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Why does every VPN need to rewrite their own client? (programming.dev)
submitted 5 hours ago by onlinepersona@programming.dev to c/programming@programming.dev
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I've been testing VPN services and somehow every one with a client has written their own. Proton, Windscribe, IVPN, Mullvad, AirVPN, NordVPN, and the list goes on.

Don't these services all do the same thing? Connect to a server to get a list of servers, then use WireGuard or OpenVPN to make a connection, and have some fancy stuff like split tunneling or a killswitch. It should just take configuration by adding profiles per service and it should be possible to use the same client.

What am I missing?

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[-] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Wouldn't less variety of clients be less safe. Having one client means a security bottle neck becomes vulnerable because more is 'known'/certain to attackers.

Besides all text editors are doing the same thing, so why not just have one text editor?

Ultimately if you follow this line of thinking - then why not have a universal code library that just forms programs as the user needs them.

Okay, so you want Star Trek style Holodeck?

this post was submitted on 28 Jul 2026
51 points (98.1% liked)

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