Steve Cattaneo knows what it's like to roll your own IAM

Creating an identity management system in software development can appear straightforward but often proves to be complex and time-consuming, as illustrated by Steve Cattaneo's experiences. Initially opting to build custom authentication systems to speed up product development, Steve's team faced numerous challenges, such as integrating Google authentication, managing multiple logins for different products, and handling unforeseen technical issues without the necessary expertise. These challenges highlighted the inefficiencies and technical debt associated with rolling their own solutions, leading to significant downtime and a realization of the value lost in not using an established service like Userfront from the beginning. The narrative underlines the importance of leveraging established authentication services to avoid unnecessary complications, focus on unique business value, and enhance security and scalability. Steve's journey serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of identity management and the benefits of utilizing specialized platforms to streamline this aspect of software development.