I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project • Hacker News Board

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#31

Post by nickjj » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:36 PM UTC

vzaliva wrote: post #2

INAL but even if you did not get paid does not automatically means the result of work for hire belongs to you. If you are a contractor this is a smart thing to explicitly stipulate in the contract.

Yes totally.

Nice timing, in that I just wrote about this exact topic a few days ago at: https://nickjanetakis.com/blog/protecting-your-code-and-ip-w...

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#32

Post by trillcyborg » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:37 PM UTC

antoineMoPa wrote: post #12

Could you like... Start a business with that?

you can if you want...

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#33

Post by krapp » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:37 PM UTC

juskrey wrote: post #8

tyingq wrote: post #4

I wonder if the reverse has happened. Where a client pays for a project, and gets code, but it's terrible. So, open source it with attribution to the original developer and an appropriate README analysis of the low points. Edit: Wondering if it has happened doesn't mean I'm promoting it as a terrific idea.

Great! Put coder's skin in the game

If they want more of my skin in the game, they can put more zeroes in my bank account.

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#34

Post by luckydata » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:37 PM UTC

The idea was dumb by the way, but the code looks interesting, thanks for sharing.

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#35

Post by grogenaut » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:39 PM UTC

Super cool. I've been looking for a more in depth example for a while like this.

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#36

Post by darkpuma » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

Jare wrote: post #10

tyingq wrote: post #4

I wonder if the reverse has happened. Where a client pays for a project, and gets code, but it's terrible. So, open source it with attribution to the original developer and an appropriate README analysis of the low points. Edit: Wondering if it has happened doesn't mean I'm promoting it as a terrific idea.

But why would you opensource terrible code? Even if you want to write an essay about bad practices, it sounds easier to write it just taking extracts to illustrate the points. That said, attributing those extracts that you are criticizing would be pretty bad form, maybe even basis for a defamation suit. So, sounds messy either way.

Maybe the execution is shit but the idea behind it is interesting enough that you'll pick up some community developers that will code you something for free.

Not applicable in this particular case I think...

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#37

Post by trillcyborg » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

Hey guys its cool to see that you like my project. Unfortunately these types of things happen to independent contractors often and theres not a whole lot you can do about it but learn from mistakes. I used some awesome tech for the first time in this one like react-native-web which is now in Expo and react-spring for those sexy animations. Im happy for any of you guys to use this project as a boilerplate, learn some stuff from it or make fun of my code

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#38

Post by kombucha11 » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:40 PM UTC

sheeshkebab wrote: post #21

antoineMoPa wrote: post #12

Could you like... Start a business with that?

You could - or could start without it. The code is really nothing special - relies on Plaid for processing payments and small dB to keep user profiles... it’s done well though, so could certainly build it up if this model is what you are looking for.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around what the author means by saying the value would come "from leveraging data to eventually create a rental marketplace where users can find the perfect apartment to move into."

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#39

Post by RcouF1uZ4gsC » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:42 PM UTC

tyingq wrote: post #4

I wonder if the reverse has happened. Where a client pays for a project, and gets code, but it's terrible. So, open source it with attribution to the original developer and an appropriate README analysis of the low points. Edit: Wondering if it has happened doesn't mean I'm promoting it as a terrific idea.

Maybe it backfires and everybody thinks “What a stupid client who can’t appreciate that the contractor wrote in Haskell in a point-free style.”

Re: I didn't get paid, so I open-sourced my client’s project

#40

Post by dkersten » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:42 PM UTC

nryuk wrote: post #27

As someone who occasionally does recruiting for developers and always do some quick searches for GitHub profiles. You'd be dropped as a potential candidate on our team if we stumbled upon this, "After he signed and I began building he decided to pivot and not pay me." Just screams unprofessionalism in my opinion.

> Just screams unprofessionalism in my opinion.

Surely the guy not paying is the unprofessional one?

Sure, since "he signed", he could have probably taken legal action, but that's often a long and costly process. How is cutting your losses and walking away (but outsourcing the code you wrote) unprofessional?