How to protect the source code of a startup from being stolen by the programmer who writes it?

Question

PHP

Actually a subject. For the sake of interest, how does an employer protect the source code of his offspring from a programmer? Having quit his job sooner or later, he (the programmer) can download the source code in advance and simply redo the interface and voila, the whole program that the whole team worked on is in your pocket. Think you can make money. Who thinks about this?
Can someone share a link to a similar topic?

Answer 1

In my practice, there were two options:
1. Part of the code was encrypted, I was given access only to the necessary ftp folder and to the necessary module, the main engine lay separately. All this happened on a test server, so I would not demolish the combat database.
2. Essentially the same, but simpler: each server has its own database access config, I don’t have the right to take out the code for release - I just make a commit after the tester’s signal. Checkout only the necessary projects and libraries. You can also commit only where you need to.
Protecting the code itself is extremely rare, because the code is usually generic, and you can easily find / write modules for everything. It is much more important to fence off access to data (database and other files - pictures, sounds, etc.), although this can be parsed if desired. The most valuable thing is customers, sales, and so on. Without access to code and data, it is easy enough to make a clone of almost any project, but without sales, ratings and customer base - it is not a competitor to you.

Answer 2

Yes, nafig programmers do not need your program.

Answer 3

From personal experience - meeting with beginners - everyone is afraid to tell their brilliant idea and brilliant code. Meanwhile, when you cook in a startup party, you will see that the party is very open - everyone easily talks and gives advice from personal experience, given money and time. Such a culture. You help, you will be helped. And no one is particularly afraid that the idea or code will be stolen. Why - yes, because there are a lot of "ideas" and "code", and "to do", I would even say "f*shish" - few people are ready) . So don't worry).

Answer 4

Another.
Nothing.
Very, very premature. Just another one of your competitors, with identical functionality and errors.
Development costs are not very large compared to all the costs of entering a competitive market.
Just like other competitors - crush with new buns, service, brand, or even not notice these attempts at all.
With such a desire, a standard employment contract with the alienation of intellectual rights to the fruits of labor in favor of the employer can be sued.

Answer 5

Copy to a flash drive - and hide under the pillow. It won't steal from there. And steal - to the police.
And if you want to know how to protect yourself from the fact that other people will earn money, then write like that, and do not stick "theft" where it is necessary and where it is not necessary.
By subject: I think you need to lobby the law in the Duma on serfdom. For starters, create an initiative on the ROI - I think it will be considered even if it does not get the required 100 thousand votes, because the topic is in trend.

Answer 6

A question from the category: my brilliant idea will be used by others, it is necessary for the programmer to do everything blindfolded. The idea itself is not as valuable as its successful implementation.
There is only a question of legal registration and the search for a serious performer. It turns out that most likely you will need to contact the company and pay well.

Answer 7

you rightly think that programmers are strangers, and in fact, programmers who are not interested in working with you will simply steal your time, and if you yourself initially trusted both yourself and people, then maybe the programmer would not even have come up with the idea to steal Own Code (future still besides)

Answer 8

To do this, you need to sign a contract with employees, where this situation will be clearly and clearly stated)

Answer 9

Conclude an agreement with hired employees, in which everything is described.