@nostr-dev-kit/sessions

Framework-agnostic session management for NDK with multi-account support and persistence.

Features

• 🔐 Multi-account support - Manage multiple Nostr accounts simultaneously
• 💾 Flexible persistence - Built-in localStorage, filesystem, and memory storage
• 🔄 Auto-sync - Automatically fetch follows, mutes, relays, and events
• 🎯 Framework-agnostic - Works with React, Svelte, Vue, vanilla JS, Node.js, etc.
• 🔌 Minimal boilerplate - Simple, intuitive API
• 🎨 Full TypeScript - Complete type safety

Installation

npm install @nostr-dev-kit/sessions
# or
bun add @nostr-dev-kit/sessions

Quick Start

import NDK from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';
import { NDKSessionManager, MemoryStorage } from '@nostr-dev-kit/sessions';
import { NDKPrivateKeySigner } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';

// Setup NDK
const ndk = new NDK({ explicitRelayUrls: ['wss://relay.damus.io'] });
await ndk.connect();

// Create session manager
const sessions = new NDKSessionManager(ndk);

// Login
const signer = new NDKPrivateKeySigner(myNsec);
await sessions.login(signer, {
  follows: true,    // Auto-fetch follows
  mutes: true,      // Auto-fetch mutes
  setActive: true   // Set as active session
});

console.log('Active user:', sessions.activeUser);

Usage Examples

Browser with localStorage

import { NDKSessionManager, LocalStorage } from '@nostr-dev-kit/sessions';

const sessions = new NDKSessionManager(ndk, {
  storage: new LocalStorage(),
  autoSave: true  // Automatically persist changes
});

// Restore sessions from localStorage
await sessions.restore();

// Login with browser extension (NIP-07)
import { NDKNip07Signer } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';
const signer = new NDKNip07Signer();
await sessions.login(signer);

Node.js/CLI with File Storage

import { NDKSessionManager, FileStorage } from '@nostr-dev-kit/sessions';

const sessions = new NDKSessionManager(ndk, {
  storage: new FileStorage('./.ndk-sessions.json'),
  autoSave: true
});

// Restore sessions from file
await sessions.restore();

// Login
const signer = new NDKPrivateKeySigner(process.env.NOSTR_NSEC);
await sessions.login(signer, {
  follows: true,
  mutes: true
});

// Use active session
const event = new NDKEvent(ndk, { kind: 1, content: 'Hello from CLI!' });
await event.publish(); // Uses active session's signer

Multi-Account Management

// Login multiple accounts
const signer1 = new NDKPrivateKeySigner(nsec1);
const signer2 = new NDKPrivateKeySigner(nsec2);

const pubkey1 = await sessions.login(signer1);
const pubkey2 = await sessions.login(signer2);

// Get all sessions
console.log('Sessions:', sessions.getSessions());

// Switch between accounts
sessions.switchTo(pubkey1);
console.log('Active:', sessions.activePubkey);

sessions.switchTo(pubkey2);
console.log('Active:', sessions.activePubkey);

// Logout specific account
sessions.logout(pubkey1);

// Or logout active account
sessions.logout();

Read-Only Sessions

import { NDKUser } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';

// Create read-only session without signer
const user = ndk.getUser({ pubkey: somePubkey });
await sessions.login(user, {
  follows: true,
  relayList: true
});

// User data is fetched and cached, but can't sign events

Subscribe to Changes

const unsubscribe = sessions.subscribe((state) => {
  console.log('Active user:', state.activePubkey);
  console.log('Sessions count:', state.sessions.size);
});

// Later...
unsubscribe();

Auto-Fetch Session Data

await sessions.login(signer, {
  // Fetch contact list (kind 3)
  follows: true,

  // Fetch mute list (kind 10000)
  mutes: true,

  // Fetch blocked relay list (kind 10001)
  blockedRelays: true,

  // Fetch user's relay list (kind 10002)
  relayList: true,

  // Fetch NIP-60 wallet (kind 17375)
  wallet: true,

  // Fetch additional event kinds
  events: new Map([
    [30078, undefined], // NIP-78 app data
  ]),

