gistfile1.js

// from local.ini
[couch_httpd_auth]
authentication_db = users
require_valid_user = true

// http://localhost:5984/users/_design/_auth/_view/users
{"total_rows":1,"offset":0,"rows":[
{"id":"users","key":"stefano","value":{"password_sha":"EwPfA3e1xccq6zn5M0qUp6141hU=","roles":["_reader","_writer","_admin"],"seed":"1234"}}
]}

// from the Erlang shell
2> couch_util:encodeBase64(crypto:sha(["1234", "test"])).
<<"EwPfA3e1xccq6zn5M0qUp6141hU=">>

> curl http://stefano:test@localhost:5984/
{"error":"unauthorized","reason":"Name or password is incorrect."}