diff --git a/create-user.sh b/create-user.sh
index 356144b..05e9a87 100644
--- a/create-user.sh
+++ b/create-user.sh
@@ -1,20 +1,24 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-echo "🔐 Ansible User Setup Script"
-echo "-----------------------------"
+echo "🔐 Flexible User Creation Script"
+echo "-------------------------------"
 
-# Username prompt
-read -p "👤 Enter username to create (default: ansible): " USERNAME
-USERNAME=${USERNAME:-ansible}
+# Prompt for username
+read -p "👤 Enter username to create (required): " USERNAME
+if [[ -z "$USERNAME" ]]; then
+    echo "❌ Error: Username is required."
+    exit 1
+fi
 
-# SSH key prompt
+# Prompt for public key
 read -p "🔑 Paste the SSH public key: " PUBKEY
+if [[ -z "$PUBKEY" ]]; then
+    echo "❌ Error: Public key is required."
+    exit 1
+fi
 
-# Group prompt
-read -p "👥 Enter comma-separated groups to add (default: sudo, e.g. sudo,docker): " GROUPS
-GROUPS=${GROUPS:-sudo}
-
-# Convert group list into array
+# Prompt for optional groups
+read -p "👥 Enter comma-separated groups to add (e.g. sudo,docker): " GROUPS
 IFS=',' read -ra GROUP_ARRAY <<< "$GROUPS"
 
 # Create user
@@ -22,11 +26,16 @@ echo ""
 echo "📋 Creating user: $USERNAME"
 useradd -m -s /bin/bash "$USERNAME"
 
-# Add user to each group
-for group in "${GROUP_ARRAY[@]}"; do
-    echo "➕ Adding $USERNAME to group: $group"
-    usermod -aG "$group" "$USERNAME"
-done
+# Add user to groups if any provided
+if [[ -n "$GROUPS" ]]; then
+    for group in "${GROUP_ARRAY[@]}"; do
+        group_trimmed=$(echo "$group" | xargs)  # trim spaces
+        if [[ -n "$group_trimmed" ]]; then
+            echo "➕ Adding $USERNAME to group: $group_trimmed"
+            usermod -aG "$group_trimmed" "$USERNAME"
+        fi
+    done
+fi
 
 # Set up SSH
 echo "🔒 Setting up SSH access..."
@@ -39,5 +48,5 @@ chown -R $USERNAME:$USERNAME /home/$USERNAME/.ssh
 # Done
 echo ""
 echo "✅ User '$USERNAME' created."
-echo "📦 Groups added: ${GROUP_ARRAY[*]}"
+[[ -n "$GROUPS" ]] && echo "📦 Groups added: ${GROUP_ARRAY[*]}"
 echo "🎉 SSH key installed and permissions secured."