PHP encoder?

Hi,

Does anyone know of a free or cheap php encoder so that I can protect my
code? I've tried freelock but just get errors and the commercial encoders
are way out of my budget

--
Duncan

> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know of a free or cheap php encoder so that I can protect my
> code? I've tried freelock but just get errors and the commercial encoders
> are way out of my budget
>
> --
> Duncan


Sorry to be the second poster that hasn't answered your question(!) but
isn't php code safe from discovery, since it is only the results of it's
running that are sent to the browser?

>
> Sorry to be the second poster that hasn't answered your question(!) but
> isn't php code safe from discovery, since it is only the results of it's
> running that are sent to the browser?
>
>
Although this is true, if you want to make a script available to customers,
then you need to give them a copy of the code.  So for example, if you
decide to sell your latest program for a profit, then you would want to
encrypt the code so that you can enforce licensing costs.

Also, many encoders (such as Zend) compile PHP code into byte code.
Normally, this is done on the fly by the interpreter.  But performing this
step in advance makes the code run quicker, as the webserver no longer needs
to perform that step.  There is also a reduction in load under heavy site
usage, resulting in savings on hardware cost etc.

Martin

Hmmm,

I didn't know that PHP did the bytecode thing.  Very interesting.  You
learn something new everyday.  Thanks Martin

Martin Cooper wrote:
> Also, many encoders (such as Zend) compile PHP code into byte code.
> Normally, this is done on the fly by the interpreter.  But performing
> this step in advance makes the code run quicker, as the webserver no
> longer needs to perform that step.  There is also a reduction in load
> under heavy site usage, resulting in savings on hardware cost etc.
>
>    Martin

Hello,

On 10/13/2004 08:06 PM, kogger wrote:
>     I didn't know that PHP did the bytecode thing.  Very interesting.  You
> learn something new everyday.  Thanks Martin

Actually those are called Zend OPCodes to be accurate but it is the same
principle of the byte codes.

Anyway, better then the encoders is the new PHP compiler Roadsend. It
compiles PHP into shared libraries of real machine code .

Besides that, from what I could gather the latest version features a JIT
compiler mode (Just In Time) so you can execute PHP code directly
without having to start an explicit compilation step manually. This is
good for debugging.

The code compiled by Roadsend does not use anything from the Zend engine
at runtime. This is good because it does not load all the needless fat
from Zend OPCode interpretation engine.

http://www.roadsend.com/

--

Regards,
Manuel Lemos

PHP Classes - Free ready to use OOP components written in PHP
http://www.phpclasses.org/

PHP Reviews - Reviews of PHP books and other products
http://www.phpclasses.org/reviews/

Metastorage - Data object relational mapping layer generator
http://www.meta-language.net/metastorage.html

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 20:37:30 -0300, Manuel Lemos <mlemos@acm.org> wrote:

> Anyway, better then the encoders is the new PHP compiler Roadsend. It
> compiles PHP into shared libraries of real machine code .

Thanks, I'll give this a whirl.

A few people asked re the need to encode php: I'm developing a standalone
php app which then links in with a website. The advantage is that the web
site and the standalone app share the same code and interface, and I have
access to all the  php goodies like image manipulation etc

--
Duncan

Hmmm, $399 is still a bit out of my budget for now (but hopefuly not for
long) - I'm in South Africa and the exchange rate is a killer


On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 20:37:30 -0300, Manuel Lemos <mlemos@acm.org> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> On 10/13/2004 08:06 PM, kogger wrote: 
>
> Actually those are called Zend OPCodes to be accurate but it is the same
> principle of the byte codes.
>
> Anyway, better then the encoders is the new PHP compiler Roadsend. It
> compiles PHP into shared libraries of real machine code .
>
> Besides that, from what I could gather the latest version features a JIT
>   compiler mode (Just In Time) so you can execute PHP code directly
> without having to start an explicit compilation step manually. This is
> good for debugging.
>
> The code compiled by Roadsend does not use anything from the Zend engine
> at runtime. This is good because it does not load all the needless fat
> from Zend OPCode interpretation engine.
>
> http://www.roadsend.com/
>



--
Duncan

Hello,

On 10/14/2004 12:20 PM, Duncan Austin wrote:
> Hmmm, $399 is still a bit out of my budget for now (but hopefuly not
> for  long) - I'm in South Africa and the exchange rate is a killer

Right, I think that $99 is an ideal price, but until they have
competition they can push it for the price they think is right. Remember
when Zend Encoder costed USD $3000? Now that Zend Encoder is technically
a much inferior solution than Roadsend, and Roadsend also offers a
native look and feel IDE (not something with extraterrestrial look and
feel in Java Swing) they may as well drop the price

--

Regards,
Manuel Lemos

PHP Classes - Free ready to use OOP components written in PHP
http://www.phpclasses.org/

PHP Reviews - Reviews of PHP books and other products
http://www.phpclasses.org/reviews/

Metastorage - Data object relational mapping layer generator
http://www.meta-language.net/metastorage.html

Yes, I'm quite impressed with the roadsend features. It also says that it
alows you to bundle your PHP apps as standalone, which I'm very interested
in. I'll probably stay with my cheap but crackable meathod now in the
early stages of development and go for Roadsend once income from my app is
more definate.

It's funny, I searched the web for three days and didn't find Roadsend...

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:02:12 -0300, Manuel Lemos <mlemos@acm.org> wrote:

> Hello,
>
> On 10/14/2004 12:20 PM, Duncan Austin wrote: 
>
> Right, I think that $99 is an ideal price, but until they have
> competition they can push it for the price they think is right. Remember
> when Zend Encoder costed USD $3000? Now that Zend Encoder is technically
> a much inferior solution than Roadsend, and Roadsend also offers a
> native look and feel IDE (not something with extraterrestrial look and
> feel in Java Swing) they may as well drop the price
>



--
Duncan

On Wed, 13 Oct 2004 20:37:30 -0300, Manuel Lemos <mlemos@acm.org> wrote:
>
> Anyway, better then the encoders is the new PHP compiler Roadsend. It
> compiles PHP into shared libraries of real machine code .
>


I've compiled my code but don't know how to use the compiled exe or
libraries. I'm using Serlient to create a standalone app which combines
server and browser in one app. It uses php5 and has its own php.ini. How
do I use the exe or library compiled by roadsend? Would I use
exec("my.exe") or add libruaries to the php.ini and then call those
functions? Roadsend don't seem to have any examples in their help...

--
Duncan