clerk-setup

Adding Clerk

Version: Check package.json for the SDK version — see clerk skill for the version table. Core 2 differences are noted inline with > **Core 2 ONLY (skip if current SDK):** callouts.

This skill sets up Clerk for authentication by following the official quickstart documentation.

Quick Reference

Step	Action
1. Detect framework	Check package.json dependencies
2. Fetch quickstart	Use WebFetch on the appropriate docs URL
3. Follow instructions	Execute steps; create proxy.ts (Next.js <=15: middleware.ts)
4. Get API keys	From dashboard.clerk.com

If the project has components.json (shadcn/ui), apply the shadcn theme after setup. See clerk-custom-ui skill → shadcn Theme.

Framework Detection

Check package.json to identify the framework:

Dependency	Framework	Quickstart URL
next	Next.js	https://clerk.com/docs/nextjs/getting-started/quickstart
@remix-run/react	Remix	https://clerk.com/docs/remix/getting-started/quickstart
astro	Astro	https://clerk.com/docs/astro/getting-started/quickstart
nuxt	Nuxt	https://clerk.com/docs/nuxt/getting-started/quickstart
react-router	React Router	https://clerk.com/docs/react-router/getting-started/quickstart
@tanstack/react-start	TanStack Start	https://clerk.com/docs/tanstack-react-start/getting-started/quickstart
react (no framework)	React SPA	https://clerk.com/docs/react/getting-started/quickstart
vue	Vue	https://clerk.com/docs/vue/getting-started/quickstart
express	Express	https://clerk.com/docs/expressjs/getting-started/quickstart
fastify	Fastify	https://clerk.com/docs/fastify/getting-started/quickstart
expo	Expo	https://clerk.com/docs/expo/getting-started/quickstart

For other platforms:

• Chrome Extension: https://clerk.com/docs/chrome-extension/getting-started/quickstart
• Android: https://clerk.com/docs/android/getting-started/quickstart
• iOS: https://clerk.com/docs/ios/getting-started/quickstart
• Vanilla JavaScript: https://clerk.com/docs/js-frontend/getting-started/quickstart

Decision Tree

User Request: "Add Clerk" / "Add authentication"
    │
    ├─ Read package.json
    │
    ├─ Existing auth detected?
    │   ├─ YES → Audit → Migration plan
    │   └─ NO → Fresh install
    │
    ├─ Identify framework → WebFetch quickstart → Follow instructions
    │   └─ Next.js? → Create proxy.ts (Next.js <=15: middleware.ts)
    │
    └─ components.json exists? → YES → Apply shadcn theme (see clerk-custom-ui)

Setup Process

1. Detect the Framework

Read the project's package.json and match dependencies to the table above.

2. Fetch the Quickstart Guide

Use WebFetch to retrieve the official quickstart for the detected framework:

WebFetch: https://clerk.com/docs/{framework}/getting-started/quickstart
Prompt: "Extract the complete setup instructions including all code snippets, file paths, and configuration steps."

3. Follow the Instructions

Execute each step from the quickstart guide:

• Install the required packages
• Set up environment variables
• Add the provider and proxy/middleware
• Create sign-in/sign-up routes if needed
• Test the integration

Next.js: Create proxy.ts (Next.js <=15: middleware.ts). See the clerk-nextjs-patterns skill for middleware strategies.

shadcn/ui detected (components.json exists): ALWAYS apply the shadcn theme. See clerk-custom-ui skill → shadcn Theme section.

4. Get API Keys

Two paths for development API keys:

Keyless (Automatic)

• On first SDK initialization, Clerk auto-generates dev keys and shows "Claim your application" popover
• No manual key setup required—keys are created and injected automatically
• Simplest path for new projects

Manual (Dashboard)

• Get keys from dashboard.clerk.com if Keyless doesn't trigger
• Publishable Key: Starts with pk_test_ or pk_live_
• Secret Key: Starts with sk_test_ or sk_live_
• Set as environment variables: NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY and CLERK_SECRET_KEY

Migrating from Another Auth Provider

If the project already has authentication, create a migration plan before replacing it.

