I have lived on the East coast my whole life (40+ years) and am in my fourth startup. Practically every good developer I've worked with has some side project th

I have lived on the East coast my whole life (40+ years) and am in my fourth startup. Practically every good developer I've worked with has some side project they do on their own time. I find it hard to believe that anyone would fire someone doing great work as a programmer no matter what they were doing on their own time. The key is -- did you honestly give it a full day's work at your paid job? On your own time means literally -- on your own time, on your own computer. I'm not asking you to answer here -- answer for yourself. Then, just give a reference from any other past job. Yes, employers that ask, check -- especially recruiters. You can't send them someone who will say anything bad (e.g. He worked on side projects during work hours). The point is that people that will vouch for you exist -- not exactly what they say. EDIT TO ADD: I always disclose all side projects at the interview at some point. It has never been a problem. I also amend employee contracts that prohibit working on anything else to say "during work with work equipment" or some equivalent I have a lawyer draft.