  // Automatically set muteFilter on NDK (default: true)
  setMuteFilter: true,

  // Automatically set relayConnectionFilter on NDK (default: true)
  setRelayConnectionFilter: true
});

// Access session data
const session = sessions.activeSession;
console.log('Following:', session.followSet?.size, 'users');
console.log('Muted:', session.muteSet?.size, 'items');
console.log('Relay list:', session.relayList);
console.log('App data:', session.events.get(30078));

Custom Event Classes

You can provide custom NDKEvent subclasses to automatically wrap events as they're received. This is useful for adding custom methods or properties to specific event kinds:

import { NDKEvent, NDKKind } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';
import { NDKBlossomList } from '@nostr-dev-kit/ndk';

// Define a custom event class for kind 10015 (Interest Lists)
class NDKInterestList extends NDKEvent {
  static kinds = [10015 as NDKKind]; // Required for eventConstructors option

  static from(event: NDKEvent): NDKInterestList {
    return new NDKInterestList(event.ndk, event.rawEvent());
  }

  get interests(): string[] {
    return this.getMatchingTags('t').map(tag => tag[1]);
  }

  addInterest(interest: string): void {
    this.tags.push(['t', interest]);
  }
}

// Option 1: Using eventConstructors (recommended - more ergonomic)
await sessions.login(signer, {
  follows: true,
  eventConstructors: [NDKBlossomList, NDKInterestList]
});

// Option 2: Using events Map (explicit)
await sessions.login(signer, {
  follows: true,
  events: new Map([
    [10015, NDKInterestList], // Wrap kind 10015 with custom class
    [30078, undefined],        // Fetch kind 30078 as regular NDKEvent
  ])
});

// Access the wrapped event with custom methods
const session = sessions.activeSession;
const interestList = session.events.get(10015) as NDKInterestList;
console.log('User interests:', interestList.interests);

// Use custom methods
interestList.addInterest('nostr');
await interestList.publish();

Key features:

• Automatic wrapping - Events are wrapped using the class's .from() method
• Type safety - Cast to your custom class for full TypeScript support
• Custom methods - Add domain-specific methods and computed properties
• Inheritance - Custom classes extend NDKEvent, so all standard methods work
• Ergonomic API - Use eventConstructors array for cleaner syntax

Requirements:

• Custom class must extend NDKEvent
• Must implement a static from(event: NDKEvent) method
• Must have a static kinds array property (when using eventConstructors)
• The from() method should return an instance of your custom class

eventConstructors vs events:

• eventConstructors - More ergonomic, uses the class's static kinds property
• events - More explicit, requires manual kind-to-class mapping
• Both options can be used together and will be merged

Manual Persistence

import { MemoryStorage } from '@nostr-dev-kit/sessions';

const sessions = new NDKSessionManager(ndk, {
  storage: new MemoryStorage(),
  autoSave: false  // Disable auto-save
});

// Manually persist
await sessions.persist();

// Manually restore
await sessions.restore();

// Clear storage
await sessions.clear();

Runtime Wallet Control

Sessions supports runtime control of wallet fetching, allowing apps to enable/disable wallet features based on user preferences:

// Start session without wallet
const sessions = new NDKSessionManager(ndk, {
  fetches: { follows: true }
});

await sessions.login(signer);

// Later, when user wants to use wallet features
if (!sessions.isWalletEnabled()) {
  // App shows UI prompt: "Enable wallet for zaps?"
  const userConsent = await askUser();

  if (userConsent) {
    // Enable wallet and remember preference
    sessions.enableWallet();
  }
}

// Check wallet state
console.log('Wallet enabled:', sessions.isWalletEnabled());

// Disable wallet
sessions.disableWallet();

Key features:

• Runtime control - Enable/disable wallet after session starts
• Persistent preferences - User's choice is saved and restored
• Per-session - Each account can have different wallet settings

Usage patterns:

