[chadkruse]

As a manager I love seeing people have side projects. I've also learned it's pretty easy to figure out where their priorities lie. So, I think letting them know is generally a good thing, just be prepared to let them know everything if you do.

[itsybitsycoder]

IOW don't tell them at all? As an employee I don't think everything is my manager's business. I've chatted with my manager about my side projects but if he started demanding to know everything, I would find it very rude and intrusive, and it would greatly lower my opinion of him. What I do off-hours and unrelated to the business is not something a manager has a right to know. Doesn't matter if that is programming or watching reality TV or attending a gorram orgy.

[chadkruse]

I'm simply suggesting people are good at filling in the blanks.

And yes, anyone with a manager like the one you describe should absolutely run for the hills :)