Eric Steven Raymond’s classic essay, The Cathedral and the Bazaar, remains a powerful piece of open-source philosophy that still shapes modern software development. The essay reflects on the contrasting approaches to software creation—the “Cathedral” and the “Bazaar”—and draws on Raymond’s experiences with his project, Fetchmail, a widely used open-source email retrieval tool. Raymond was influenced by Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, and the unconventional model of development that grew around it. He saw the Linux community’s decentralized, collaborative, and adaptive approach as a bazaar, a bustling marketplace of ideas, in stark contrast to the closed, structured, and carefully planned approach he likened to a cathedral.

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In The Cathedral and the Bazaar, Raymond highlights principles that have not only been influential in software development but also offer valuable insights for industries beyond, including cybersecurity. This article will explore some of the core lessons from Raymond’s work, weaving in potential applications and analogies to the cybersecurity field.

Solving a problem: Start with a personal Pain Point

Raymond begins with a fundamental lesson: “Good software starts by solving a developer’s own problem.” By focusing on a specific, immediate need, a developer can understand the problem deeply and remain motivated to find an effective solution. Raymond’s work on Fetchmail started because he needed a more reliable way to retrieve and handle his email.

In cybersecurity, the best tools and solutions often emerge when experts develop technology to solve problems they themselves face. When cybersecurity professionals are also users of the systems they protect, they gain a unique perspective that can drive effective, tailored solutions. Developing an intrusion detection system, for example, might begin with a cybersecurity team wanting faster, more reliable alerts for the exact types of breaches they face. This approach ensures that the software or security measure addresses real threats rather than hypothetical ones.

Don’t start from scratch: the art of Reusing and Improving

Raymond’s second principle is: “Smart programmers know what to write. Great ones know what to rewrite (and reuse).” This idea pushes against the notion of reinventing the wheel, advocating instead for using existing solutions whenever possible and building upon them. When Raymond developed Fetchmail, he utilized established code and tools, optimizing his work by leveraging what had already been proven effective.

In cybersecurity, reusing proven tools and frameworks can be immensely beneficial. By building on open-source solutions or incorporating well-established frameworks, teams avoid unnecessary risk and ensure their efforts are spent on meaningful innovation. For example, many cybersecurity professionals build on open-source tools like Snort (for network intrusion detection) or Metasploit (for penetration testing), adding customization based on their specific security needs. This approach accelerates development and encourages a culture of shared improvements, ultimately strengthening the overall security ecosystem.

The importance of iteration: learning as you build

In Raymond’s words, “The second time you solve a problem, you understand it.” This principle captures the iterative nature of development: the first solution often highlights gaps, but it’s only through multiple attempts that you develop true expertise and efficiency.

In cybersecurity, iteration is especially critical due to the constantly evolving threat landscape. A solution that works today might need enhancement tomorrow as new vulnerabilities and attack vectors are discovered. Continuous iteration also plays a role in improving incident response processes—security teams analyze past breaches, learning from them and iterating on their defenses and protocols to strengthen future responses. This iterative approach is vital for reducing exposure to repeated threats and creating more resilient security postures.

Release Early, Release Often: embrace imperfection

One of the most celebrated tenets from The Cathedral and the Bazaar is “Release early, release often.” Raymond emphasizes the power of frequent feedback: by releasing even an imperfect solution early, developers can gather insights from real users and adapt their approach.

In cybersecurity, this principle is valuable for creating responsive and adaptive tools. Tools that detect or prevent intrusions, for example, need to evolve quickly as new threats emerge. By rolling out updates early and often, security teams can keep systems secure without waiting for “perfect” versions of their tools. Regular updates also allow users to contribute valuable feedback, alerting developers to potential vulnerabilities or necessary adjustments.

Many Eyes, Fewer Bugs: harnessing collective intelligence

Raymond’s famous quote, “Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow,” sums up the power of community involvement in open-source projects. The more people reviewing code, the more likely they’ll spot issues that a single developer might miss. This crowd-sourced debugging is one of the greatest strengths of the open-source model.

The cybersecurity industry already employs this idea with bug bounty programs, where companies invite outside researchers to identify vulnerabilities in their systems. By opening their code to scrutiny, they increase the chances of catching weaknesses before they’re exploited. The “many eyes” principle is a reminder that collective problem-solving, which is common in the open-source world, is also highly effective in cybersecurity.

Passing the Torch: ensuring continued progress

Raymond’s advice to “pass the torch” encourages developers to hand off projects they’re no longer passionate about to others who can continue improving them. This practice not only preserves valuable projects but also encourages the next generation to contribute and innovate.

In cybersecurity, passing the torch means documentation and knowledge transfer become essential practices. Security teams, especially those dealing with complex, legacy systems, must ensure their work can be continued by others. This might involve detailed documentation of procedures, tools, and threat analysis processes. When a cybersecurity expert leaves a team, effective knowledge sharing ensures that no critical information is lost, and the incoming team can build upon the work that was already established.

Users as Co-Developers: empowering a collaborative approach

Another of Raymond’s powerful principles is to “treat your users as co-developers.” Raymond argues that users have valuable insights that can guide the development process, especially in the iterative stages. This principle has helped open-source software become highly adaptable to user needs and feedback.

In cybersecurity, this is particularly relevant for developing user-centric security tools. Engaging end-users early in the development process can lead to tools that are more intuitive and practical for those who use them. For example, companies may co-develop security protocols with their end-users to ensure these measures are practical and easy to follow, fostering greater buy-in and compliance. Users, in this sense, become part of the security process, providing feedback on usability and helping to highlight potential risks and gaps.

Recognize Good Ideas: valuing external contributions

Raymond’s advice to “recognize good ideas” encourages developers to keep an open mind and embrace ideas from others. This willingness to acknowledge external contributions helps open-source projects remain dynamic and innovative.

In the cybersecurity world, this principle is evident in the collaborations between organizations, governments, and independent security researchers. Acknowledging and implementing effective security techniques developed by others promotes a more robust defense against cyber threats. Additionally, the open exchange of threat intelligence, vulnerability assessments, and innovative solutions allows cybersecurity teams to build on each other’s work, advancing the field in ways that isolated efforts cannot.

Embrace Flexibility: evolving as Threats Change

Raymond’s final principle, “be prepared to throw away code if it becomes obsolete,” underscores the need for flexibility and adaptability. For him, this means removing outdated or ineffective features to maintain simplicity and relevance.

This lesson is critical in cybersecurity, where outdated software and legacy systems often present vulnerabilities. Security protocols and tools must be flexible enough to evolve as new threats emerge, and sometimes, the best way to do this is to eliminate obsolete elements. Cybersecurity teams need to regularly review their systems and protocols, retiring outdated components that may pose security risks, even if it requires significant changes.

Applying Raymond’s philosophy to cybersecurity: building a Bazaar of Defenses

The spirit of The Cathedral and the Bazaar invites a collaborative, open, and evolving approach to software that has the potential to enhance security practices profoundly. If cybersecurity embraced the bazaar model more fully, it could lead to a more agile, inclusive, and resilient system of defenses. Security professionals could be encouraged to share their tools, insights, and strategies, creating a collective “bazaar” of defenses that evolves as quickly as new threats emerge.

Just as open-source developers have learned from Raymond’s insights, so too can cybersecurity teams by applying these principles to develop faster, iterate continuously, and leverage the collective intelligence of the security community. This collaborative, user-focused approach has proven invaluable in software development, and with growing cybersecurity threats, it may be one of our most powerful tools for securing our companies.