# Twitter's OAuth transition creates security and usability problems for desktop clients

DevFeed: [Twitter's OAuth transition creates security and usability problems for desktop clients](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/dear-twitter-stop-screwing-over-your-developers-21918.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.nelhage.com/2010/09/dear-twitter/>)

Author: Nelson Elhage

Published: 2010-09-12T23:48:28Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Nelson Elhage](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/nelson-elhage.md>)

Topics: [X (Twitter)](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/twitter.md>), [API](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/api.md>), [client](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/client.md>), [OAuth](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/oauth.md>), [Authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/authentication.md>), [Security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/security.md>)

Tags: [analysis](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/analysis.md>), [api](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/api.md>), [authentication](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/authentication.md>), [desktop](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/desktop.md>), [oauth](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/oauth.md>), [security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/security.md>), [twitter](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/twitter.md>)

## AI overview

The author argues that Twitter's transition to OAuth creates problems for desktop applications because consumer secrets cannot reliably be kept confidential in software controlled by users. The article contrasts this with the stronger security model of OAuth and questions how the transition affects independent Twitter client developers.

## Source excerpt

I really like Twitter. I think it's a great, fun, service, that helps enable interesting online communities, and is a surprisingly effective way to spread news and information to lots of people online. One of the things that I've loved about Twitter is their API, and how open and welcoming they've been to developers. I even use Twitter from an IM client that I develop, using protocol support that I wrote myself.