Quote: Original post by RDragon1
Well, they would have to show maybe that you stole "trade secrets"... However I don't believe class interfaces and such are really such a strong argument. Unless you are ripping code out of their engine, I'm pretty certain that you're fine.

Ok cool ^^

Quote: Original post by RDragon1
What kind of non-compete or non-disclosure agreement did you / do you have with them? Not that I think an NDA would really protect against this stuff - they're mostly ideas or conventions, and reusing good ideas is... well, a good idea.

IANAL.

A simple NDA I think.

Quote: Original post by haegarr
Well, if I think of all that people that have learned not only a programming language but also a programming style from reading their first book about that language ... That works really fine for good as well as for bad styles ;-)

Yes you are right. But I just was thinking that people that sell an x00000$ (x>0) engine may be more agressive that a book author that deliberately give his code... ;)

Anyway, thank you a lot guys.

Consult an IP (intellectual property) lawyer, if you really have concerns.

> I automaticaly use the code style of the great engine.
> You know like variables write style, globals variables
> write style, functions style, projects style...

Your former company will worry about you stealing algorithms and data structures far more than about your coding style. Coding style has no market value. But algorithms and data structures can be assumed to be "trade secrets", depending on the employment contract or NDA you have signed. And it also depends on which algorithms and which data structures are at stake; some are more critical than others.

> Now, I am founding my own society and I am working on
> our own house game engine. Note that we want to sell
> this engine.

Your former employer will worry about you competing with them directly or indirectly. You should reread your employment contract; most firms will add employment contract clauses that prevent you from starting or joining a similar business within some time frame from your departure.

> ... but note that by doing the same things (game engine)
> with the same style make appear some little resemblances
> (not sure of the word sorry) like same variable name
> for the same variable utility

Case at hand. A long time ago, I have been called to trial as an 'expert witness' to examine a case whereby newly formed company A stole source code from company B. It turned out that company A did stole source code and tried to camouflage the code by renaming variables and such. I was told very explicitely by the judge and the prosecutor to look solely at algorithms and data structures; substance was on trial and form was to be overlooked. Law procedures might be different in France, but I assume the concepts apply here.

-cb

Quote: Original post by RDragon1
Consult an IP (intellectual property) lawyer, if you really have concerns.

That's what I planed but while waiting, I wanted to know the opinion of gamedev programmers ^^

Realistically, the opinion of gamedev programmers is of no use to you...

Quote: Original post by RDragon1
Realistically, the opinion of gamedev programmers is of no use to you...

Yes I know but it's just for palpate, to see what it raise...

Maybe you would have say "No no you are mad, it's crazy..." or somethings like that...

Since I just copy the code style, It seems I will not have problems. I will validate this, but for now, I will not stop all the develepment.

Seriously, the code style you've seen on that engine must be used by another million people. I'm pretty sure they didn't just invent a new revolutionary code style that no one else has thought of before.

I say, just use that code style and don't worry about it. If you ever have to worry (highly unlikeable), use your IDE or 3rd party software to change the code style to something else.