# Re: Protecting commercial ruby source code **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [November 17, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-protecting-commercial-ruby-source-code/76313 "2006-11-17T16:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brad7a0)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-protecting-commercial-ruby-source-code/76313/1 "2006-11-17T16:00:20Z")
> Hiren B. wrote: > Is there a way to obfuscate my ruby source code. I have come across > ZenObfuscate which at \> about $2500. Does anyone know of any other > options to > protect ruby source code when it is \> distributed to clients? This question comes up a lot. Can you make it a web-based application so that the code is never distributed? IMO, that’s the only real way to deal with this. There really is no 100% way in which to obfuscate code. You can raise the bar of course, but if a determined client who is technically minded gets the code, they can undo any obfuscation you’ve done. Personally, I think it’s a bad idea and if you’re having to ask the question, then something is fundamentally wrong with your business model. ---
**Author:** ![brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brad7a0)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-protecting-commercial-ruby-source-code/76313/2 "2006-11-17T16:12:23Z")
On 11/17/06, Brad T. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > that > with > your business model. Agree completely on the point about not being able to obfuscate code 100%. Hosting software yourself solves a lot of interesting problems (including some OSS licensing issues) but opens a different set of potential problems: 1. some clients are not comfortable unless they host private data themselves; 2) some clients have legal constraints requiring them to host themselves; 3) you might become a target for government action if you’re hosting any kind of data on behalf of a client. I think it’s too broad to say that there are fundamental problems with _any_ business model that benefits from code obfuscation, but it’s definitely true that software in Ruby is going to be wide open and easily visible to users, compared to some other languages. And that will be a disadvantage for some people. ---
**Author:** ![brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@brad7a0](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/brad7a0)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-protecting-commercial-ruby-source-code/76313/3 "2006-11-17T17:10:37Z")
Quoting Francis C. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid): > Agree completely on the point about not being able to obfuscate code 100%. > Hosting software yourself solves a lot of interesting problems (including > some OSS licensing issues) but opens a different set of potential problems: > > 1. some clients are not comfortable unless they host private data > themselves; 2) some clients have legal constraints requiring them to host > themselves; 3) you might become a target for government action if you’re > hosting any kind of data on behalf of a client. Would it be possible to host the app remotely and then store user specific data locally on the clients’ computers? No need to obfuscate user data, right? > I think it’s too broad to say that there are fundamental problems with _any_ > business model that benefits from code obfuscation… You’re right. I was grasping there. I really meant to say that perhaps he should step back and ask why he’s having to ask this question.