Hi, I am not sure if its the right topic to be discussed here. I would like to know if people actually do the code jacking from the open source software. Say for eg. PHPLD is an open source directory but you have to pay for the latest version. Now what is stopping someone from code jacking phpld and creating a product sitting on top of it or using at least bits and pieces of it and selling it in market. The reason why I am asking this is that I am developing a product and want to decide whether or not to make it open source or to make it compiled code to protect it. Please help me in deciding. What do you guys think because I do want to charge people for the product that I am developing although will give a basic version for free.
Even if you used compiled code, it's no garuntee that someone wont crack it and distribute it all over the net. It may slow it a bit, but eventually it will be out there. I think in most situations it depends on the end user. If you're creating something that is meant to be implemented into development, whether software, web, whatever, it's best to make it open source as most people who are looking to purchase these things want to be able to hack it up and customize it to their needs. No one wants to pay for something that isn't customizable when there are other options available. You'll always have people who steal or crack your code, it's inevitable.