I am using the OAuth sign in through gitlab for my webapp and although it seems to be fully functional without any errors, there is a split second during the sign in process where you can see a plain white page with a large text “Redirecting” and a link below it. Is there any way to have this page not be displayed or am I even doing something wrong?
I could only find one post on gitlab forum that was 2 years old and didn’t have a solution. I setup the sign in according to the docs on gitlab.
The “Redirecting” page you see during the OAuth sign-in process is a default behavior provided by GitLab’s OAuth flow, which is often seen when the authentication and redirection process is happening between your web app and GitLab. This page briefly appears while the system is processing the OAuth authorization request and redirecting the user to your web app.
Although it’s a default behavior, there are a few approaches you can take to hide or improve the user experience for this transition.
Options to Handle the “Redirecting” Page:
Redirect Immediately After OAuth Response (via Custom Callback): You can try to minimize the visible delay by improving the redirect logic after the user has authenticated via OAuth. Ensure that:
The callback URL in your OAuth application settings (in GitLab) is set correctly.
You don’t have unnecessary redirects or delays in your web app’s callback handler.
JavaScript Handling on the Redirect Page: If you cannot fully remove the page, consider a client-side solution to hide the page as soon as the OAuth response is received. For example:
After the user lands on the “Redirecting” page, you could use JavaScript to hide the page as soon as the redirect process is ready. For example, you could automatically redirect using JavaScript once the OAuth process completes, which will eliminate the need for the “Redirecting” screen.
html
Copy code
<script type="text/javascript">
setTimeout(function() {
window.location.href = 'YOUR_TARGET_URL'; // Redirect immediately after a timeout
}, 1000); // Adjust timeout if needed
</script>
You can also make it more seamless by having a loading spinner or some other UI element to indicate that processing is happening instead of a plain “Redirecting” text.
Disable GitLab’s Default Redirect Page: If you have control over the GitLab OAuth flow and can manage the process in more detail, you might be able to customize the behavior. However, GitLab’s OAuth flow doesn’t have built-in options to disable the redirect screen completely unless you implement your own OAuth callback handler.
Custom OAuth Client or Server-Side Handling:
You could host your own OAuth authentication server that works with GitLab. This gives you more control over the entire flow, including customizing the redirects, authentication screens, and timing.
Another way is to handle the OAuth on your backend server (i.e., server-side authentication), and then use it to create a session for the user, reducing the frontend display.
Check for Unnecessary Redirects or Misconfiguration:
Ensure that the OAuth flow is not introducing any additional redirects by checking if the callback URL is correct.
Use browser developer tools to inspect the network traffic and ensure that unnecessary redirects are not being triggered during the OAuth process.
Recap of Steps:
Double-check your OAuth callback URL configuration in GitLab and your web application to ensure the redirects are correct and minimal.
Implement client-side redirects (JavaScript) on the “Redirecting” page to minimize the visible wait time.
Examine your OAuth flow for extra redirects or delays, especially in your application’s callback handler.
While it’s challenging to fully avoid this “Redirecting” screen without custom handling, improving the UI/UX during this transition will help make the process feel faster and smoother.
Let me know if you need further assistance with implementation!