Initially conceived as a student project, Ory Hydra has evolved into a leading open-source OAuth2 server, now powering OpenAI's OAuth2 infrastructure. Originally a Go-based alternative to Keycloak, it shifted focus in 2016 toward developing Ory Fosite, a library for OpenID Connect-compliant OAuth2 servers, which became the cornerstone of Ory Hydra. By removing user management and refining the Login and Consent flow, it allowed seamless integration of OAuth2 and OpenID Connect into existing infrastructures. Over time, Ory Hydra has optimized its performance, achieving benchmarks of thousands of authorization flows per second through strategic use of technologies like PostgreSQL and collaborations with CockroachDB. The project's success is attributed to its clear, scalable design, practical engineering, and strong community engagement, underscoring the importance of simplicity and ongoing optimization in technology development.