# Distributing hidden Ruby code **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [September 19, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/distributing-hidden-ruby-code/69283 "2006-09-19T23:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/leslieviljoen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/distributing-hidden-ruby-code/69283/1 "2006-09-19T23:41:16Z")
There was some discussion in the past here about how to distribute Ruby programs in a way that their source code is not visible to people. Today I saw that a company called Chilkat is doing something like this. I have not checked out the details, but someone might want to. > **[Chilkat API, SDK, Components, Libs for Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android,...](http://www.chilkatsoft.com/)** > > Chilkat Software: Cross-Platform/Cross-Language API's for SSH/SFTP, FTP, Email, Encryption, Zip, S/MIME, XML, EML, MHT, FTP, SSL, TLS, and more Les ---
**Author:** ![leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/leslieviljoen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/distributing-hidden-ruby-code/69283/2 "2006-09-20T00:41:21Z")
In message [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid), Leslie Viljoen [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) writes > There was some discussion in the past here about how to distribute > Ruby programs in a way that their source code is not visible to > people. Today I saw that a company called Chilkat is doing something > like this. I have not checked out the details, but someone might want > to. > > [http://www.chilkatsoft.com/](http://www.chilkatsoft.com/) I couldn’t find anything on the homepage or products page that matches a simple text search for “Ruby”. Stephen ---
**Author:** ![leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/leslieviljoen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 8:27am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/distributing-hidden-ruby-code/69283/3 "2006-09-20T08:27:58Z")
Stephen K. wrote: > In message > [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid), Leslie > Viljoen [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) writes > > > There was some discussion in the past here about how to distribute > > Ruby programs in a way that their source code is not visible to > > people. Today I saw that a company called Chilkat is doing something > > like this. I have not checked out the details, but someone might want > > to. > > > > [http://www.chilkatsoft.com/](http://www.chilkatsoft.com/) > > I couldn’t find anything on the homepage or products page that matches a > simple text search for “Ruby”. > > Stephen L H column → Downloads (maybe it is so new they haven’t updated the website yet?) ---
**Author:** ![leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/leslieviljoen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 10:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/distributing-hidden-ruby-code/69283/4 "2006-09-20T10:16:09Z")
More importantly…why would you want to distribute obfuscated ruby apps? If it is able to be sent (finally) to the parser / interpreter, then it can be broken by a hacker. The first condition is a requisite (else the code would never run). So why go to the trouble? Why not just license your code under a specific license that denies all reusability? If you feel that you really must obfuscate, try these links: [http://www.rubyinside.com/px-a-quick-and-silly-ruby-obfuscation-system-7.html](http://www.rubyinside.com/px-a-quick-and-silly-ruby-obfuscation-system-7.html) [http://blog.segment7.net/articles/2006/03/21/obfuscator-update](http://blog.segment7.net/articles/2006/03/21/obfuscator-update) Regards, Jordan ---
**Author:** ![leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@leslieviljoen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/leslieviljoen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/distributing-hidden-ruby-code/69283/5 "2006-09-20T14:30:40Z")
They are not really providing Ruby code, but writing their code in C and providing a binary compiled into a DLL that Ruby can load. I am no fan of closed source but this provides an option if someone wanted to sell components useable from Ruby. The components _do_ also provide something useful I think, if you can’t write your own and need a solution right now. I’m pleased people are thinking about Ruby support for such things while we wait for an open source version. Les