CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonpython-3.xwindowstrialware
ExMachina
ExMachina

Reputation: 41

A way to make executable only work for certain time in Python

So, let's say i am working with a potentially unsavory employer and i wish to provide only a "trial run" of my software. I have an app in python turned windows executable through something like pyinstaller. Is there a way to make that app track internally how much time it has been run for and then brick itself permanently after a certain threshold? You could obviously use system time, but if one to figure that out, they can just rewind the system clock. Ideally, i would wish for .exe to have an internal "clock", but i doubt that .exe is capable of modifying itself dynamically. Is there a preferred "industry standard" way of doing this? No need to bother with payment processing, etc, just "works for certain time period" aspect.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 133

Answers (1)

Grant Curell
Grant Curell

Reputation: 1783

You can have the app request the time from NTP instead as these answers

It really just depends on how persnickety you want your program to be but you could do something as simple as record the start time of the trial from NTP and then use that as your reference.

If you want to get a bit more clever you could have the program encrypt the start time.

All of these things could be bypassed, you're just making it harder.

Upvotes: 0

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