Selling and Protecting PHP

[falco85]

I'm thinking about selling some PHP scripts I have created, is this a large market? Will it be worth the investment?

Secondly, I understand it is very easy to decompile PHP once it is Zend encoded, is that true? Just look around the net. I don't think there is a single piece of PHP that hasn't been decoded - even vbulletin if it is encoded in the first place.

[John]

Originally Posted by falco85

I'm thinking about selling some PHP scripts I have created, is this a large market? Will it be worth the investment?

Secondly, I understand it is very easy to decompile PHP once it is Zend encoded, is that true? Just look around the net. I don't think there is a single piece of PHP that hasn't been decoded - even vbulletin if it is encoded in the first place.

the market for php really depends on the demand for your script. i would assume if you design a basic cms or forum there wouldnt be much of a market because there are the supply is enormus. However, if you have a new innovative script, im sure it would be worth your investment.

as for encrypting your code with zend, im sure it can be decomplied, as the zend optomizer must decompile the encryption for the server to understand the php.

you should also not that if you encrypt your code using zend the server must have the zend optomizer module installed (which is usually default, but you never know). which might decrease the desire for you code. Also as a php programer, i would never buy a code i couldnt edit myself if needed. So you have to weigh your options, is it more important your code is encrypted? or is it more important it attracts a larger community?

[Void]

Sidewinder is right. If you have a great script just put some call-home features in it and don't even encode it. I wouldn't buy a script that I couldn't edit either.

VBulletin isn't zend encoded BTW.

[falco85]

I'll probably just sell it without encoding it then. It seems that many users prefer to edit the PHP.

[Ronin]

From what I understand it is very easy to decode Zend. Your PHP will be cracked by several groups and released. I'd just leave it uncoded.

[Kaabi]

What kind of script are you making? Everyone is right, if it's not innovative, no one will buy. Also, you need a medium through which to peddle your product.