How To: Distribute Your Protected App¶

This guide covers the end-to-end distribution workflow — from connecting your payment provider to delivering the protected app to your customers.

Distribution Architecture¶

Customer → Your Storefront → Payment → PyLocket Delivery Page → License Key + Download

PyLocket provides: - License generation: Automatic license key creation on purchase - Delivery page: Hosted page showing the license key and download button - Signed downloads: Time-limited, tamper-proof download URLs (7-day expiry) - Email confirmation: Automated email to the buyer with license key and download link

You provide: - Payment processing: Through your own storefront (Stripe, Gumroad, Paddle, etc.) - Product page: Your website or marketplace listing

Step 1: Protect Your Application¶

Before distributing, ensure you have a protected build in READY status:

pylocket protect \
  --app <APP_ID> \
  --artifact dist/myapp.exe \
  --platform win-x64 \
  --python 3.12

# Wait for completion
pylocket status --build <BUILD_ID>

Step 2: Configure Your Storefront¶

Stripe Checkout¶

import stripe

session = stripe.checkout.Session.create(
    mode="payment",
    line_items=[{"price": "price_xxx", "quantity": 1}],
    success_url=(
        "https://api.pylocket.com/download"
        "?session_id={CHECKOUT_SESSION_ID}"
        "&app_id=<APP_ID>"
    ),
    metadata={"pylocket_app_id": "<APP_ID>"},
)

Gumroad¶

In your Gumroad product settings:

Go to Advanced → Post-Purchase Redirect

Set the URL to:

https://api.pylocket.com/download?app_id=<APP_ID>&email={email}

Paddle¶

In your Paddle checkout:

Paddle.Checkout.open({
  product: 12345,
  successCallback: function(data) {
    window.location.href =
      `https://api.pylocket.com/download?app_id=<APP_ID>&email=${data.user.email}`;
  }
});

Lemon Squeezy¶

Set the Thank You Page URL in your product settings:

https://api.pylocket.com/download?app_id=<APP_ID>&email={email}

Custom Storefront¶

For any payment provider, redirect the buyer to:

https://api.pylocket.com/download?app_id=<APP_ID>&email=<BUYER_EMAIL>

Tip: The exact redirect URL for your app is pre-filled in the Developer Portal under Post-Purchase Delivery.

Step 3: What the Customer Sees¶

After payment, the customer lands on the PyLocket delivery page:

License key displayed prominently with a one-click copy button
Download button for the protected application
Getting started instructions:
Install the application
Run it and enter the license key when prompted
The app activates and is ready to use
Confirmation email sent to the buyer's address

The delivery page is idempotent — bookmarking or refreshing shows the same information.

Step 4: Multi-Platform Distribution¶

If you offer your app on multiple platforms, upload a separate protected build for each platform. The delivery page automatically shows labeled download buttons for each available platform:

[Windows]  [macOS]  [Linux]

Build and protect each platform's artifact separately:

# Windows — upload the PyInstaller .exe
pylocket protect --app <APP_ID> --artifact dist/myapp.exe --platform win-x64 --python 3.12

# Linux — upload the PyInstaller binary
pylocket protect --app <APP_ID> --artifact dist/myapp --platform linux-x64 --python 3.12

# macOS — upload the PyInstaller binary (NOT the .dmg/.pkg installer)
pylocket protect --app <APP_ID> --artifact dist/myapp --platform mac-arm64 --python 3.12

Important: Upload the raw build output from your build tool (PyInstaller binary, cx_Freeze directory, etc.), not installer packages like .dmg, .msi, or .deb. You can optionally wrap the protected output in an installer for distribution afterward.

For a complete walkthrough, see the Multi-OS Publishing Tutorial.

Step 5: Customer Support¶

Common Customer Issues¶

Issue	Resolution
Lost license key	Look up the license in the Developer Portal by customer email
Activation fails	Check device limit; reset devices if needed
New device	Reset device activations: `pylocket licenses reset-devices --license <KEY>`
Refund request	Revoke the license: `pylocket licenses revoke --license <KEY>`
Download link expired	The customer can revisit the delivery page — the download link regenerates

Providing End-User Documentation¶

Consider including a brief guide with your application:

System requirements (OS, any dependencies)
How to enter the license key
Offline use expectations (72-hour grace period by default)
How to contact you for support

Free Tier¶

Every app gets 10 free build downloads — no credit card required. This lets you test the full distribution flow before committing to a paid plan.

After the 10th download, PyLocket activates billing. See Billing & Pricing for details.

Third-Party Marketplaces¶

If you sell through AppSumo, Gumroad, Paddle, LemonSqueezy, or other third-party marketplaces where the marketplace (not your own Stripe) processes payments, see the Marketplace Distribution Guide. That guide covers:

Redemption codes — Generate batches of codes, upload to the marketplace, customers redeem for a license
API provisioning — Your backend receives marketplace webhooks and calls the PyLocket API to create licenses in real time