# Gamble & odds on future RoR desktop deployability & IP protection?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gamble-odds-on-future-ror-desktop-deployability-ip-protection/146100>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [August 17, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gamble-odds-on-future-ror-desktop-deployability-ip-protection/146100 "2008-08-17T21:27:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mitch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/dec6dc/32.png) [@mitch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mitch)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gamble-odds-on-future-ror-desktop-deployability-ip-protection/146100/1 "2008-08-17T21:27:19Z")

</div>

I’m looking at switching to RoR for development of a commercial  
product, but a big issue is that I currently can’t use RoR for  
anything other than a classical hosted app.

What are the odds that within say 12 months there will be a robust way  
to deploy finished RoR apps to individual desktop PCs & Macs while at  
the same time being able to protect the Intellectual Property and sell  
licenses etc?

1. I am aware of Slingshot but this does not appear robust or secure.
2. I know all software protection can be cracked, but I’m talking  
“reasonable protection” here.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mitch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/dec6dc/32.png) [@mitch](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/mitch)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/gamble-odds-on-future-ror-desktop-deployability-ip-protection/146100/2 "2008-08-17T21:53:38Z")

</div>

Hi Mitch,

mitch wrote:

> I’m looking at switching to RoR for development of a commercial  
> product, but a big issue is that I currently can’t use RoR for  
> anything other than a classical hosted app.

Rails is a framework for building web-based, database-driven  
applications in  
Ruby. I think what you’re looking for is a framework for building  
desktop /  
thick-client applications in Ruby. That’s not Rails.

> What are the odds that within say 12 months there will be a robust way  
> to deploy finished RoR apps to individual desktop PCs & Macs while at  
> the same time being able to protect the Intellectual Property and sell  
> licenses etc?

Pretty much zero. I don’t have any experience with the desktop /  
thick-client frameworks for Ruby, but there are some. You probably want  
to  
ask on the ruby-talk list (removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid). If you’re willing  
to  
run your app in a JVM, JRuby may give you the ‘security’ you’re looking  
for.

HTH,  
Bill