As far as I'm concerned, you should never give someone obfuscated code for a production application. Obfuscation is something for the geeky to laugh and ogle over, not to run business applications. Regardless if the code works perfectly or not, it just isn't the proper thing to do.

Let me try to defend my case in a sense that would make BMaximus not want to use obfuscation. Let's assume that BMaximus creates this application for this employer and, before giving it to them, obfuscates the code. The employer, after getting the code and being unable to maintain it him/herself, has two choices. The employer can either go back to BMaximus and demand a new version of the code, which could mean more money from the employer or wasted time from BMaximus - neither option is very pleasant. Also, the employer could hire someone to figure out the code for them, having lost his/her trust in BMaximus to deliver sound code which, once again, means more money from the businessperson. In either situation, if BMaximus is trying to get a job working for another business and they check up with this business to determine the quality of BMaximus's work, what are they going to say? One of the most powerful things you can have going for you as a freelancer is your reputation. Handing out obfuscated code is only going to work to destroy that.

As opinionated as I am about the obfuscated code, however, I'm afraid I don't have much advice for you, BMaximus. If this application is being made specifically for a given company, as far as I know, the executable, along with the source code, belongs to the company and they are free to do whatever they want with it. However, if you are building something more generic, you might want to look into becoming the owner of the source code and sell licenses to use the application. If this is what you're after, I can only suggest that you talk it over with a lawyer. Sorry I can't be of more help, but I've never been in that situation, exactly.

I hope this provides at least some help.

- Sherlock

Skepticism is the source of knowledge as much as knowledge is the source of skepticism.