// 1. Wallet app (always enable)
const sessions = new NDKSessionManager(ndk, {
  fetches: { wallet: true }
});

// 2. Social app (ask user first time)
const sessions = new NDKSessionManager(ndk, {
  fetches: { wallet: false } // disabled by default
});
await sessions.restore(); // respects saved preferences

// When user tries to zap
if (!sessions.isWalletEnabled()) {
  if (await confirm("Enable wallet?")) {
    sessions.enableWallet(); // saves preference
  }
}

// 3. Multi-account with per-user preferences
sessions.enableWallet(userPubkey1);  // enable for user 1
sessions.disableWallet(userPubkey2); // disable for user 2

API Reference

NDKSessionManager

Constructor

new NDKSessionManager(ndk: NDK, options?: SessionManagerOptions)

Options:

• storage?: SessionStorage - Storage backend (LocalStorage, FileStorage, MemoryStorage, or custom)
• autoSave?: boolean - Auto-persist on changes (default: true)
• saveDebounceMs?: number - Debounce time for auto-save (default: 500)

Methods

createAccount(options?): Promise<{ pubkey: Hexpubkey; signer: NDKPrivateKeySigner }>

Create a new Nostr account with a generated private key and optional initial setup.

Options:

• profile?: NDKUserProfile - Profile metadata to publish as kind:0 (name, about, picture, etc.)
• relays?: string[] - Relay URLs to publish as NIP-65 relay list (kind:10002)
• wallet?: { mints: string[], relays?: string[] } - NIP-60 wallet configuration
  • mints - Array of mint URLs for Cashu wallet
  • relays - Optional relay URLs for wallet events (defaults to main relays if not specified)

Returns: Object containing the new account's pubkey and signer.

// Create bare account
const { pubkey, signer } = await sessions.createAccount();
console.log('New account created:', pubkey);
console.log('Private key:', signer.privateKey);

// Create account with profile
const { pubkey } = await sessions.createAccount({
  profile: {
    name: 'Alice',
    about: 'Hello Nostr!',
    picture: 'https://example.com/avatar.jpg'
  }
});

// Create account with relay list
const { pubkey } = await sessions.createAccount({
  relays: [
    'wss://relay.damus.io',
    'wss://relay.primal.net'
  ]
});

// Create account with wallet
const { pubkey } = await sessions.createAccount({
  wallet: {
    mints: ['https://mint.minibits.cash'],
    relays: ['wss://relay.damus.io']
  }
});

// Create fully configured account
const { pubkey, signer } = await sessions.createAccount({
  profile: { name: 'Alice', about: 'New to Nostr' },
  relays: ['wss://relay.damus.io', 'wss://relay.primal.net'],
  wallet: {
    mints: ['https://mint.minibits.cash'],
    relays: ['wss://relay.damus.io']
  }
});

// Save the nsec for the user
console.log('Your private key (keep safe!):', signer.privateKey);

Notes:

• The account is automatically logged in and set as active
• Profile is published as kind:0 event
• Relays are published as kind:10002 event (NIP-65)
• Wallet creates both kind:17375 (wallet config) and kind:10019 (backup) events
• Returns the signer so you can show the user their private key for backup

login(userOrSigner, options?): Promise<Hexpubkey>

Login with an existing signer or user.

Options:

• follows?: boolean | NDKKind[] - Fetch contact list (kind 3) and optional kind-scoped follows
• mutes?: boolean - Fetch mute list (kind 10000)
• blockedRelays?: boolean - Fetch blocked relay list (kind 10001)
• relayList?: boolean - Fetch user's relay list (kind 10002)
• wallet?: boolean - Fetch NIP-60 wallet (kind 17375)
• events?: Map<NDKKind, any> - Fetch specific replaceable event kinds. Value can be:
  • A custom NDKEvent subclass with a static from() method to wrap events
  • undefined to fetch as regular NDKEvent
• eventConstructors?: NDKEventConstructor[] - Array of event class constructors to register. More ergonomic alternative to events. Each constructor must have:
  • A static kinds array property listing the kinds it handles
  • A static from(event: NDKEvent) method to wrap events
• setMuteFilter?: boolean - Set muteFilter on NDK based on session's mute data (default: true)
• setRelayConnectionFilter?: boolean - Set relayConnectionFilter on NDK based on session's blocked relays (default: true)
• setActive?: boolean - Set this session as active immediately

