Protecting Perl source code?

[c4n]

Is there a way (program) to protect the source code of Perl scripts? I'm thinking about selling few scripts and would like to hide the source.

 

[tviman]

Perl is not a compiled language so there isn't a way to "hide" the script. If you're going to be selling your scripts you can provide a link to show what it does or looks like. At that point, the script is not readable as a script, like HTML. It's just a result of the script. There's always a better way...

 

[sleipnir214]

There is always perlcc, which compiles perl scripts into executables.

However, the man page for perlcc contains the following warning:
The code generated in this way is not guaranteed to work. The whole codegen suite ("perlcc" included) should be considered very experimental. Use for production purposes is strongly discouraged. ______________________________________________________________________
TANSTAAFL!

 

[goBoating]

Or, perlApp which compiles the script into an executable from activestate.com
'hope this helps

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[MissouriTiger]

This is not a criticism; I just want to share a viewpoint. Perl is an open source platform, including all of the Perl modules, which means that many people have contributed a lot of time and effort so that we can have a great set of effecetive tools. They did this knowing that the source wouold be open.

So, if I use these open tools to develop a script, and then I hide my source code from others, it's hypocritical. I'm taking, but I'm not willing to give to others what I take.

There's nothing wrong with selling a script, of course. But if it weren't for the open source spirit that has always been behind Perl and other projects, I wouldn't be able to write the script in the first place.

It's like trying to hide html. If the Web weren't open source, there wouldn't BE any World Wide Web.

I'm not judging anybody, just sharing my opinion.

Good luck,

Greg _______________________________________
Constructed from 100% recycled electrons

 

[sleipnir214]

MissouriTiger,

You need to deepen your understanding of the ethics of open source software. Opening the source code of your application is a choice, not a requirement, even if you use open source tools to create it. Licensing like the GPL exists to do one thing: to protect the intellectual effort that I put into producing a product while at the same time allowing me to release that product's source code. It prevents others from unfairly gaining from my work.

The source status of an software tool places no constraints of any kind on the source status of products I create using that tool. Otherwise, no product ever compiled with gcc could ever be closed-source commercial software.

There is no hypocracy involved. ______________________________________________________________________

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TANSTAAFL!