Comparing the Usability of Cryptographic APIs

Explore a comprehensive analysis of cryptographic API usability in this 21-minute IEEE conference talk. Delve into the findings of a controlled experiment involving 256 Python developers from GitHub, who tackled common symmetric and asymmetric cryptography tasks using five different APIs. Discover how API design impacts code security and functionality, and learn why simplicity alone is insufficient for creating effective cryptographic libraries. Examine the crucial roles of documentation, code examples, and auxiliary features in promoting secure development practices. Gain insights into the surprising compensatory effects of comprehensive documentation on complex APIs, and understand the concerning disconnect between developers' perceptions of code security and actual security outcomes. Uncover valuable recommendations for designing future cryptographic libraries that balance simplicity, functionality, and security.