// Using eventConstructors (recommended)
await sessions.login(signer, {
  follows: true,
  mutes: true,
  relayList: true,
  wallet: true,
  eventConstructors: [NDKBlossomList, CustomInterestList],
  setActive: true
});

// Using events Map (explicit)
await sessions.login(signer, {
  follows: true,
  mutes: true,
  relayList: true,
  wallet: true,
  events: new Map([
    [10015, CustomInterestList], // Wrap with custom class
    [30078, undefined]            // Regular NDKEvent
  ]),
  setActive: true
});

logout(pubkey?): void

Logout (remove) a session. If no pubkey provided, logs out active session.

switchTo(pubkey): void

Switch to a different session.

restore(): Promise<void>

Restore sessions from storage.

persist(): Promise<void>

Persist sessions to storage.

clear(): Promise<void>

Clear all sessions from storage.

subscribe(callback): UnsubscribeFn

Subscribe to state changes.

destroy(): void

Cleanup and stop all subscriptions.

enableWallet(pubkey?): void

Enable wallet fetching for a session. If no pubkey provided, uses active session. Updates preference and restarts subscription with wallet enabled.

disableWallet(pubkey?): void

Disable wallet fetching for a session. If no pubkey provided, uses active session. Updates preference and restarts subscription without wallet.

isWalletEnabled(pubkey?): boolean

Check if wallet fetching is enabled for a session. If no pubkey provided, uses active session. Returns saved preference or false if not set.

Properties

activeSession: NDKSession | undefined

Get the active session.

activeUser: NDKUser | undefined

Get the active user.

activePubkey: Hexpubkey | undefined

Get the active pubkey.

getSessions(): Map<Hexpubkey, NDKSession>

Get all sessions.

getSession(pubkey): NDKSession | undefined

Get a specific session.

Storage Implementations

LocalStorage

Browser localStorage implementation.

new LocalStorage(key?: string)

FileStorage

Node.js filesystem implementation.

new FileStorage(filePath?: string)

MemoryStorage

In-memory implementation (no persistence).

new MemoryStorage()

Custom Storage

Implement the SessionStorage interface:

interface SessionStorage {
  save(sessions: Map<Hexpubkey, SerializedSession>, activePubkey?: Hexpubkey): Promise<void>;
  load(): Promise<{ sessions: Map<Hexpubkey, SerializedSession>; activePubkey?: Hexpubkey }>;
  clear(): Promise<void>;
}

Framework Integration

React (with ndk-hooks)

// Coming soon: useNDKSessions hook in @nostr-dev-kit/react

Svelte 5 (with svelte)

// Coming soon: sessions store in @nostr-dev-kit/svelte

Vanilla Store Access

import { createSessionStore } from '@nostr-dev-kit/sessions';

const store = createSessionStore();
store.getState().init(ndk);

// Subscribe to changes
const unsubscribe = store.subscribe((state) => {
  console.log(state.activePubkey);
});

Best Practices

Security

⚠️ WARNING: Signer serialization stores private keys. In production:

1. Use encrypted storage
2. Never commit .ndk-sessions.json to version control
3. Use environment variables for sensitive keys
4. Consider NIP-07 (browser extension) or NIP-46 (remote signer) for better security

Performance

• Use autoSave: true with appropriate saveDebounceMs to avoid excessive writes
• Call destroy() when cleaning up to prevent memory leaks
• Use MemoryStorage for testing or when persistence isn't needed

Error Handling

try {
  await sessions.login(signer);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Login failed:', error);
}

try {
  await sessions.restore();
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Failed to restore sessions:', error);
}

License

MIT