https://reddit.com/r/programming/...

"I didn't get paid so I open-sourced my client's project". What do you think about this approach, folks? Pretty neat to me, plus people get good free stuffs! Unless the client finds out about the cod- Who am I kidding? They're client!

Most stupid and unprofesional thing I have seen in a while. I would never hire this guy if I found out about this.

In typical reddit fashion he gets glorified by wannabe programmers while people living in the real world get downvoted to hell.

I guess this guy didnt have a contract or if so a very bad one. I would almost always ask for upfront payment - especially if you dont know the client.
And if he doesnt pay the rest I would get a lawyer involved instead of possibly breaking the law myself..

How do you let it get to this point?

Did you hand them the code with no money in hand? Giving up your leverage? Did you not set up milestone payments? You just made up a practice and sought no advice from those with experience and common sense.

No, that's really fucking stupid. Upfront payments would prevent this. No money, no code!

People should trust each other... Respect agreements. If client is not paying for the code, the code is still property of the developer.

@musician you noticed that the client refused to pay for the code in the first place? As a developer I'd refuse to work for the client!

@mt3o yes I noticed that and I am not trying to defend the client.
Thing is, we live in a 'civilized' world so when you steal my car I cant just break into your house as revenge ;)

Since I dont know his contract I can only guess but my point stands. As a business owner I wouldnt hire him. To settle things like that you get a lawyer involved. You dont go eye for an eye

@musician I bet he has no written contract or don't belive in lawyers. Either way, the product has not been bought. Also, I don't like the analogy with stealing the car because copying is not a theft. Dude did some work which was not acquired by the client. The code never belonged to the client. This is the baseline.

@mt3o fair enough, but that still makes him seem very unprofessional (working without contract, not wanting to involve a lawyer) so it good for his short reddit fame, but most employers will see that as a huge red flag

@musician i see it as lack of experience, not necessarily a good thing, but not bad either. In fact, having similar experience, made me stop freelancing. If I have to pay the layer 500$ to get back to 2000$, given the fact that it might not succeed. Once I did a website for a restaurant, but the owner closed the business before paying me. He already had debt collectors on his back...
My experience made my work for a large company, as full time employee. I have paid sick leave, paid vacations, social security and stuff.