I don't think software used to be more secure. As computer users we were more trusting, if not to say naive. As more machines connected to networks, we learned a thing or two.
Open access by default. No passwords [1] or short passwords. Then insecurely stored passwords. Everything in plaintext. Input sanitation? Why bother, only I can input data, I trust myself. Don't get me started on telnet.
I suspect that's another reason why software is more bloated. We started noticing things, how they interact with each other. And once you see something, you can't unsee it. The edge cases we have to account for are growing, not decreasing. There's more hardware to support too.
I'm sure the whole process of writing performant code can be improved. At the same time the bar is being raised faster than we can (or want to) reach it.
1 - And now we're inching towards no passwords again.
Security is indeed an important dimension because it holds the key (pun) for ever more important applications. I agree that a more detailed, like-for-like comparison of software qualities across decades needs to be very careful. Applications have exploded in all domains. But then also the ranks of software engineers and their tools and ability to exchange best practices has exploded.
The trouble with exponential curves is that a small difference in rates can create dramatic discrepancies.
Open access by default. No passwords [1] or short passwords. Then insecurely stored passwords. Everything in plaintext. Input sanitation? Why bother, only I can input data, I trust myself. Don't get me started on telnet.
I suspect that's another reason why software is more bloated. We started noticing things, how they interact with each other. And once you see something, you can't unsee it. The edge cases we have to account for are growing, not decreasing. There's more hardware to support too.
I'm sure the whole process of writing performant code can be improved. At the same time the bar is being raised faster than we can (or want to) reach it.
1 - And now we're inching towards no passwords again.