Can You Buy Your Way to DevSecOps Success? | Arcjet’s David Mytton
Why more security tools may not be the answer
In this episode, David Mytton (CEO of ArcJet and founder of console.dev) breaks down why traditional approaches to developer security often fail, based on his years of experience reviewing developer tools and building security products. He discusses the importance of developer-centric design, the power of the right incentives, and the need for security solutions that seamlessly integrate into the developer workflow. Plus, he reveals the secrets to successful developer marketing and why traditional approaches often backfire.
Tune in to discover how to foster a security-conscious culture within your engineering team, without stifling innovation or creating unnecessary friction. Learn how to empower developers to build secure software by design, and discover the tools and strategies that are shaping the future of DevSecOps.
“… even before we get into any of the details of specific things that might've failed with DevSecOps, the incentives just don't align between the security team and the development team.”
-David Mytton
The Download
The Download is your engineering scoop of the week. 🍦
1. Google reclaims lost ground in the ongoing search wars ⛳️
Google continues to fight over its search turf with AI providers like ChatGPT and Perplexity. The search tool’s new AI Mode lets users ask complex, multi-part questions and get synthesized answers, keeping Google in the fight against AI-first competitors. This is a perfect example of disruption not equaling destruction. Just like Jevons paradox with compute demand, AI’s rise is actually increasing the need for skilled professionals, not wiping them out.
Read: Google Search’s new ‘AI Mode’ lets users ask complex, multi-part questions
2. New buzzword unlocked: Agent Experience (AX) 🤖
AX (Agent Experience) is the next frontier. We’re not quite there yet, but it’s imminent. AI agents don’t navigate the web like humans, so developers are rethinking how their platforms interact with machine consumers. Enter AX. This means designing APIs with clear, structured schemas and integrating seamlessly with external LLMs using protocols like MCP. The best developer experience now? One that works just as well for agents as it does for humans.
Read: Introducing AX: Why Agent Experience Matters
3. Software as art and the importance of building whimsy 🎨
A developer built an app to curb doomscrolling by making users literally touch grass. It’s a glimpse into where software is taking us: highly personalized, on-demand, and sometimes just for fun. Every day, it’s easier for anyone to spin up hobby apps, prototypes, or weird little experiments in minutes. These disposal apps level the playing field. Much like how video games evolved into an art form, software is heading the same way: accessible, expressive, and endlessly customizable.
Read: I built an app to stop me doomscrolling by touching grass
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4. Agentic AI continues reshaping big companies (and your team) 🔄
Amazon’s AWS just formed a new group dedicated to agentic AI, following the internal AI restructures we’ve seen at Microsoft and Goldman Sachs. Conway’s Law strikes again: as AI eats software, companies are reorganizing to keep up. The big shift? Humans managing AI agents is becoming a core competency. If you’re not already thinking about agentic AI in your SDLC, it’s time to start—check out the Engineering Intelligence newsletter for practical insights.
READ: Amazon's AWS forms new group focused on agentic AI
