pakt sardines wrote:
Hi all,
We're currently developing some large-scale software with the
intention of selling it (online and off-the-shelf). The version in
development uses Postgres to store stuff in a number of large databases.
Ignoring potential licensing issues for now, the big issue for us is
that the data in the databases has significant intellectual property
value. It has taken literally years of work to collect the data. We do
not want the users of the commercial product to be able to fire up
postgres and type something like: user]% pg_dump their_data > our_product
So you don't trust your customers.
Then the honest thing to do then is not give them the raw data. I hate the idea
of *buying* sofware and then being told I can't use the software I bought in any
fashion I need, rather than what the developer thinks I need.
If the data is valuable, then stop acting like its 1994.
Do the whole thing as web service. If you really got to have something to
install from a CD, just make it a link back to your web server.
Invest money in a quality server environment for the customer, rather than
locking the data from your customer. If it took you years to collect this
information, make the requirement to use it a web enabled device...
Do you really want to deal with support questions about postgresql
installation/support/upgrades/bugs/versions/OS's/etc... ?
--
Walter
