How to add API key support to your app

The guide addresses the implementation of self-serve API key management for SaaS applications, using a fictional project management tool called "Runway" as an example. It emphasizes the necessity for secure, reliable API authentication, allowing users to generate, scope, and revoke their own API keys, as well as providing admins with oversight of active keys. The guide discusses the choice between user-scoped and organization-scoped keys, detailing when each is appropriate depending on the use case, and introduces WorkOS as a solution for handling the backend complexities of API key management. It explains how to configure permissions, integrate an API keys widget into user settings pages, and use WorkOS to validate API keys on backend routes, ensuring that keys carry only the permissions explicitly assigned to them. The process includes setting up permissions through the WorkOS dashboard, embedding the API keys widget, protecting API routes, and audit logging key lifecycle events. By following the guide, users can implement a robust API key management system that supports both personal and shared integrations, maintaining security and ease of use.