Streamlining User Onboarding: Integrating LinkedIn Login for Enhanced Recommendation Flows

Introduction

We've recently enhanced the user experience within our application by integrating LinkedIn login and registration, specifically aimed at simplifying the recommendation flow. This post details the changes and the reasoning behind them.

Key Improvements

Simplified Registration and Login

Previously, recommenders needed a GitHub account, which added friction to the process. By adding LinkedIn as an authentication provider, we've broadened accessibility and reduced the steps required to participate in the recommendation system.

Refactored Authentication Logic

The SocialiteController has been refactored to incorporate a full LinkedIn login and registration flow. This involved handling authentication callbacks and managing user data.

// Example: Handling LinkedIn callback
public function handleProviderCallback()
{
    $user = Socialite::driver('linkedin')->user();

    // Check if the user exists or needs to be created
    $authUser = $this->findOrCreateUser($user, 'linkedin');

    Auth::login($authUser, true);

    return redirect()->intended('/home');
}

Avatar Synchronization

To avoid duplication, the logic for synchronizing user avatars with their profiles has been extracted into a helper function. This ensures consistency across different authentication methods.

// Example: Syncing avatar to profile
function syncAvatarToProfile($user, $avatarUrl)
{
    $profile = $user->profile();
    $profile->avatar = $avatarUrl;
    $profile->save();
}

Improved Redirection Handling

We've updated redirection logic across all authentication paths, replacing redirect()->away() with redirect()->intended(). This ensures that the user is redirected to their originally intended URL after login or registration, enhancing the overall user experience.

Dual-Flow Callback Routing

The LinkedinConnectionController now supports dual-flow callback routing, distinguishing between connection flows and login flows. This allows us to handle different scenarios based on how the user initiates the LinkedIn authentication process.

User Experience Enhancements

LinkedIn buttons have been added to both the login and registration pages, providing a clear and convenient option for users who prefer to use their LinkedIn accounts. Translation keys for LinkedIn authentication have been added in multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, German) to ensure a localized experience.

Addressing Username Conflicts

Support for the LinkedIn provider has been added to the completeRegistration() function to handle potential username conflicts during registration. This ensures a smooth and conflict-free registration process.

Conclusion

By integrating LinkedIn login and registration, we've significantly streamlined the user onboarding process for our recommendation flow. This enhancement reduces friction, improves the user experience, and broadens accessibility. Consider social login options to simplify onboarding in your applications.