In May 2013 ionCube released version 8.0 with support for encoding the PHP 5.4 language. In December 2010 ionCube released version 7.0 of their Encoder, including support for the PHP 5.3 language. Unrelated to PHP, the Bundler is a Windows and Linux tool to produce self-extracting archives for Windows. IonCube also produce a product called the Bundler. IPF allows web applications to be packaged as a Windows executable installer that can automatically deploy a web application to a remote server, as well as performing various installation and configuration tasks, and launching the browser on the main page of the installed application. In 2004, ionCube introduced their Package Foundry product, IPF, for Linux and Windows. In July 2004 a Windows GUI was introduced, no longer requiring use of the command line for Windows users. The encoding products were subsequently ported to FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, and the range of products expanded to offer additional features such as product licensing and encryption of non-PHP files.

Running older files on newer versions of PHP. The ionCube Loader uses the technique of on the fly patching of compiled code in memory to achieve back compatibility of Unlike CPU's such as 8086, where compiled code from many years ago continues to run on its derivatives today, the virtual machine instruction set of PHP has changed over time. A PHP extension called the ionCube Loader handles the reading and execution of encoded files at run time. The tools use the technique of compiling to bytecode prior to encoding so that source code is eliminated, and runtime overheads are reduced.

The encoding technology grew out of earlier work on the PHP Accelerator project, and at first launch included an online encoding service where PHP scripts can be uploaded and an encoded version downloaded in return, and a command line tool for Linux soon after. IonCube was founded in 2002, and introduced tools to protect the source code of software written using the PHP programming language from being viewed, changed, and run on unlicensed computers. is a software company based in Hersden, Kent in the United Kingdom. Software companies of the United Kingdom ionCube

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