Detect Existing Auth

Check package.json for existing auth libraries:

• next-auth / @auth/core → NextAuth/Auth.js
• @supabase/supabase-js → Supabase Auth
• firebase / firebase-admin → Firebase Auth
• @aws-amplify/auth → AWS Cognito
• auth0 / @auth0/nextjs-auth0 → Auth0
• passport → Passport.js
• Custom JWT/session implementation

Migration Process

1. Audit current auth - Identify all auth touchpoints:

   • Sign-in/sign-up pages
   • Session/token handling
   • Protected routes and middleware
   • User data storage (database tables, external IDs)
   • OAuth providers configured

2. Create migration plan - Consider:

   • User data export - Export users and import via Clerk's Backend API
   • Password hashes - Clerk can upgrade hashes to Bcrypt transparently
   • External IDs - Store legacy user IDs as external_id in Clerk
   • Session handling - Existing sessions will terminate on switch

3. Choose migration strategy:

   • Big bang - Switch all users at once (simpler, requires maintenance window)
   • Trickle migration - Run both systems temporarily (lower risk, higher complexity)

Migration Reference

• Migration Overview: https://clerk.com/docs/guides/development/migrating/overview

SDK Notes

Package Names

Package	Install
Next.js	@clerk/nextjs
React	@clerk/react
Expo	@clerk/expo
React Router	@clerk/react-router
TanStack Start	@clerk/tanstack-react-start

Core 2 ONLY (skip if current SDK): React and Expo packages have different names: @clerk/clerk-react and @clerk/clerk-expo (with clerk- prefix).

ClerkProvider Placement (Next.js)

ClerkProvider must be placed inside <body>, not wrapping <html>:

// root layout.tsx
export default function RootLayout({ children }) {
  return (
    <html>
      <body>
        <ClerkProvider>{children}</ClerkProvider>
      </body>
    </html>
  )
}

Core 2 ONLY (skip if current SDK): ClerkProvider can wrap <html> directly.

Dynamic Rendering (Next.js)

For dynamic rendering with auth data, use the dynamic prop:

<ClerkProvider dynamic>{children}</ClerkProvider>

Node.js Requirement

Requires Node.js 20.9.0 or higher.

Core 2 ONLY (skip if current SDK): Minimum Node.js 18.17.0.

Themes Package

Themes are installed from @clerk/ui:

npm install @clerk/ui

Core 2 ONLY (skip if current SDK): Themes are from @clerk/themes instead of @clerk/ui.

shadcn Theme

If the project uses shadcn/ui (check for components.json in the project root), apply the shadcn theme so Clerk components match the app's design system:

npm install @clerk/ui

import { shadcn } from '@clerk/ui/themes'

<ClerkProvider appearance={{ theme: shadcn }}>{children}</ClerkProvider>

Also import the shadcn CSS in your global styles:

@import 'tailwindcss';
@import '@clerk/ui/themes/shadcn.css';

Core 2 ONLY (skip if current SDK): Import from @clerk/themes and @clerk/themes/shadcn.css instead.

Common Pitfalls

Level	Issue	Solution
CRITICAL	Missing await on auth()	In Next.js 15+, auth() is async: const { userId } = await auth()
CRITICAL	Exposing CLERK_SECRET_KEY	Never use secret key in client code; only NEXT_PUBLIC_* keys are safe
HIGH	Missing middleware matcher	Include API routes: `matcher: ['/((?!.\..
HIGH	ClerkProvider placement	Must be inside <body> in root layout (Core 2: could wrap <html>)
HIGH	Auth routes not public	Allow /sign-in, /sign-up in middleware config
HIGH	Landing page requires auth	To keep "/" public, exclude it: `matcher: ['/((?!.\..
MEDIUM	Wrong import path	Server code uses @clerk/nextjs/server, client uses @clerk/nextjs
MEDIUM	Wrong package name	Use @clerk/react not @clerk/clerk-react (Core 2 naming)

See Also

• clerk-custom-ui - Custom sign-in/up components
• clerk-nextjs-patterns - Advanced Next.js patterns
• clerk-react-patterns - React SPA patterns
• clerk-react-router-patterns - React Router patterns
• clerk-vue-patterns - Vue patterns
• clerk-nuxt-patterns - Nuxt patterns
• clerk-astro-patterns - Astro patterns
• clerk-tanstack-patterns - TanStack Start patterns
• clerk-expo-patterns - Expo patterns
• clerk-chrome-extension-patterns - Chrome Extension patterns
• clerk-orgs - B2B multi-tenant organizations
• clerk-webhooks - Webhook → database sync
• clerk-testing - E2E testing setup
• clerk-swift - Native iOS auth
• clerk-android - Native Android auth
• clerk-backend-api - Backend REST API explorer

Documentation

• Quickstart Overview: https://clerk.com/docs/getting-started/quickstart/overview
• Migration Guide: https://clerk.com/docs/guides/development/migrating/overview
• Full Documentation: https://clerk.com/docs