I've been coding PHP for a long time now, I'm also fairly good with Delphi (Pascal), C, Perl and Python.
Haven't had any problems developing PHP programs to my clients, but now I have one...
My client needs a secure dynamic intranet web based software to manage storage and workers coming in and out. Ok, no problem in that, but they need to have the source code secured, for reasons I can't fully understand (and I don't give a damn).
Well, that rules out scripts like PHP, I guess.

So, have any of you ever coded a "closed source" web software?
Is C the best way to do this? Should I try Delphi? Maybe something else?
How should I integrate it to the HTML and Apache?
Or should I just let someone else do that and keep working with more reasonable clients + PHP?

The server runs Linux with Apache 2, I'm also able to install anything I need.

While Googling, I found this tool that compiles native PHP binary executables from PHP ( www.roadsend.com ).

Anyone tried a PHP compiler?

Hi

I think you need to ask them who you need to secure the source code from. Most likely, they mean the users, so you can explain that users can't get to the PHP code.

If they mean to secure the code from the server admin, take a look at Zend's solution:
http://www.zend.com/en/products/guard/

There are many other solutions as well, some opensource:
http://www.google.com/search?q=encrypt+php+source

I don't see fair to pay $696 per year of something I created, to somebody just to protect my creation. I'm aiming for the Roadsend, what at least for now looks very good tool...

And they mean to secure the code from multiple server admins using the same server, not the users.