Open sourcing code from work

Microsoft / Eng
Jishvm86

Go to company page Microsoft Eng

PRE
Google, Facebook, TuneIn, Cisco
Jishvm86
Sep 10, 2018 9 Comments

Is there any way to contribute to open source projects during work hours if they aren't secret sauce?

There's a generic tool I'm working on that would really benefit a lot of people if it was open sourced so I'd love to maybe open source what I have or perhaps rewrite it under my personal account during non work hours. Is this permissible? In the second scenario - would it be legal/ethical to make pull requests from my work account to keep contributing?

My boss would be happy about it but idk about the powers that be throughout Msft. Curious to hear about other companies too.

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TOP 9 Comments
  • Do not forget that Microsoft is paying you while you are at work and using the facilities. Open source contributions during then should be aligned to company’s strategy. Even outside work should be done in a way that doesn’t expose any company intellectual property. Get clarification in writing from manager or legal so that you don’t get into trouble.

    Really wondering why this isn’t common sense and you had to ask in Blind!
    Sep 10, 2018 3
  • Ask your manager if you can open source it. Maybe ask CELA
    Sep 10, 2018 0
  • Expedia
    👖optional

    Go to company page Expedia

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    Absolutely talk to your manager and legal. Problem with open sourcing work related stuff is that you might inadvertently expose something about your work codebase.
    Sep 10, 2018 0
  • Microsoft / Eng
    Tier 1

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    Tier 1
    We should definitely encourage this more.

    Especially for tools for Windows and dotnet, etc.
    Sep 10, 2018 0
  • Search for moonlighting on hrweb. I remember that Microsoft had changed the company policy regarding open source contributions.
    Sep 10, 2018 0