Java software license manager libraries

Summary: A look at free Java software license managers.

To help supplement my income, I've been thinking about creating some Java-based shareware applications. As I started thinking about software to time-out my application after 10 or 15 days, and requiring a license to use the software after that initial trial period, I've started down the rabbit hole of Java software license managers.

Free Java software license manager tools

I don't have too much to say here yet, other than to say that if you're looking for a free software license manager for what is termed a closd-source Java application, the only real choice appears to be the TrueLicense Library Collection (TLC). I'm trying to digest all of the docs for that license-managing software now, including the Java security and keytool areas that I've managed to avoid for most of my Java development life (other than a little jar-signing work I did for JNLP applications). One big concern about TLC: It doesn't appear to have been updated since 2006.

If TLC fails, there is one other free software license manager named License3J, but I'm concerned that their documentation and features seem to be pretty light at this time. But, at least they had a recent update to their project (December, 2009).

Commercial software license manager tools for Java

Beyond these two Java projects, you quickly end up in the commercial software world. I guess that's appropriate; I'm looking to sell my software as shareware, so if I'm hoping for some software income, it's only appropriate that there's going to be some expense as well, right?

(I'm laughing at myself here, because I'm used to giving everything away for free, and the thought of paying for a software license manager library or tool is making me cringe, lol.)

Oh well, I'm going to continue down this Java "software license manager" rabbit hole a while longer. The TLC library does have at least two good documents with it, so I'm hoping it will be usable.

Related Java keytool tutorials

Once you head down the Java software license manager road, especially with a tool like TrueLicense, you'll quickly find your self heading down the Java "keytool" road as well. To that end, here are a number of Java keytool tutorials I wrote after working with the TrueLicense software license manager.

• Using keytool genkey (Java)
• Using keytool export (Java)
• Using keytool list (Java)
• Using keytool import (Java)
• Java keytool command, keystore files, and certificates (TrueLicense, tutorial)

The last link in particular describes what you need to know to work with the TrueLicense software license manager.