realtimecursor/PERMISSION_SYSTEM.md

Real-time collaboration system with cursor tracking and approval workflow

# 🔐 Perfect Permission System

## 🎯 **Role Hierarchy & Permissions**

### **Super Admin (⭐)**
- **Email:** `superadmin@example.com`
- **Password:** `SuperAdmin123!`
- **Powers:**
  - ✅ Can modify ALL users (including admins)
  - ✅ Can change ANY user's password
  - ✅ Can delete ANY user (except themselves)
  - ✅ Can promote users to admin or superadmin
  - ✅ Can create superadmin accounts
  - ✅ Full system control

### **Admin (👑)**
- **Email:** `admin@example.com`
- **Password:** `Admin123!`
- **Powers:**
  - ✅ Can modify ONLY regular users
  - ✅ Can change ONLY regular user passwords
  - ✅ Can delete ONLY regular users
  - ✅ Can promote users to admin (but NOT superadmin)
  - ❌ CANNOT modify other admins
  - ❌ CANNOT modify superadmins
  - ❌ CANNOT create superadmin accounts

### **User (👤)**
- **Standard Access:** Profile management only

## 🛡️ **Permission Matrix**

| Action | Super Admin | Admin | User |
|--------|-------------|-------|------|
| Edit Regular Users | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Edit Admin Profiles | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Edit Super Admin Profiles | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Change User Passwords | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Change Admin Passwords | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Delete Regular Users | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Delete Admins | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Promote to Admin | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Promote to Super Admin | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Create Super Admin | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |

## 🎮 **UI Behavior**

### **For Super Admin:**
- **Purple indicators** throughout the interface
- **All buttons enabled** for all users
- **Full role dropdown** (User, Admin, Super Admin)
- **Password change button** visible for everyone
- **"Super Admin Mode"** indicator

### **For Admin:**
- **Yellow indicators** throughout the interface
- **Buttons disabled** for admin/superadmin users
- **Limited role dropdown** (User, Admin only)
- **Password change button** only for regular users
- **Standard admin interface**

### **Visual Cues:**
- **Disabled buttons** are grayed out with tooltips
- **Role dropdowns** show only allowed options
- **Action buttons** have descriptive tooltips
- **Permission indicators** show current access level

## 🔒 **Backend Enforcement**

### **API Protection:**
- **Role validation** on every admin endpoint
- **Permission checks** before any modification
- **Proper error messages** for unauthorized actions
- **Consistent security** across all operations

### **Error Messages:**
- `"Admin can only modify regular user roles"`
- `"Admin can only delete regular users"`
- `"Admin cannot create super admin accounts"`
- `"Only super admin can assign super admin role"`

## 🚀 **How to Test**

### **Test Super Admin Powers:**
1. Login as `superadmin@example.com`
2. Try editing an admin user ✅ Should work
3. Try changing admin password ✅ Should work
4. Try promoting user to superadmin ✅ Should work

### **Test Admin Limitations:**
1. Login as `admin@example.com`
2. Try editing an admin user ❌ Should be disabled
3. Try changing admin password ❌ Button not visible
4. Try promoting to superadmin ❌ Option not available

### **Visual Verification:**
- **Super Admin:** Purple badges, all buttons enabled
- **Admin:** Yellow badges, some buttons disabled
- **Proper tooltips** on disabled elements

## ✅ **Perfect Implementation**

The system now enforces a strict hierarchy:
- **Super Admin** has complete control
- **Admin** can only manage regular users
- **Clear visual feedback** for all permission levels
- **Backend security** prevents unauthorized actions
- **User-friendly interface** with proper indicators

This creates a secure, intuitive permission system with clear boundaries and proper access control!