Hello PKP Community,
I’d like to share a new plugin I’ve been developing for OJS and I’m looking for volunteers willing to test it in real-world journal environments.
OJS Magic Login
OJS Magic Login allows users to sign in without a password by receiving a secure, time-limited login link via email (commonly known as a “magic link” or passwordless authentication). Passwordless login is becoming increasingly common across web applications because it reduces login friction and eliminates many password-related support requests.
Repository
GitHub Repository (OJS Magic Login)
Current Features
- Passwordless login using email-based magic links
- Secure, time-limited authentication tokens
- Works alongside existing OJS authentication
- No passwords required during login
- Simple user experience for authors, reviewers, editors, and readers
Why I Built It
Many journal users:
- Forget their passwords
- Struggle to remember usernames
- Abandon submissions because of login issues
- Generate unnecessary password reset requests
The goal is to make authentication as simple as entering an email address and clicking a link received in the inbox.
Looking for Testers
I’m particularly interested in feedback from administrators running:
- OJS 3.4.x
- OJS 3.5.x
- Single-journal installations
- Multi-journal installations
- Journals with large author/reviewer communities
Feedback Requested
I’d appreciate reports on:
- Installation experience
- Compatibility issues
- User experience
- Security concerns
- Performance observations
- Feature requests
If you test the plugin, please include:
- OJS version
- PHP version
- Mail configuration (SMTP, Sendmail, etc.)
- Any error messages or screenshots
Known Limitations
This is still under active development and should be considered experimental until it has been tested across a wider range of OJS installations.
Future Ideas
Potential enhancements include:
- One-click login from editorial notifications
- Configurable token expiration
- Login activity logging
- Optional disabling of password authentication
- Additional security controls
I would be grateful for any testing, bug reports, suggestions, or code contributions.
Thank you to the PKP community for helping improve OJS through shared development and feedback.