How to Use a PHP License System to Sell Licenses of PHP Applications to Your Customers - PHPLicengine API package blog

In this article you will learn:

How PHPLicengine Works

Other Features of the PHPLicengine

Downloading the PHPLicengine Package or Installing it with PHP Composer

What is the PHPLicengine

PHPLicengine is a PHP package that uses an online solution to handle software licenses. It supports license handling that can work both with remote licensing and with ionCube.

Licensing Software Using ionCube 

Some developers use ionCube to encrypt their commercial PHP applications and license them to customers using restrictions based on the customer site domain, server IP address or MAC address to prevent illegal use and forbidden copies of applications.

Disadvantages:

1. ionCube licensing works offline. This means the owner of the software should create license files using tools that work without an Internet connect. Then the files should be emailed to customers after they have sent the payment.

2. The owner of the software cannot revoke license when issued.

Remote Software Licensing

Another licensing method to lock commercial PHP applications is remote licensing. This relies in an encrypted code block that calls server to verify license. If the license is valid, it allows the application to run. Otherwise the application does not run.

How PHPLicengine Works

PHPLicengine is a PHP package that implements a solution for licensing PHP software that can work online (using an Internet connection) to use both remote licensing and with ionCube. The user of the package can choose methods to license:

1. Remote licensing only: it calls the server to verify the license. If the license is is valid, it allows application to run. Otherwise the application is not allowed to run.

2. ionCube: It issues ionCube license automatically online after the product is paid.

3. Both remote licensing and ionCube: It has feature to revoke ionCube licenses remotely.

Other Features of the PHPLicengine

   1. Download Manager: The user can setup products for free or paid downloads with or without license.

   2. Client Manager: The user can use it as a client manager.

   3. Invoice Manager: It can handle orders and invoices.

With this PHPLicengine API class, the users can access to the PHPLicengine's REST API from a 3rd-party application.

Downloading the PHPLicengine Package or Installing it with PHP Composer

You can download the PHPLicengine package files by going to the download page. You can also install the package using the PHP Composer tool by going following the installation instructions in the same page.