Getting Out of the Password Business

Short summary

A multi-tenant billing platform replaced its home-grown OAuth2 auth system — which abused client_credentials for user logins — with Google Identity Platform. The team executed a single-day cutover across five backend repos and the frontend, deliberately avoiding dual-auth transition periods. The author defends the all-at-once approach as lower risk than maintaining compatibility layers that tend to outlive their purpose.

• •Home-grown auth abused OAuth2 client_credentials grant for user authentication for years
• •Migrated to Google Identity Platform driven by security standards, enterprise SSO demand, and maintenance cost
• •Single-day cutover chosen over dual-auth transition to avoid persistent compatibility layers

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