Code obfuscation / decompilers?

[Lokie]

Looking at this from a slightly different direction, and with the assumption
that any code designed to eventually be executed can be examined in at least
some form, leads me to conclude the solution is not to distribute the lock
with the code.

(*** Warning Here comes a wild tangent ***)

Why not then make the unlock code and key one and the same?

For example if I know the user name in advance I can use that for some
simple (or as complex as you want) encryption/decryption of the key to
unlock the application. And having that key as a Python code object which
can then be exec'ed to perform the unlocking operations (maybe some function
redirection?) hides from your casual cracker the means to steal your hard
work.

Of course that doesn't solve the problem of "friends" sharing out keys and
usernames, and casual code browsers gleaming some of your intellectual
property, but as a means to protect a revenue stream may be the best way
forwards in an interpreted language.

--
Anthony McDonald