[REBOL] Re: Selling REBOL scripts
From: ddalley:idirect at: 8-Jan-2002 12:44
Hello, Sunanda:
----- Original Message -----
From: <[SunandaDH--aol--com]>
To: <[rebol-list--rebol--com]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 10:12 AM
Subject: [REBOL] Re: Selling REBOL scripts
> I want the ability to distribute scripts in a
> secure way. By which I mean copy protected and tamper proof.
>
> If I distribute scripts now, anyone could copy them to anyone else; and
> anyone could change them.
>
> In lots of instances both those abilities are ideals and not handicaps.
And
> I have given away scripts for free, and will continue to do so.
>
> But I need the freedom to do otherwise on occasion.
> So, for all these reasons, I'd like to see some mechanism within Rebol for
> the secure distribution of scripts. Encap is almost it. So, as I write
> before, if RT can tweak Encap to meet the needs of the market, the
rebolution
> could come earlier.
I agree with your reasons for wanting secure program releases completely!
I go through the same problem with my ARexx work, which I do sell.
I write programs that deal with other people's money, so I feel I >need<
security, for, at least, some of my work.
We are not asking for the world, here, just a way of either protecting or
securing our work, with a modicum of reliability. COMAL 2.0 did this with
ease, back in the mid-80's, with scripting programs! They had an open
challenge for anyone to break any encrypted COMAL program; no-one succeeded,
AFAIK. Why can't REBOL/Core do something similar today?
I would put much more effort into releasing many more REBOL and ARexx
programs, if only their environments were more secure. I even tried to
arrange buying the only ARexx compiler, so that I could release it as free,
open software, but the author wasn't reasonable about it. If I understand
correctly, REBOL programs would be difficult to compile, and compiling for
speed really isn't much of a concern, today.
I apologise for all of these "I"s, but this is personal.
Donald Dalley
