Gate self-serve registration behind ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION (#25)

## Summary
- Add `ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION` (default `false`) for self-serve sign-up, set via env / control-node secret (`chat_backend_<env>.env`)
- Harden `POST /api/user/create/` to create company + user, return JWTs, and reject when the flag is off
- Expose `GET /api/public/settings/` with `enable_account_registration` for the SPA

Supports frontend: [chat_web_app#31](ai_ml_operations/chat_web_app#31)

## Test plan
- [ ] `cd llm_be && uv run python manage.py test chat_backend.tests.test_views_users`
- [ ] Confirm `POST /api/user/create/` returns 403 when flag unset/false
- [ ] With `ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=true`, register returns access/refresh + creates company
- [ ] `GET /api/public/settings/` returns the flag
- [ ] Add `ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=false` to control-node `chat_backend_prod.env` / `chat_backend_beta.env` before deploy (see `.env.prod.example`)Reviewed-on: #25

.env.example

@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ EMAIL_USE_TLS=true
 # Captcha (optional local)
 CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY=
 
+# Self-serve sign-up (default false — set true to allow /user/create/)
+ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=false
+
 # Stripe / finance (optional local — required for checkout + webhooks)
 STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=
 STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=

.env.prod.example

@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ EMAIL_USE_TLS=true
 # Captcha
 CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY=replace-with-captcha-secret
 
+# Self-serve account registration (sign-up). Keep false until ready to open
+# public registration; set true in chat_backend_prod.env / chat_backend_beta.env.
+ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=false
+
 # Stripe / finance
 STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=replace-with-stripe-secret-key
 STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=replace-with-stripe-publishable-key

README.md

@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ with `COMPOSE_DATABASE_URL` if needed.
 | `OLLAMA_MODEL` / `OLLAMA_EMBED_MODEL` | from `DEBUG` | optional | Override model names |
 | `EMAIL_HOST_*` | empty | yes (prod/beta) | SMTP2GO |
 | `CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY` | empty | recommended | |
+| `ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION` | `false` | optional | Self-serve sign-up; keep false until ready |
 | `STRIPE_SECRET_KEY` / `STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY` / `STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET` | empty | yes for billing | Stripe API + webhook |
 | `STRIPE_PRICE_ID` | empty | optional | Pre-created Price; else `$10/mo` from settings |
 | `FRONTEND_BASE_URL` | `http://localhost:3000` | set in prod | Checkout success/cancel base |

llm_be/chat_backend/serializers.py

@@ -54,13 +54,55 @@ class CustomUserSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
         fields = "__all__"
         extra_kwargs = {"password": {"write_only": True}}
 
-    # def create(self, validated_data):
+
-    #     password = validated_data.pop('password',None)
+class SelfServeRegistrationSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
-    #     instance = self.Meta.model(**validated_data)
+    """Minimal payload for public self-serve sign-up (gated by settings)."""
-    #     if password is not None:
+
-    #         instance.set_password(password)
+    email = serializers.EmailField(required=True)
-    #     instance.save()
+    password = serializers.CharField(min_length=8, write_only=True)
-    #     return instance
+    first_name = serializers.CharField(
+        required=False, allow_blank=True, max_length=150, default=""
+    )
+    last_name = serializers.CharField(
+        required=False, allow_blank=True, max_length=150, default=""
+    )
+    company_name = serializers.CharField(
+        required=False, allow_blank=True, max_length=256, default=""
+    )
+
+    def validate_email(self, value: str) -> str:
+        email = value.strip().lower()
+        if CustomUser.objects.filter(email__iexact=email).exists():
+            raise serializers.ValidationError("A user with this email already exists.")
+        if CustomUser.objects.filter(username__iexact=email).exists():
+            raise serializers.ValidationError("A user with this email already exists.")
+        return email
+
+    def create(self, validated_data):
+        email = validated_data["email"]
+        password = validated_data["password"]
+        first_name = (validated_data.get("first_name") or "").strip()
+        last_name = (validated_data.get("last_name") or "").strip()
+        company_name = (validated_data.get("company_name") or "").strip()
+        if not company_name:
+            company_name = f"{email}'s workspace"
+
+        company = Company.objects.create(
+            name=company_name,
+            state="NA",
+            zipcode="00000",
+            address="N/A",
+        )
+        user = CustomUser.objects.create_user(
+            username=email,
+            email=email,
+            password=password,
+            first_name=first_name,
+            last_name=last_name,
+            company=company,
+            is_company_manager=True,
+        )
+        return user
 
 
 class ConversationSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):

llm_be/chat_backend/tests/test_views_users.py

@@ -95,14 +95,71 @@ class TokenTestCase(APITestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.client.get(url).status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
 
