How to automatically authenticate users when accessing shared Google Docs

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1

I’m building a web app where one user creates a Google Docs document and shares it with another user. The issue I’m running into is that when the second user clicks the shared document link, Google always shows the login screen first.

I could save the second user’s login credentials in my database, but I’m wondering if there’s a better approach to handle this automatic authentication process. Is there a way to streamline the login experience so users don’t have to manually enter their Google credentials every time they access a shared document through my application?

Any suggestions on implementing this functionality would be helpful.

2

oauth’s really useful here, but make sure to manage those sessions too. once users are logged in, keep 'em active, so they don’t have to keep logging back in. if they’re all in the same org, check out domain-wide delegation - it lets you share stuff without making them log in all the time.

3

To manage shared Google Docs without repeatedly prompting for login, using OAuth 2.0 is highly effective. This allows users to connect their Google account initially and grant necessary permissions. Your application receives refresh tokens, enabling access without further login prompts. By employing the Google Drive API for document sharing and the Google Docs API for access management, you streamline user experience. It’s essential to securely store these OAuth tokens rather than the actual login credentials, ensuring compliance with Google’s best practices for third-party integrations.

4

Here’s another option - use service accounts if your users are all in the same organization. Service accounts can access docs without making users log in, so no more login prompts. You’d create one through Google Cloud Console, generate credentials, then share your docs with the service account’s email. Works great for internal apps where you control document access. Just watch your permissions carefully since the service account acts for your app, not individual users. If you’ve got both internal and external users, you’ll probably need to mix this with the OAuth approach people mentioned earlier.