How to add auth to your Node.js CLI using WorkOS

Implementing a web-based OAuth flow for command-line interface (CLI) applications offers a clean and efficient way to authenticate users, particularly in environments where embedding a browser is impractical. By leveraging WorkOS CLI Auth, developers can integrate a Node.js CLI with the OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant, which involves a series of steps including requesting a device code from WorkOS, displaying a user-friendly prompt with a verification URL and user code, and polling WorkOS as the user completes the authentication in a web browser. Once authorized, the CLI exchanges the device code for access tokens, allowing for secure API calls without manually pasting authentication tokens. This guide provides a comprehensive walk-through of each step involved in setting up this authentication flow, emphasizing the importance of adhering to polling intervals and handling potential errors such as authorization timeouts.