Rackspace(s rax) has long had an open-source bent, but it was focused on the OpenStack cloud project it helped create. As of last week, the San Antonio, Texas-based hosting and cloud provider said its employees can contribute to any and all open source projects that have an “established open-source license.” Van Lindberg, Rackspace VP of intellectual property for the company, blogged about the decision here.

What this policy shift means is that “Rackers” can contribute even to projects that might compete with what Rackspace is doing. However, if they want to do so,  but corporate guidelines require that tell Rackspace why they’re going that route. Oh, and the work must be done on their own time.

The Structure Show

Check out what Ford(s f) data scientist Mike Cavaretta has to say about what big data can mean to the design and sale of cars. Also Derrick Harris and I…