Support needed in acheiving Qt Code Obfuscation using Commercial License

Divya Shekar

Hi,
We have developed an app using Qt (Core,GUI, Network and WebEngine) modules. We are concerned about the code obfuscation as we need to distribute the app installer(NSIS installer - creates installation exe with all the necessary libraries and app executable) across our various clients.
We came across the Qt License document which says "One of the most important legal protection means provided by the commercial license of Qt is to forbid modifications and reverse engineering – and using various methods to prevent these".
We would like to get clarification for the following queries,

How the code is protected and reverse engineering is forbidden ?
"Licenses keep all code private".....Is this specific to only development level or also supported in deployment ?
When we distribute the Qt app package bundled with libraries and executable, does Commercial license support code protection at the deployed systems ?
If we purchase Qt Commercial license, then the process of code obfuscation is taken care by Qt or do we need to carry out any procedures in specific from developer end ?

Thanks & Regards,
Divya

sierdzio

Qt does not obfuscate your code at all.

The legal protection Qt Company refers to here is that under commercial license you are no longer bound by GPL/ LGPL licenses, which both force you to keep (at least) Qt code (libs) unobfuscated.

If you want to obfuscate/ encrypt your code, take a look at (for example) LDK: https://sentinel.gemalto.com/software-monetization/sentinel-ldk/

However, please remember that C++ already obfuscates a lot when it compiles the program.
Also, remember that your QML code will be available in clear text unless you pack it into QRC resource.

Divya Shekar

Hi Sierdzio,

Thanks for your prompt reply. It cleared all our doubts on obfuscating C++ code.

Thanks & Regards,
Divya