I'd agree with you there, keeping quiet would be a better policy. However, as it was told to me my friend revealed the automation scripting as a very deliberat

I'd agree with you there, keeping quiet would be a better policy. However, as it was told to me my friend revealed the automation scripting as a very deliberate FU right at the end of his employment. Not so much burning bridges, but almost taking deliberate steps to douse them in kerosene beforehand. Seeing he ended up as a principal developer in a reinsurance company, I doubt it did much long term reputational damage.