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Unified User Architecture

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Overview

The Unified User Architecture powers your secure access to Fiftyknots. It handles everything from signing up with a simple email code to managing your profile, roles, and active sessions across devices. This system validates your identity, tracks your progress through the platform, and adjusts your access as you move from founder to expert or supervisor - all without you having to think about it.

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Step-by-Step Guide

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First-Time Signup

  1. Request Access Code
    • Navigate to /login
    • Enter your email address
    • Click “Send Code”
    • System sends a 6-digit code to your email within 5 seconds
  2. Verify and Enter Platform
    • Check your email for the 6-digit OTP code
    • Enter the code on the login page
    • Code expires after 10 minutes - request a new one if needed
    • System creates your account with CLIENT role and logs you in automatically
  3. Complete Your Profile
    • System redirects you to /profilecomplete
    • Fill in display name, phone, country, and timezone
    • Add company name and website if applicable
    • Profile completion percentage updates as you fill each section

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Returning User Login

  1. Quick Login
    • Go to /login
    • Enter your email
    • Receive and enter your OTP code
    • System recognizes you and restores your session
  2. Session Management
    • Your session stays active for 24 hours after your last activity
    • Each action extends the session window automatically
    • View active sessions across devices in your profile settings
    • Log out from individual devices or all at once

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Cross-Platform Access

  1. Seamless Transition from Marketing Site
    • Click “Launch Platform” from the Fiftyknots marketing site
    • System generates a one-time authorization code (valid 60 seconds)
    • Platform exchanges code and logs you in automatically
    • No need to enter credentials again
  2. OAuth Login (Optional)
    • Click “Sign in with Google” or other OAuth providers on /login
    • Complete the OAuth flow with your chosen provider
    • System verifies your token and creates/updates your account
    • Session starts immediately after verification

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Role-Based Access

  1. Understanding Your Roles
    • Start as CLIENT when you sign up
    • Gain EXPERT role when you complete expert onboarding
    • SUPERVISOR role assigned via special invite code
    • ADMIN and SUPER_ADMIN roles assigned by platform team
  2. Accessing Role-Specific Features
    • System checks your highest permission level on each page
    • Pages like /admin/auditlog require ADMIN role
    • Expert features at /expert/expertreworkview require EXPERT role
    • Unauthorized access returns a 403 Forbidden error

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Profile Management

  1. View Profile Completion
    • Navigate to your profile settings
    • See completion percentage for each section: basic info, contact info, company info
    • Green checkmarks indicate completed sections
  2. Update Information
    • Click “Edit” on any profile section
    • Update fields like display name, phone, timezone
    • Changes save immediately
    • Profile completion updates in real-time
  3. Enable Payment Features
    • Complete all required profile sections
    • Add at least one payment method at /paymentmethods
    • System sets isEscrowReady flag automatically
    • Unlock escrow funding and payment features

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Common Questions

Q: What happens if my OTP code expires before I enter it? A: Request a new code from the login page. You can request multiple codes, but only the most recent one works. Each code expires 10 minutes after it’s sent. Q: Can I log in from multiple devices at the same time? A: Yes. You can have active sessions on your laptop, phone, and tablet simultaneously. Each device maintains its own session. View all active sessions in your profile settings and log out from specific devices if needed. Q: Why can’t I access certain pages or features? A: Your access depends on your assigned roles. CLIENT users see founder features, EXPERT users access expert dashboards, and ADMIN users manage platform settings. Your highest permission level determines what you can access. Contact support if you believe you need additional access. Q: What’s the difference between profile completion and escrow readiness? A: Profile completion tracks whether you’ve filled basic info, contact info, and company details. Escrow readiness requires both a complete profile and at least one payment method. You need escrow readiness to fund projects and receive payments. Q: How does the system handle my session when I’m inactive? A: Your session expires after 24 hours of inactivity. Any action you take - viewing a page, clicking a button, loading data - resets the 24-hour window. If your session expires, you’ll see a 401 error and get redirected to login automatically.

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Troubleshooting

Issue: OTP code not arriving in email Check your spam folder first. If still missing, wait 30 seconds and request a new code. The system retries delivery up to 3 times if the email service fails. If codes consistently don’t arrive, contact support with your email address. Issue: “Session expired” error during work Your session timed out after 24 hours of inactivity. Click “Log in again” when redirected to /login. Request a new OTP code to restore your session. All your work is saved - you won’t lose progress on your projects. Issue: Can’t access a feature that should be available Refresh the page to ensure the system has your latest roles. If you recently gained EXPERT or SUPERVISOR status, you may need to log out and back in for the role to activate fully. Check the URL - some features require specific paths like /expert/* or /admin/*. Issue: “403 Forbidden” when clicking a link This page requires a role you don’t have. CLIENT users can’t access expert or admin pages. If you believe you should have access (for example, you completed expert onboarding but can’t access expert features), contact support to verify your role assignments. Profile Management - Complete your profile at /profilecomplete to unlock platform features. Your profile completion percentage affects what you can do, especially around payments and project creation. A complete profile builds trust with experts and improves matching. Payment Methods - Add payment methods at /paymentmethods to enable escrow funding. This connects directly to user architecture through the isEscrowReady flag. You must have both a complete profile and valid payment methods before creating funded projects. Expert Onboarding - If you want to become an expert and work on projects, visit /developeronboarding to start the onboarding process. Completing this flow adds the EXPERT role to your account, unlocking features like /jobsboard and /expertpayoutsetup.