Simple and quick way to protect program

[bazkeys]

I want to share an app with a couple of friends, and though I trust the people in question, I do realise sharing an app is like sharing a secret, once it's out there, you can't guarantee it stays amongst those you initially shared it with. I am aware there's a webinar on the site related to this, and although I'm sure it's great, I gather it goes much further than what I currently require.
I don't need to do anything high tech with licensing or complicated protection stuff just right now, as I've already spent more time than I can afford coding in recent weeks, so some simple protection would be fine. I was thinking maybe just to add some code to stop working after a certain date, would that be a good idea, or is there any other better low tech quick and easy solutions?

[mikeyww]

Methods abound. You can use the date, a registry entry, a password, a hash code, machine ID, etc. Choose your weapon. Examples are on the forum, including some date examples. A popular approach for date seems to be getting the date from a Web site that displays or returns timestamps-- requires Internet-- so that the user cannot simply change the computer's time.

[SirSocks]

Here's one way to make your script expire.

Code: Select all

ExpireDate := 20210728120000 ; year month day hour minute seconds 
if ( A_NOW >= ExpireDate )
{
    ExitApp
}

[bazkeys]

@SirSocks
Thanks, that's a nice simple way to start

Also thanks @mikeyww they are some nice solid ways to go. I'll look into it further when I have time, my app is not quite ready yet anyway, but good to know what options are available when the time comes.