Local Authentication vs OpenID Connect

Developers should implement local authentication when building applications that need to operate offline, such as desktop software, mobile apps with limited connectivity, or embedded systems meets developers should learn and use openid connect when building applications that require secure user authentication and identity verification, such as enterprise sso systems, consumer-facing apps with social login, or any service needing to integrate with identity providers like google, microsoft, or okta. Here's our take.

Local Authentication

Nice Pick

Developers should implement local authentication when building applications that need to operate offline, such as desktop software, mobile apps with limited connectivity, or embedded systems

Pros

• It's also suitable for single-user applications where centralized user management is not required, as it reduces complexity and eliminates dependency on external authentication servers
• Related to: password-hashing, salting

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

OpenID Connect

Developers should learn and use OpenID Connect when building applications that require secure user authentication and identity verification, such as enterprise SSO systems, consumer-facing apps with social login, or any service needing to integrate with identity providers like Google, Microsoft, or Okta

Pros

• It simplifies authentication flows by standardizing token-based identity verification, reducing the need for custom authentication code and enhancing security through built-in features like token validation and user consent management
• Related to: oauth-2.0, json-web-tokens

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Local Authentication is a concept while OpenID Connect is a protocol. We picked Local Authentication based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Local Authentication wins

Based on overall popularity. Local Authentication is more widely used, but OpenID Connect excels in its own space.