Developing proprietary apps in PHP

**Colin McKinnon** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

Ben wrote:
[color=blue]
> please). My major concern is this "open source" PHP philosophy being in a
> very competitive and very propriety niche industry. Is it true that
> anyone
> accessing a PHP program on the net can easily download all source?[/color]

Nope.
[color=blue]
> Are
> there any protections for proprietary code or does that go against the
> very nature of PHP?
>[/color]

Code is usually distributed as source but can be rendered totally unreadable
using encoders available from Zend, Ioncube and possibly others.

HTH

C.

**David Gillen** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

An noise sounding like Colin McKinnon said:[color=blue]
> Code is usually distributed as source but can be rendered totally unreadable
> using encoders available from Zend, Ioncube and possibly others.
>[/color]
Stick PHP obfuscator into google and you'll get a few results.

Remember to keep a copy of your original source code though. Otherwise you'll
be just a f*$%ed. ;)

db
--

/(bb|[^b]{2})/
Trees with square roots don't have very natural logs.

**Geoff Berrow** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

I noticed that Message-ID:
<slrnd0hsq7.79f .Belial@carbon. redbrick.dcu.ie > from David Gillen
contained the following:
[color=blue]
>Stick PHP obfuscator into google and you'll get a few results.[/color]

I write self-obfuscating code.. ;-}

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

**Ben** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

"Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog .co.uk> wrote in message
news:9r1i01d22c 62rblqes9iojvvl hvpgle7hc@4ax.c om...[color=blue]
> I noticed that Message-ID:
> <slrnd0hsq7.79f .Belial@carbon. redbrick.dcu.ie > from David Gillen
> contained the following:[/color]

So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there for
anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?
[color=blue]
>[color=green]
> >Stick PHP obfuscator into google and you'll get a few results.[/color]
>
> I write self-obfuscating code.. ;-}
>
> --
> Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
> It's only Usenet, no one dies.
> My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
> Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/[/color]

**Geoff Berrow** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

I noticed that Message-ID: <IL8Od.4503$w75 .363@twister.rd c-kc.rr.com>
from Ben contained the following:
[color=blue]
>So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there for
>anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?[/color]

It's an interpreted language, so basically, yes.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

**Nik Coughin** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

Ben wrote:[color=blue]
> "Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog .co.uk> wrote in message
> news:9r1i01d22c 62rblqes9iojvvl hvpgle7hc@4ax.c om...[color=green]
>> I noticed that Message-ID:
>> <slrnd0hsq7.79f .Belial@carbon. redbrick.dcu.ie > from David Gillen
>> contained the following:[/color]
>
> So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there
> for anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?
>[/color]

Ben:

Enterprise DevOps Tools | Perforce Software

http://www.zend.com/store/products/zend-encoder.php

Perforce, a software company, offers a wide range of enterprise DevOps solution across the software development lifecycle.

**Ben** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

"Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog .co.uk> wrote in message
news:kt6i01lrpo ksnagn2smdeeaj2 55289ia3r@4ax.c om...[color=blue]
> I noticed that Message-ID: <IL8Od.4503$w75 .363@twister.rd c-kc.rr.com>
> from Ben contained the following:
>[color=green]
> >So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there for
> >anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?[/color]
>
> It's an interpreted language, so basically, yes.
>[/color]

Thanks for being so up front.

Off topic: So my choices are basically limited to .NET, CGI and Perl?
Important factors to me are relative security of code (I realize any code
can be hacked), low overhead (as far as server side software) and ability to
find coders to outsource. At a cross roads now where my coding ability is
nearly obsolete. Would rather focus on design/marketing and outsource the
coding to experts like yourself instead of beginning the 1-2 year road to
master another language.

Any feedback is appreciated.

- Ben
[color=blue]
> --
> Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
> It's only Usenet, no one dies.
> My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
> Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/[/color]

**Dave Patton** · Jul 17 '05, 11:23 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

"Ben" <no@spam.com> wrote in news:IL8Od.4503 $w75.363@twiste r.rdc-kc.rr.com:
[color=blue]
> So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there for
> anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?[/color]

The answer is .... it depends.

If by "app" you mean a web-based application where the
PHP scripts will be executed on your webserver and people's
interaction with the "applicatio n" will be via their browser,
then barring security issues, people will never see the
PHP code, because the webserver parses it and produces
HTML pages.

If you mean you write a 'standalone' application using
PHP, and plan to distribute it, so that people can then
install PHP and run your application, then unless you
use one of the available methods to 'hide' your PHP
code, yes, people will be able to see your PHP source code.

As for "repackage and sell at will", you can put limits
on that with how you licence your application.

--
Dave Patton
Canadian Coordinator, Degree Confluence Project

the Degree Confluence Project

http://www.confluence.org/

The Degree Confluence Project contains photographs of the intersections of integer latitude and longitude degree lines.

