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Compiling PHP Decision

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 1:06 pm
by cdgan
As I'm about to release some commercial PHP scripts for a low price, I'm thinking of compiling the scripts with Zend Encoder to protect a certain part of the codes but leave the front-end codes to be freely customizable.

So, my concern are:

1. How will people react to the compiled protection? Since most scripts are open source. Will it become a buying factor?

2. Zend Decoder, not all hosting supported. Will it become a hassle for the users, since they need to ask their hosting provider to install and only can be run?

3. Code being replicate by competitors if left open source.

So the decision is whether to Compile or Not Compile. Which is better?

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 1:19 pm
by m3mn0n
Compiled IMHO. If a customer for some reason requests the unencoded version of your work for whatever reason, you can offer it at a higher price and/or with a license restricting it's use (maybe a custom mod of the GPL).

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 9:31 pm
by cdgan
I got similar feedback from other forums that ask me to compile if I'm offering it for as commercial scripts.

That's to protect our interlectual property and so as license control.

Do u think $295 is a good investment to make?

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:00 pm
by Gen-ik
Personally I wouldn't use any one elses script that was encoded for the simple reason I wouldn't know what the hell it was doing. It could be collecting and sending info any where... I just wouldn't trust it.

Anyway, there's so much free script out there that I dought anyone with a bit of intelligence would buy any php code. Even this Forum is free and open source!

In the land of PHP respect comes from creating scripts and then releasing them as open source to the public so that others can learn from it.

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2003 12:55 pm
by mhorner
cdgan, I am currently in the same predicament myself. I developed a product over the summer and we are interested in the same "intellectual property" protection as well as making the product available unencoded for a higher price. I would like to talk to you more about the things that you have found. (feel free to email me.)

Gen-ik: Correct me if I am wrong, but i would assume that you are using a Windows/Mac/or Linux/Unix variant. Do you know what those software packages and all the related software do and what they are sending out? If you use any of these packages, you can't criticize a commercial package offered by someone interested in making a few extra bucks for what they put time into. Don't get me wrong, I am very much a supporter of the open source movement, but I also believe that somethings depending on the competition, encoded or hiding of the code is a reasonable argument. This as a wearing my 'getting paid to do my job' hat is not the position that I can take right now. However, catch me after hours, and anything that I create I would gladly hand over my code.

Pardon the lengthy statement.

Any help with the actual topic would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2003 3:28 pm
by Saethyr
I can see the need for compiling in the following circumstances.

A. You have built a complete web application for a company to use on their intranet, such as a customer database or inventory system.

B. You have certain functions encryted such as login functions on your own website or one you setup for someone to protect your encryption key and such things.

I have to agree that selling code such as web stats and portals doesn't make much sense as there are many just as good or better that you can get for free and edit with your own functionality.

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:22 am
by cdgan
There are 2 different type of developers:

a. Working full time on software products to make their living.

b. Programming hobbiest that want to show their talent and getting fame around.

I feel that when it comes to software, support and continuous development are the key things to consider. If depending too much on free stuff, one day the buddy may give up to do some other job which he can see the profit. Then it will leave all the fame on the shelf, and the users too.

I'm supporting open source in the sense that it makes people learn, and good for technical improvments. But the other way round, commercial still needs commercial.