Create Strong and Secure Passwords with Astro JS, Preact, and Tailwind CSS

Create Strong and Secure Passwords with Astro JS, Preact, and Tailwind CSS

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. UI Design
3. Project Setup
4. Main Layout
5. Password Generator Component
   • 5.1. State Variables
   • 5.2. Copied Feature
   • 5.3. Generate Password Feature
6. Make ID Function
7. Dialog Boxes Logic
8. Slider Logic
9. Final Thoughts
10. Conclusion

Article

Introduction

Hey everybody, my name is Elijah and today I'll be walking through some code I created for a project that generates random passwords. In this article, I will explain the process and logic behind building this password generator.

UI Design

Let's start by looking at the UI design. At the top, we have a title, followed by the password field and a generate button. There are also a few variables that we can customize by clicking on them, such as special characters and numbers. If we click on any of these variables and then click generate, the generated password will exclude the selected criteria. Additionally, we can adjust the length of the password using a slider. If we want to copy the password, we can simply click on it and it will be copied to the clipboard.

Project Setup

Before diving into the code, let's talk about the project setup. I used Astro, which is a static site generator, along with Tailwind CSS for styling. I also utilized Preact, a smaller packaged version of React, to build this project. Preact's useState hook is utilized in the password generator component to handle state changes.

Main Layout

The main layout consists of the title and some basic styling using Tailwind CSS. However, I won't go into much detail about the styling as I am still learning it. The main focus is the H1 tag, which displays the "Generate Password" text, and the password generator component. The password generator component receives a password signal, which is a Preact feature that triggers changes in the component based on external events. This helps break down the application into smaller components.

Password Generator Component

Now let's dive into the password generator component. This component makes use of several state variables to determine the user's password generation preferences. These variables include lowercase, uppercase, special characters, numbers, length, and the copied status. Each of these variables serves as separate checks for generating the password.

5.1. State Variables

The state variables determine which characters will be included in the generated password. For example, if the lowercase checkbox is checked, all lowercase letters will be included. Similarly, the uppercase checkbox enables uppercase letters, the special characters checkbox includes special characters, and the numbers checkbox includes numbers.

5.2. Copied Feature

The copied feature is displayed when the user clicks on the password to copy it. If the password has been copied, the "copied" message will be displayed. Otherwise, it will display "click to copy password". This feature utilizes a simple conditional check and is straightforward to implement.

5.3. Generate Password Feature

The most crucial part of the password generator component is the generate password feature. This feature is triggered when the "Generate Password" button is clicked. The functionality of this feature is implemented in the generatePassword function.

The generatePassword function takes in the password length selected by the user. Instead of removing characters that the user can't use, I took a different approach. I created an array of characters that the user can use to generate the password. This approach simplifies the logic.

Next, we loop through each character and use the Math.random function to generate the desired number of random characters based on the length specified by the user. The result is a randomly generated password that the user can utilize.

It is important to note that this password is not stored anywhere, and there are no API calls made. The main purpose of the application is to generate passwords for immediate use.

Make ID Function

The makeID function is responsible for creating the password. It takes in the password length and uses this value to determine the number of characters in the password. The function creates an array of characters that can be used to generate the password.

Dialog Boxes Logic

For each dialog box, such as the lowercase, uppercase, special characters, and numbers checkboxes, we have a label and an input. When these checkboxes are checked, the logic flips the value of the corresponding variable. The logic remains the same for all the checkboxes. If you have any suggestions to simplify this logic, please let me know.

Slider Logic

The slider input utilizes the range type and has a minimum value of zero and a maximum value of 100. Each time the slider is changed, the sliderChange function is triggered. This function sets the length of the password to the value specified by the user. There may be more efficient ways to handle this, but the current implementation is already quite fast.

Final Thoughts

In this article, I have walked you through the code for a random password generator. We discussed the UI design, project setup, main layout, password generator component, makeID function, dialog boxes logic, and slider logic. The code is available in the description if you want to reference it or build it yourself.

Conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful and insightful. Creating a random password generator can be a fun project that helps improve your coding skills. Remember to prioritize security by using strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Stay tuned for more articles and coding projects in the future.

Highlights:

• Walkthrough of code for a random password generator
• UI design with title, password field, and variables
• Project setup using Astro and Tailwind CSS
• Password generator component with state variables
• Copied feature and generate password logic
• Explanation of the makeID function
• Implementation of dialog boxes and slider logic
• Importance of strong and unique passwords

FAQ

Q: How secure are the generated passwords?
A: The generated passwords are as secure as the criteria selected by the user. It is essential to include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters to ensure a strong and secure password.

Q: Can I customize the length of the password?
A: Yes, you can adjust the length of the password using the slider provided in the UI. The length can be set from 0 to 100 characters.

Q: Is the generated password stored anywhere?
A: No, the generated password is not stored anywhere. It is generated on the fly and can be copied for immediate use. There are no API calls or data storage involved.

Q: Can I modify the code to fit my specific requirements?
A: Absolutely! The code is available for reference and customization. Feel free to modify it according to your needs and preferences.