 
+class PublicSettingsTestCase(APITestCase):
+    def test_returns_registration_flag(self):
+        with self.settings(ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=False):
+            response = self.client.get(reverse("public_settings"))
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        self.assertEqual(response.data["enable_account_registration"], False)
+
+
 class UserCreateTestCase(APITestCase):
+    def test_registration_disabled_by_default(self):
+        response = self.client.post(
+            reverse("create_user"),
+            {"email": "new@example.com", "password": "securepass1"},
+            format="json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN)
+        self.assertEqual(CustomUser.objects.count(), 0)
+
     def test_invalid_payload_returns_errors(self):
-        response = self.client.post(reverse("create_user"), {}, format="json")
+        with self.settings(ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=True):
+            response = self.client.post(reverse("create_user"), {}, format="json")
 
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
         self.assertIn("email", response.data)
         self.assertEqual(CustomUser.objects.count(), 0)
 
+    def test_creates_user_company_and_returns_tokens(self):
+        with self.settings(ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=True):
+            response = self.client.post(
+                reverse("create_user"),
+                {
+                    "email": "New.User@Example.com",
+                    "password": "securepass1",
+                    "first_name": "New",
+                    "last_name": "User",
+                    "company_name": "New Co",
+                },
+                format="json",
+            )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
+        self.assertEqual(response.data["email"], "new.user@example.com")
+        self.assertIn("access", response.data)
+        self.assertIn("refresh", response.data)
+
+        user = CustomUser.objects.get(email="new.user@example.com")
+        self.assertTrue(user.check_password("securepass1"))
+        self.assertTrue(user.is_company_manager)
+        self.assertEqual(user.company.name, "New Co")
+        self.assertEqual(user.username, "new.user@example.com")
+
+    def test_duplicate_email_rejected(self):
+        make_user(email="taken@example.com")
+        with self.settings(ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION=True):
+            response = self.client.post(
+                reverse("create_user"),
+                {"email": "taken@example.com", "password": "securepass1"},
+                format="json",
+            )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+        self.assertIn("email", response.data)
+
 
 class SetPasswordTestCase(APITestCase):
     def setUp(self):

llm_be/chat_backend/urls.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from .views import (
     CustomUserInvite,
     LogoutAndBlacklistRefreshTokenForUserView,
     CustomUserGet,
+    PublicSettingsView,
     is_authenticated,
     AnnouncmentView,
     FeedbackView,
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
     path("token/obtain/", CustomObtainTokenView.as_view(), name="token_create"),
     path("token/refresh/", jwt_views.TokenRefreshView.as_view(), name="token_refresh"),
     path("user/create/", CustomUserCreate.as_view(), name="create_user"),
+    path("public/settings/", PublicSettingsView.as_view(), name="public_settings"),
     path("user/invite/", CustomUserInvite.as_view(), name="invite_user"),
     path("user/reset_password/", reset_password, name="reset_password"),
     path(

llm_be/chat_backend/views.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from rest_framework import permissions, status
 from .serializers import (
     MyTokenObtainPairSerializer,
     CustomUserSerializer,
+    SelfServeRegistrationSerializer,
     BasicUserSerializer,
     AnnouncmentSerializer,
     CompanySerializer,
@@ -92,18 +93,49 @@ class CustomObtainTokenView(TokenObtainPairView):
     serializer_class = MyTokenObtainPairSerializer
 
 
+class PublicSettingsView(APIView):
+    """Non-secret feature flags / public config for the SPA."""
+
+    permission_classes = (permissions.AllowAny,)
+    authentication_classes = ()
+
+    def get(self, request):
+        return Response(
+            {
+                "enable_account_registration": settings.ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION,
+            }
+        )
+
+
 class CustomUserCreate(APIView):
+    """Self-serve registration. Gated by ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION (default off)."""
+
     permission_classes = (permissions.AllowAny,)
     authentication_classes = ()
 
     def post(self, request, format="json"):
-        serializer = CustomUserSerializer(data=request.data)
+        if not settings.ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION:
-        if serializer.is_valid():
+            return Response(
-            user = serializer.save()
+                {"detail": "Account registration is disabled."},
-            if user:
+                status=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
-                json = serializer.data
+            )
-                return Response(json, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED)
+
-        return Response(serializer.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+        serializer = SelfServeRegistrationSerializer(data=request.data)
+        if not serializer.is_valid():
+            return Response(serializer.errors, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+
+        user = serializer.save()
+        refresh = RefreshToken.for_user(user)
+        return Response(
+            {
+                "email": user.email,
+                "first_name": user.first_name,
+                "last_name": user.last_name,
+                "access": str(refresh.access_token),
+                "refresh": str(refresh),
+            },
+            status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED,
+        )
 
 
 def send_invite_email(slug, email_to_invite):

llm_be/llm_be/settings.py

@@ -297,6 +297,10 @@ os.makedirs(directory_path, exist_ok=True)
 ALLOW_IMAGE_GENERATION = env_bool("ALLOW_IMAGE_GENERATION", False)
 ALLOW_INTERNET_ACCESS = env_bool("ALLOW_INTERNET_ACCESS", True)
 
+# Self-serve account registration (sign-up page). Default off — enable via
+# control-node secret (chat_backend_<env>.env) when ready for public sign-up.
+ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION = env_bool("ENABLE_ACCOUNT_REGISTRATION", False)
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Finance / Stripe (subscription billing)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------