diff --git a/backend/app/routers/auth.py b/backend/app/routers/auth.py
index bbc9527c216e2c91cdff2f3d030b53af0ec28350..d3e2aa8198a75afa3f30b86b5b95f3474a117106 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/auth.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/auth.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from fastapi.security import OAuth2AuthorizationCodeBearer
 from app.schemas import loginToken, loginData
 
 import jwt
+import os
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 
 # Define an APIRouter for authentication
@@ -83,6 +84,34 @@ async def login(form_data: OAuth2PasswordRequestForm = Depends()):
             detail="Incorrect username or password",
             headers={"WWW-Authenticate": "Bearer"},
         )
+    else:
+        # For development only: if the user is not in the mock db,
+        # then simulate authentication.
+        # Read the pgroups from the local file called "user" that lives only on
+        # your machine.
+        file_path = "user"  # Adjust path as needed
+        if not os.path.exists(file_path):
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+                detail="Development user file not found",
+            )
+        with open(file_path, "r") as f:
+            lines = f.read().splitlines()
+            if len(lines) < 2:
+                raise HTTPException(
+                    status_code=status.HTTP_500_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
+                    detail="User file must have at least two lines: "
+                    "a username on the first and the list of pgroups on the second",
+                )
+            # The first line of the file is the username
+            file_username = lines[0].strip()
+            # The second line is the list of pgroups (space-delimited)
+            pgroups = lines[1].strip().split()
+
+        user = {
+            "username": file_username,
+            "pgroups": pgroups,
+        }
 
     # Create token
     access_token = create_access_token(