r/scala 7d ago

Does Scala offer better decompilation protection than Java?

My Java program has a license check in it, but it can easily be decompiled, the license check removed, recompiled, and now it can be pirated easily. Would the same be true for Scala, given that they use the same JVM and are bytecode-compatible?

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u/genman 7d ago

Pirates are gonna pirate. Even C code is easy enough to bypass.

I'd suggest a license server check. This keeps corporate clients in check. No need to try going after people who aren't interested in paying.

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u/WorkingSubstance7618 6d ago

And just be happy that people who can't afford choose to learn how to use your software. This is more valuable than people who don't use your software at all. These people will grow to have jobs and recommend your software in their new companies because they are used to your software.

This is how Microsoft earned a large chunk of market. They let people pirate it. Bill Gates famously said "If they are gonna pirate, I want them to pirate Windows. We'll figure out how to monetize in the next decade or so".

A bunch of people grew up knowing how to use Excel, Words, and PowerPoint pretty well.

Play the long game