From: Tom Pollard <tomp@...>
Date: 2006-09-26T23:49:08+09:00
Subject: Re: Encrypt ruby source code


On 9/26/06, Paul Lutus <nospam@nosite.zzz> wrote:
>> One option that comes to mind is a project that converts Ruby  
>> source into an
>> executable package in native code. Unfortunately, now I cannot find a
>> reference to it. Maybe someone else can provide a reference.

On Sep 26, 2006, at 5:21 AM, Harold Hausman wrote:
> You're likely thinking of RubyScript2Exe:
> http://www.erikveen.dds.nl/rubyscript2exe/index.html

It should be pointed out that this is NOT a compiler.  What I believe  
it does is to create an executable archive containing your script,  
the ruby executable, and any dependent modules and libraries it needs  
to execute your script.  When you run the resulting package, the  
archive is unpacked into a temporary directory and the bundled ruby  
interpreter is used to execute your script.  There are a number of  
similar tools for perl and python that work this way (perlapp, PAR,  
perl2exe, py2exe, py2app, ...).


> I really believe that if your app is commercially viable, you're
> probably going to be selling it to people that will respect it's
> license so just release it under a license that protects you
> financially. Or do it in another language that supports you selling
> your code to knaves. heh.

That's really the bottom line, here.  Scripting languages are  
inherently open-source.  Big and medium-sized companies have lawyers  
who make sure their companies don't put themselves in legal jeopardy  
by violating software licensing agreements.


TomP