Question

I create software using PHP. I’m going to sell this software so I need to protect my source code so that nobody can view it. How can I protect my PHP code so that the software still functions the same?

I also need to bind the software to a particular, authorized PC. It should not run on any other PC. How can I do that? Should I encrypt using LAN MAC address? Does anyone have any other ideas?

Answer 1

I put together the following list a ways back – don’t know if they are all current, or how many are now free, but you should find something useful here:

About:

1. Wikipedia article: PHP Accelerator
2. Comparison of APC, Zend, xCache, & the Zend Framework

Software:

1. Safeyar (Best)
2. PHP’s APC (PECL page)
3. RoadSend
4. Turck-mmcache
5. eAccelerator
6. PHP-Accelerator
7. SourceGuardian
8. NuSphere Nu-coder
9. Gridinsoft
10. IonCube SA-Encoder.php

Another thread on SO that adds a few more (check it out):

Can I encrypt PHP source or compile it so others can't see it? and how?

1. Zend Guard
2. BCompiler (PECL page)
3. PHC