How could I know if my programmer copy code from other places?

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Hi warriors,

I am currently hire a programmer to do a Wordpress plugin for me. Everything is going fine but since I just know him I'm not sure how can I detect if he copy code from other people sources?

I don't want to have any problem with legal stuffs so if there is anyway to check it would be good.

Thanks,

Keng
#programming #code #copy #places #programmer
  • You can have him signed a legal agreement that will contain the clause that he will not copy any code of others and if he does then the complete action will have to be face by him or he will be sole resop. person for the legal action taken.

    This was he would be afraid to do stealing.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
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    • Which would be absurd. All programmers copy low-level snippets from various places, except for the most trivial tasks. Asking someone not to do so is asking them not to do their job.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [2] replies
  • You cant know.
  • if he is copying a snippet from here.. a snippet from there, thats fine, but if he copies an entire program code thats other thing..

    there's nothing you can do to find out...
  • That is risk of being a programmer, the copy-paste's ethics are an usual in programmer world, but if you want to share with open-source society, please use GNU or public license.

    If you want to protect your codes you can use software encryption.

    And don't forget that HTML, Javascript and CSS is open since http protocol using port 80, you'll never found a way to encrypt web source.
  • Keng,

    This is a tough one.....

    What I have seen in the WordPress Plugin arena is rather unique..... Most of these guys don't reuse general snippets.... as mentioned by wayfarer...

    They create a code base by "lifting" an entire "starting point" from an existing WP Plugin from the WP website...... At least, the Developers I have encountered on oDesk and other sites do... Then, they modify it to meet your specifications...

    The huge downside is..... You end up with a thrown together Frankenstein plugin... There is no thought to design, maintainability or quality. It is cheap to have built... But, it is expensive to maintain....

    As for the legal aspect, many outsourcing websites have requirements that it be "original work." But, my experience is..... That is rarely followed....

    The way to avoid the legal issues are to have them sign a contract with you stating they are doing all "original work" AND they agree to indemnify you....

    Of course, I'm giving high level layman's advice.... You need to seek the advice of a competent Attorney in your jurisdiction.

    God Bless,

    Rich Beck BCIP, MCSD, MCIS
  • Haha, point taken. Maybe you'll get a few one-off products that way, but that's not who you want to hire if you need something really customized.
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    • wayfarer,

      Very true, my friend.... These could be one-off hacked products...

      If I were having a plugin created, I would not want a plugin customized... Rather, I would want a custom plugin.....

      Customized implies they are attempting to take a sow's ear and turn it into a silk purse.... Which is what happens on most of the outsourcing websites...

      To me, custom means they write the code from scratch.... using all the proper engineering methodologies...

      The way I see it... There is a big difference.....

      Take Care,

      Rich Beck BCIP, MCSD, MCIS
  • One point to consider: If your developer uses a framework, some functions etc may be identical to others included in some plugins and this is nothing strange. One example i know is "CodeCharge", which is a visual development tool that creates database ready apps for php etc, and you'll find that 2 different apps, may share similar code.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Best Regards,

    Diego.
    • [1] reply
    • Diego,

      I have used CodeCharge, IronSpeed, PHPMaker and other web application builders before....

      What he is questioning is different....

      Not is his code being "generated" by an application like CodeCharge... But, is his code being "copied" from an existing plugin....

      Based on my experience with WordPress plugin "Developers" on oDesk and eLance... That is a very valid concern....

      Take Care,

      Rich Beck

  • Think positive and positive things will be happened
  • Unless competitors with the programming skill will want to do check on your coding. The code can be encoded so it is hard to find whether your code is steal from them. Normally the software seller will want to protect their code being copied. To decode other code is possible, but your programmer unlikely capable to do that.
  • Don't worry, PHP codes are GPL but you might have to worry about the CSS and images the coder is using.
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    • That is simply not true. The type of license that each PHP script has is up to the developer of that script, not you or me! A script might be licensed as GPL, or it might be closed-source, or it might be BSD, or any number of different types of licenses.

      The same is true for ANY type of code, not just PHP!
      • [1] reply
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