OpenEuphoria

Re: shareware locking

• Posted by cklester <cklester at yahoo.com> Jun 30, 2004
• 417 views

Mike Lester wrote:
> 
> I am writing a game (think Tetris) and want
> to try and distribute it via shareware.
> 
> Does anyone have any experience using any
> shareware locking with Euphoria.
> 
> Is there any programs that work with Euphoria
> or has anyone done anything written in Euphoria.

Michael, I don't know of any particular library or program
specifically for locking shareware. Here's what I would
probably do...

Have the program look for an *.ini file (like "reg.ini").
If it doesn't exist, the program is "unregistered" and could
show the splash screen or nag screen or whatever you choose to do.

If the file does exist, it should contain the following info:

1. date of registration - if this date is BEYOND the current
   date (meaning they've backdated their PC), file is invalid.
2. date of expiration - if any. If current date is beyond this,
   file is invalid.
3. date AND time of last use - if the current date/time is
   BEFORE this time, file is invalid. This helps against
   users backdating their PC to bypass the protection.
4. Serial number of primary hard drive - this is generally
   considered unique from user to user. If this number does
   not match that of the current PC, file is invalid.
5. a "lock" - simply a checksum created from the ini file such
   that any change to the file will invalidate the file.

The file could be encrypted (but wouldn't have to be because
of the checksum lock).

-=ck
"Programming in a state of EUPHORIA."