🔒 Add JWT authentication system with backend, frontend, API client, route guards, and unit tests for secure user management and token-based access control

docs/projects/Pokedex.Online/PROGRESS.md

@@ -133,7 +133,89 @@ npm test -- useAsyncState
 
 ## Implementation Details
 
-### Step 8: Component Refactoring (Partial)
+### Step 9: JWT Authentication System
+
+**Backend Infrastructure:**
+- `server/utils/jwt-utils.js` - JWT token management with mock fallback for testing
+  - `createToken()` - Creates signed JWT with 7-day expiration
+  - `verifyToken()` - Validates and decodes token
+  - `decodeToken()` - Decodes without verification
+  - `isTokenExpired()` - Quick expiration check
+  - `getTokenExpiresIn()` - Returns remaining time in ms
+
+- `server/middleware/auth.js` - Express middleware for authentication
+  - `authMiddleware()` - Validates Bearer token in Authorization header
+  - `requirePermission()` - Checks user has specific permissions
+  - `requireAdmin()` - Shorthand for admin-only routes
+  - `authErrorHandler()` - Centralized error handling
+
+- `server/routes/auth.js` - RESTful authentication endpoints
+  - `POST /auth/login` - Login with password → JWT token
+  - `POST /auth/verify` - Verify token validity
+  - `POST /auth/refresh` - Refresh token with extended expiration
+  - `GET /auth/user` - Get current user info (requires token)
+  - `POST /auth/logout` - Logout (client-side token deletion)
+
+**Frontend Implementation:**
+- `src/composables/useAuth.js` - Authentication state composable
+  - Manages token and user state in localStorage
+  - Methods: login, logout, refreshToken, getUserInfo
+  - Permission checking with `hasPermission()`
+  - Automatic auth initialization on app startup
+  - API interceptor setup for automatic Bearer token inclusion
+
+- `src/views/AdminLogin.vue` - Admin login page
+  - Password input with visibility toggle
+  - Form validation and error display
+  - Responsive design (mobile-friendly)
+  - Info cards explaining security model
+  - Integrates useAuth for login flow
+
+- `src/router/guards.js` - Route protection
+  - `setupAuthGuards()` - Registers navigation guards
+  - Checks token validity before route access
+  - Redirects to login for protected routes
+  - Preserves redirect path for post-login navigation
+
+**API Client Enhancement:**
+- Updated `src/utilities/api-client.js`
+  - `setDefaultHeader()` - Set persistent headers (e.g., Authorization)
+  - `removeDefaultHeader()` - Remove persistent headers on logout
+  - Headers automatically merged with all requests
+
+**Testing:**
+- `tests/unit/composables/useAuth.test.js` (7 tests)
+  - useAuth composable creation and state management
+  - Authentication methods availability
+  - Permission checking logic
+  
+- `tests/unit/views/AdminLogin.test.js` (5 tests)
+  - Login form rendering
+  - Password visibility toggle
+  - Info card display
+  - Login button functionality
+
+**Security Features:**
+- JWT tokens expire after 7 days
+- Tokens stored in secure localStorage
+- Bearer token in Authorization header (standard OAuth pattern)
+- Server validates token signature
+- Permission-based access control (extensible)
+- Automatic logout on token expiration
+- Password hashing ready (bcrypt in server/package.json)
+
+**Integration Points:**
+- Works with existing api-client for transparent auth
+- Router guards integrate with Vue Router lifecycle
+- Compatible with all existing components
+- Non-intrusive design (components don't need auth awareness)
+
+**Next Phase (10-12):**
+- Feature flags system using JWT permissions
+- Secure backend configuration
+- Environment-based flag toggling
+
+
 
 **GamemasterManager.vue Refactoring:**
 - Replaced manual `loading`, `error`, `saving` ref states with `useAsyncState` composable