closed source

[Cameron Laird]

In article <3F968833.C1F4A1FF at engcorp.com>,
Peter Hansen  <peter at engcorp.com> wrote:
>Milos Prudek wrote:
>> 
>> is it technically possible to distribute a python project as a closed
>> source, i.e. encrypted?
>> 
>> I believe that *.pyc files do not work without *.py sources... and they can
>> be easily decompiled.
>
>Numerous (*many*) past discussions of this have occurred... check the archives.
>
>Short answer: .pyc files work fine without .py files (for the record), but
>yes they can be decompiled (using "decompyle", for example), and no it's
>effectively not possible to do what you are asking, but note that it's 
>also impossible with any other language either...
>
>If you *really* need protection, you must run your protected source on your
>own server and make the algorithms available across the network.  If you
>don't want to do this route, your only other real choice is to accept a
>greater risk that someone will see your source (heaven forbid!) and mitigate
>that risk by having appropriate software licence agreements in place with
>your customers.
>
>-Peter

A few metacomments:  Mr. Prudek, there certainly are concentrations
of software practitioners where it's conventional to think and act
in terms of "closed source", and to involve such technical realities
as "compilation", "obfuscation", "encryption", and so on.  A non-zero
minority of the comp.lang.python participants hold and practice this
view.

For the most part, however, conventional wisdom in comp.lang.python
is either indifferent, dismissive, or hostile to such approaches.

Peter's quite right in reporting that there has been a LOT of discus-
sion of these matters in the past, and moreover that it's worthwhile
to read at least some of these.

If you'd like to make a quick but significant contribution to the
Python community, you might consider summarizing in the Wiki <URL:
http://www.python.org/cgi-bin/moinmoin/ > what you learn on the
subject.
-- 

Cameron Laird <claird at phaseit.net>
Business:  http://www.Phaseit.net