protecting php source code

Anon

Is there some free product for protecting php source code. Like Zend Encoder or something similar. Or maybe some compiler or somthing.

Thanks

[deleted]

Protecting as in encoding, making unreadable?

Not that I know of.

... and it does kind of go against the whole 'php is free' thing.

toma42

... and it does kind of go against the whole 'php is free' thing.

Not really, vincent. The PHP license says it's ok to use php in a commercial product so there is definatly a real reason for users to encode/compile their code. Zend makes this possible and very expensive, however, so those that do need it can get it...it's just out of reach of the private developer.

Personally, I'd rather run a php app/scripts as an ASP service if I had a reason to sell it....this avoids the need to compile it too, bo.

In my opinion the spirit of the php lisence is 'do whatever you want'...a bit different from the gpl where sharing is stressed.

lucianoes

...Personally, I'd rather run a php app/scripts as an ASP service if I had a reason to sell it

    And how exactly would you go about it? Once I saw somebody say that you can build an ASP service entirely made with PHP. That and what you just said make me intrigued as to the possibilites for ASP and PHP to interact with one another.

    Thank you,
    Luciano ES
    Santos - SP - Brasil

Anon

Actually, he meant

   Application Service Provider

not

   Active Server Pages.

lucianoes

    Ooooohhhh... I see!

    Thank you,
    Luciano ES
    Santos - SP - Brasil

Anon

Yes, but my program must be on my customer server so it can't be ASP. And I dont have money to by licence for zend encoder.
So, me like private developer can't do anything about protecting my source?
I don't like this.

toma42

What's the big deal? If your client is paying you for the app, why not show off the code and bind them to a lisence that says they can't distribute it and if they modify it you are under no obligation to fix it?

Personally, when I pimp myself out, I'm proud to show off the code to the client.

Anon

http://www.rssoftlab.com/phpenc.php4
here is a link to a free encoder... haven't tried it, but I think you might wanna take a look 🙂