Architecture
From CISO to Full-Stack Developer: Building TopFlow in 4 Weeks
After 15 years in security leadership, I built a production AI workflow tool from scratch. Here's what I learned transitioning from strategic security to hands-on development.
The CISO Stereotype
There's a common assumption in tech: once you reach the C-suite in security, you stop coding. CISOs are seen as strategic thinkers but who couldn't build a production application if their careers depended on it.
The 4-Week Build Timeline
Here's how I structured the development process:
Week 1: Architecture & Security Design
- Designed privacy-first architecture (no database)
- Created 5-layer security model
- Mapped OWASP Top 10 mitigations
Week 2: Core Workflow Engine
- Built drag-and-drop canvas with React Flow
- Implemented 10 node types
- Added cycle detection and validation
Week 3: Security Hardening
- Implemented SSRF prevention
- Added rate limiting with Redis
- Configured security headers
Key Lessons Learned
Security Expertise Translates to Code Quality
My security background meant I naturally wrote defensive code: input validation everywhere, proper error handling, timeout enforcement.
Conclusion
Building TopFlow proved that security expertise makes you a better developer, and that hands-on development makes you a better security leader.