The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Lessons from 5 years of startup code audits (Interview)
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Jun 24, 2022 
Ken Kantzer, co-founder of PKC Security, shares insights from over 20 code audits he and his team conducted on startups. He discusses the surprising connection between team size and product quality, emphasizing the importance of external perspectives. The conversation highlights a shift toward simpler engineering practices, the evolution of security methods in development, and navigating open-source security challenges. Ken also warns about flawed business logic in software and shares lessons learned from the fast-paced world of startups.
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Small Teams, Big Impact
- Smaller engineering teams often outperform larger teams in terms of product quality and features.
- This observation challenges the common startup pressure to rapidly grow engineering teams.
Simplicity over Rigor
- Engineering cultures that prioritize simplicity tend to outperform those that value rigor and complexity.
- This challenges the assumption that rigor is always superior to simplicity in software development.
Easier Security
- Writing secure software is easier now due to increased open-source usage and developer security awareness.
- Frameworks and libraries fix bugs, and developers are more security-conscious.