravel Breeze/Jetstream for SPA auth scaffolding.
  • ✅ Compatible with Laravel Passport (if OAuth2 is later needed).
  • ✅ Integrates with Laravel Sanctum’s HasApiTokens trait for user models.
• Third-Party Packages:
  • ⚠️ May conflict with custom auth packages (e.g., spatie/laravel-permission).
  • ✅ Works with Laravel Horizon for token-related queue jobs.
• Legacy Systems:
  • ❌ Not compatible with pre-Laravel 5.5 projects.
  • ⚠️ May need adjustments for non-standard Laravel auth setups.

Sequencing

1. Phase 1: Core Integration

   • Install Sanctum, set up tokens, and protect basic API routes.
   • Deliverable: Functional token-based auth for a single SPA/mobile app.

2. Phase 2: Security Hardening

   • Implement token encryption, rate limiting, and revocation logic.
   • Deliverable: Secure token management with audit trails.

3. Phase 3: Scaling

   • Optimize token storage (e.g., Redis caching) and monitor performance.
   • Deliverable: High-performance auth for scaled APIs.

4. Phase 4: Advanced Features

   • Add custom token claims, multi-tenancy support, or integration with SIEM tools.
   • Deliverable: Enterprise-grade auth system.

Operational Impact

Maintenance

• Pros:
  • Minimal Maintenance: Sanctum is actively maintained by Laravel (last release: 2026-02-10).
  • Laravel Updates: Aligns with Laravel’s release cycle (e.g., PHP 8.2+ support).
  • Community Support: 2.9K stars, active GitHub issues, and Laravel forums.
• Cons:
  • Token Management: Manual revocation requires custom logic (no built-in API).
  • Deprecation Risk: If Laravel shifts to Passport for all auth needs, Sanctum may become niche.

Support

• Internal Teams:
  • Devs: Low learning curve if familiar with Laravel auth.
  • Ops: Minimal operational overhead (no external auth services).
• External Support:
  • Laravel Docs: Comprehensive official documentation.
  • Community: Stack Overflow, Laravel Discord, and GitHub issues.
• SLAs:
  • Critical Issues: Laravel team responds to security vulnerabilities via security policy.
  • Feature Requests: Contributions welcome but not guaranteed (MIT license).

Scaling

• Performance:
  • Token Validation: ~1-2ms overhead per