[evook]

When I was young, I cloned services and wrote a letter to the company offering to buy a exclusive one year license or it would get released as open source in addition with a demo. That was giving me some job chances.

Now it's all about who you know, and what condition a potential employer is offering. No car, home office, solo office, dynamic hours and I'll walk out of an interview when the pay isn't obscenely high.

One time everything was right, but I complained to the managing director that the HR was giving me upfront bullshit during an interview, being not sure if I wanted to work In an environment where hiring is practiced that badly. This resulted in my first upper management position and allowing me to hire the employees of my department without HR in charge. Best decision ever, my best three engineers didn't even study. The hiring system is broken. In the technical sector even more than anywhere else, because it just doesn't make a difference for your skills if you have studied ivy league or learned everything necessary at home for yourself.

[paulryanrogers]

Are you saying you basically extorted these companies for a job based on the threat of releasing open source software?

[evook]

I wouldn't say that. I was after the money back then, but some companies actually liked that attitude of mine. Also lacking a product cycle those threads expired by themselves.

[leojg]

You, sir, are an evil but brilliant mind.

Watch out if you try to use that tactic with some mafia or terrorist group.