diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
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diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
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+
+test:
+	@./node_modules/.bin/mocha \
+		--require should \
+		--reporter dot \
+		--bail
+
+.PHONY: test
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diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
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+
+# name
+
+  Generic basic auth Authorization header field parser for whatever.
+
+## Installation
+
+```
+$ npm install basic-auth
+```
+
+## Example
+
+  Pass a node request or koa Context object to the module exported. If
+  parsing fails `undefined` is returned, otherwise an object with
+  `.name` and `.pass`.
+
+```js
+var auth = require('basic-auth');
+var user = auth(req);
+// => { name: 'something', pass: 'whatever' }
+
+```
+
+# License
+
+  MIT
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diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
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+
+/**
+ * Parse the Authorization header field of `req`.
+ *
+ * @param {Request} req
+ * @return {Object} with .name and .pass
+ * @api public
+ */
+
+module.exports = function(req){
+  req = req.req || req;
+
+  var auth = req.headers.authorization;
+  if (!auth) return;
+
+  // malformed
+  var parts = auth.split(' ');
+  if ('basic' != parts[0].toLowerCase()) return;
+  if (!parts[1]) return;
+  auth = parts[1];
+
+  // credentials
+  auth = new Buffer(auth, 'base64').toString();
+  auth = auth.match(/^([^:]+):(.+)$/);
+  if (!auth) return;
+
+  return { name: auth[1], pass: auth[2] };
+};
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diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
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+{
+  "name": "basic-auth",
+  "version": "0.0.1",
+  "repository": "visionmedia/node-basic-auth",
+  "description": "generic basic auth parser",
+  "keywords": ["basic", "auth", "authorization", "basicauth"],
+  "dependencies": {},
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "mocha": "*",
+    "should": "*"
+  },
+  "license": "MIT"
+}
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diff --git a/test/index.js b/test/index.js
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+
+var assert = require('assert');
+var auth = require('..');
+
+function request(authorization) {
+  return {
+    headers: {
+      authorization: authorization
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+describe('auth(req)', function(){
+  describe('with no Authorization field', function(){
+    it('should return null', function(){
+      var req = request();
+      assert(null == auth(req));
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('with malformed Authorization field', function(){
+    it('should return null', function(){
+      var req = request('Something');
+      assert(null == auth(req));
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('with malformed credentials', function(){
+    it('should return nulll', function(){
+      var req = request('basic Zm9vcgo=');
+      assert(null == auth(req));
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('with valid credentials', function(){
+    it('should return .user and .pass', function(){
+      var req = request('basic Zm9vOmJhcg==');
+      auth(req).should.eql({ name: 'foo', pass: 'bar' });
+    })
+  })
+})
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