Jar File - Prevent Access to Source Code

Question

I want to hand over a small Java app as a runnable jar but I do not want anybody to have access to my source code. Am I right in presuming that there is no source code (.jav

Answer 1

If a computer can run it, a human can reverse engineer it, and it is not particularly hard for Java.

So technical protection simply won't work. You need legal protection in form of a binding contract or similar. You may even put your works under the GPL except for those paying you, which is sufficient for most businesses to avoid stealing your work.

What situation exactly do you want to avoid?