validation machine

[Al_90]

i created some php/mysql code, and want to offer it to ppl, but if they want to use it i want there to be a link at the bottom of the page, going to my site. here's the trick, i want the code not to work if the link is taken away. if anyone could help i would be appreciated. and yes i know i need a file on my site also.

[devinemke]

what you are asking for is really not possible with PHP or any other interpreted programming language. since PHP is interpreted and not compiled, what you are distrubuting is the source code. anyone with access to the source (and knows what they are doing) could easily tweak the code to remove your link or any other realted code that requires it.

if $$$ is no object then you might want to look at the Zend Encoder (http://www.zend.com/store/products/zend-encoder.php).

[missing-score]

IMO the best way is to require the link be kept intact and then just send a removal request to anyone who doesnt keep the link. Piracy and illegal software use happens, and I think its better to learn that it exists and deal with it than spend alot protecting your work.

Obviously, a very large application, this is understandable, as if it cost you $20,000 worth of time and developers to build, a bit more for encoding probably would be worth it, but for some "php and mysql code", paying hundreds of dollars for protection doesn't seem worth it.

A recent project I worked on required a license to install. The user would buy a license using PayPal, IPN (PayPals instant payment interface) would create the license number, then the user can set the domain name where they want to use the software. When installing, it checks online for existance of the license and then only continues install if it matches. Also, the script validates license information every so often. Myself, I wouldnt bother with all this but it was requested by the client.

Even with all this, which took a fair bit of though, someone with programming knowledge would be able to bypass this.

[Al_90]

thanks guys, thats what i thought but i just wanted to make sure