Very interesting! Your suggestion would obscure the code somewhat in the .exe file, that would be useful. But when the UPX package de-compresses and the PAR package is unpacked into the directory where it is to be run the code is totally exposed.

Using PerlAPP the code is still somewhat obscured, but can apparently be recovered by decompiling it (as I found in a thread here in the Monastery).

The client is concerned only that your basic 'simple thief' can't get to the code. Of course, we all know that opnce you go beyond that the code is not safe at all! Your suggestion is, however, useful nevertheless and I have bookmarked the site, thank you!

jdtoronto