Thread: Ability to decode Java JAR files

I know (or think) that Java JAR archives are able to be decoded for the most part. If I were to get into Java game development, and make a game that gets popular, how could I prevent people from decoding the JAR archive? I think there is a way to make an exe file of the JAR archive, but this would not be a very efficient solution.

There are lots of ways to open up a jar file -- unix/linux tar comes to mind -- but the actual code is compiled in a .class format. I'm not aware of any software that will convert it back to readable code.

Originally Posted by J697

I know (or think) that Java JAR archives are able to be decoded for the most part. If I were to get into Java game development, and make a game that gets popular, how could I prevent people from decoding the JAR archive?

In short, you can't.

Originally Posted by J697

I think there is a way to make an exe file of the JAR archive, but this would not be a very efficient solution.

Correct, not a solution.



You can encrypt the program for storage and get some security that way, but at the end of the day you have the same problem. The encrypted program has to be decrypted to be run. As soon as someone has code that can be executed, they have code that can be reverse engineered.
Luckily most people with the skills to do this, have little to no interest in doing it. I say most because I like to put faith in humanity... so please don't tell me how wrong i may be.

Even executables can be decoded in some long, roundabout, and time consuming way. But put it this way. If your game gets pirated, and a potential customer sees the pirated version, if they REALLY care about your game, they WILL buy it. Pirates don't truly feel good about what they do, and the customers that you want to have WILL buy your game. If you aren't selling your game, replace buy with "not steal" and customer with "user".