My website: http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/

**Geoff Berrow** · Jul 17 '05, 11:24 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

I noticed that Message-ID: <Pp9Od.4505$w75 .3394@twister.r dc-kc.rr.com>
from Ben contained the following:
[color=blue][color=green]
>> It's an interpreted language, so basically, yes.
>>[/color]
>
>Thanks for being so up front.
>
>Off topic: So my choices are basically limited to .NET, CGI and Perl?[/color]

Well Perl is interpreted too and so is .NET I think. See Dave Patton's
post for a more complete answer

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

**Wayne** · Jul 17 '05, 11:24 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 19:52:08 GMT, "Ben" <no@spam.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog .co.uk> wrote in message
>news:9r1i01d22 c62rblqes9iojvv lhvpgle7hc@4ax. com...[color=green]
>> I noticed that Message-ID:
>> <slrnd0hsq7.79f .Belial@carbon. redbrick.dcu.ie > from David Gillen
>> contained the following:[/color]
>
>So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there for
>anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?[/color]

Assuming you distribute it. Our company hosts our PHP applications --
in which case the source is safe.

**Chung Leong** · Jul 17 '05, 11:24 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

"Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog .co.uk> wrote in message
news:kt6i01lrpo ksnagn2smdeeaj2 55289ia3r@4ax.c om...[color=blue]
> I noticed that Message-ID: <IL8Od.4503$w75 .363@twister.rd c-kc.rr.com>
> from Ben contained the following:
>[color=green]
> >So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there for
> >anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?[/color]
>
> It's an interpreted language, so basically, yes.
>
> --
> Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
> It's only Usenet, no one dies.
> My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
> Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/[/color]

I think you guys are confusing the OP. The way I understand his question is
whether the source code of a program written in PHP is automatically
available for anyone to see and use. The answer to that is a definite no.

**swdev2** · Jul 17 '05, 11:24 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

Ben - don't forget DABO -
see http://dabo.leafe.com
hth - mondo regards [Bill]

--
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email.
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mySql / VFP / MS-SQL

"Ben" <no@spam.com> wrote in message
news:Pp9Od.4505 $w75.3394@twist er.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog .co.uk> wrote in message
> news:kt6i01lrpo ksnagn2smdeeaj2 55289ia3r@4ax.c om...[color=green]
> > I noticed that Message-ID: <IL8Od.4503$w75 .363@twister.rd c-kc.rr.com>
> > from Ben contained the following:
> >[color=darkred]
> > >So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there[/color][/color][/color]
for[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > >anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?[/color]
> >
> > It's an interpreted language, so basically, yes.
> >[/color]
>
> Thanks for being so up front.
>
> Off topic: So my choices are basically limited to .NET, CGI and Perl?
> Important factors to me are relative security of code (I realize any code
> can be hacked), low overhead (as far as server side software) and ability[/color]
to[color=blue]
> find coders to outsource. At a cross roads now where my coding ability is
> nearly obsolete. Would rather focus on design/marketing and outsource[/color]
the[color=blue]
> coding to experts like yourself instead of beginning the 1-2 year road to
> master another language.
>
> Any feedback is appreciated.
>
> - Ben
>[color=green]
> > --
> > Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
> > It's only Usenet, no one dies.
> > My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
> > Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/[/color]
>
>[/color]

**Geoff Berrow** · Jul 17 '05, 11:24 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

I noticed that Message-ID: <L-mdnUczQsug-5TfRVn-ig@comcast.com> from
Chung Leong contained the following:
[color=blue]
>I think you guys are confusing the OP. The way I understand his question is
>whether the source code of a program written in PHP is automatically
>available for anyone to see and use. The answer to that is a definite no.[/color]

One expects someone talking about proprietary apps to have a good
understanding of the process. Apologies for any confusion.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

**Ben** · Jul 17 '05, 11:24 AM

Re: Developing proprietary apps in PHP

"Wayne" <not@here.com > wrote in message
news:40oi01dolf bjajtivvpugcso3 kv20029et@4ax.c om...[color=blue]
> On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 19:52:08 GMT, "Ben" <no@spam.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >
> >"Geoff Berrow" <blthecat@ckdog .co.uk> wrote in message
> >news:9r1i01d22 c62rblqes9iojvv lhvpgle7hc@4ax. com...[color=darkred]
> >> I noticed that Message-ID:
> >> <slrnd0hsq7.79f .Belial@carbon. redbrick.dcu.ie > from David Gillen
> >> contained the following:[/color]
> >
> >So what you guys are saying is that a PHP app is basically out there for
> >anyone to read, copy and repackage and sell at will?[/color]
>
> Assuming you distribute it. Our company hosts our PHP applications --
> in which case the source is safe.
>[/color]

This is what I was after! Ok, so the PHP application source code is as safe
as the server that is running it correct? I aplogize for my ignorance about
this and do think I understand now. Never written anything that wasn't
compiled and encrypted to a single .exe except HTML. I was under the
impression that since PhP is not compiled the code itself can be easily
accessed by anyone RUNNING the application through a browser. Based on the
feedback from this thread (thank you so much) my understanding is now...

While PHP is plain text and can be easily read by anyone with rights to the
folder where the PHP code physically resides, it is not possible for a user
running the application through a browser to see it. So the best practice
for someone wanting to sell a PHP application is to have the application
running from a secure server where the clients have access only through a
browser (whether LAN or Internet). And either option should include a tight
EULA (obviously).

True?

Developing proprietary apps in PHP

Developing proprietary apps in PHP

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