Custom Auth Models & Cryptographic Hashing

1. Deep Architecture

Django hashes passwords using slow hashing algorithms like PBKDF2 or Argon2id to resist brute-force attacks. Swapping to a custom user model late in a project requires complex migrations. Start with a custom user model using emails as username identifiers.

2. The Feynman Gatekeeper

[KNOWLEDGE CHECK] Why does Django hash passwords with key-derivation functions instead of standard fast hashes like SHA256?

3. The Code

# accounts/models.py
from django.contrib.auth.models import AbstractBaseUser, BaseUserManager
from django.db import models

class SaaSUser(AbstractBaseUser):
    email = models.EmailField(unique=True)
    is_active = models.BooleanField(default=True)
    
    USERNAME_FIELD = 'email'
    objects = BaseUserManager()

4. The Funnel

Stat Level-Up: Cryptography Guard (Lvl 1).
Sanjaya Integration: Protect creator accounts using email-based logins and Argon2id hashing.