1) Get a demo key (browser)

https://akiprotect.core-jmp.org/demo.php
# 14-day RSA serial · product 0x414B4944 · emailed + shown on page

2) Download betas

https://akiprotect.core-jmp.org/beta.php
# macOS: AkiMacProtector.app + aki_mac_builder + sdk/ (+ Swift) + Open-Mac.command
# Windows: per-arch zips (x64 / x86 / arm64) — x64/x86 include dotnet_wrap_stub.exe
# Linux CLI: aki_lin_builder --protect / --license-bind (ELF64 x86_64 + aarch64)

3) Verify zip checksum (optional)

curl -fsSL https://akiprotect.core-jmp.org/downloads/SHA256SUMS -o SHA256SUMS
# after download:
shasum -a 256 -c SHA256SUMS
# Windows (PowerShell):
# Get-FileHash .\AkiProtect-Windows-x64-0.34.0.zip -Algorithm SHA256

4) First launch on macOS (ad-hoc / Gatekeeper)

# After unzip:
./Open-Mac.command
# or: right-click AkiMacProtector.app → Open
# or: xattr -cr AkiMacProtector.app && open AkiMacProtector.app

5) Verify serial + online activate (CLI)

./aki_mac_builder --rsa-verify --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub 'YOUR-SERIAL'

./aki_mac_builder --activate \
  --url https://akiprotect.core-jmp.org/activate.php \
  --serial 'YOUR-SERIAL' --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub --product 0x414B4944 \
  -o ticket.aktk

./aki_mac_builder --ticket-verify --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub ticket.aktk

6) Protect with demo serial (binds to this Mac)

./aki_mac_builder --protect --license-rsa 'YOUR-SERIAL' \
  --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub --verify-sign -i MyApp.app -o MyApp_protected.app

7) Linux CLI beta (x86_64 host → x64/aarch64 ELF)

# glibc x86_64 host after unzip:
./aki_lin_builder --hwid
./aki_lin_builder --elf-info -i /bin/ls
./aki_lin_builder --protect -i ./hello -o ./hello_p
AKI_LIN_RUNTIME_PROBE=stderr ./hello_p

# Demo RSA + bind (same product 0x414B4944):
./aki_lin_builder --rsa-verify --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub "$SERIAL"
./aki_lin_builder --embed-runtime --license-rsa "$SERIAL" --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub \
  -i ./hello -o ./hello_p
# Details: https://akiprotect.core-jmp.org/linux.php

Pack an EXE with the recommended Release defaults

AkiProtect_builder.exe --i myapp.exe --lz4 --vm --ulam-layout

Pack a DLL with a startup export

AkiProtect_builder.exe --i my.dll --o my_packed.exe ^
    --lz4 --vm --dll-export RunMe

Mode B in-place + --output-dll (DLL host)

AkiProtect_builder.exe --mode inplace --i myapp.exe --virt-mode virtualize --virt-func 0x401000
AkiProtect_builder.exe --i my.dll --o my_host.dll --output-dll --lz4 --vm

.NET wrap (native CLR-host EXE — not Mode A CLR packing)

AkiProtect_builder.exe --dotnet-wrap --i managed.dll --o managed_host.exe
# stub next to builder: x64\dotnet_wrap_stub.exe (x86 zip too; not in arm64)

Mode A (default) — stub wraps encrypted payload

AkiProtect_builder.exe --i myapp.exe --lz4 --vm --ulam-layout
# → myapp_packed.exe  (stub PE + payload tail)

Mode B — in-place protect (needs ranges or SDK markers)

AkiProtect_builder.exe --mode inplace --i myapp.exe \
  --virt-mode virtualize --virt-func 0x401000
# Prefer SDK markers (AKI_PROTECT_BEGIN / …) when you own the source.

Mode A DLL host — wrapper DLL instead of EXE launcher

AkiProtect_builder.exe --i plugin.dll --o plugin_host.dll \
  --output-dll --lz4 --vm
# Requires DLL input. Not with --classic-stub.

Wrap assembly in native host EXE

AkiProtect_builder.exe --dotnet-wrap --i MyLib.dll --o MyLib_host.exe
# Looks for dotnet_wrap_stub.exe next to the builder (shipped in x64/x86 beta zips).

Override wrap stub path

AkiProtect_builder.exe --dotnet-wrap --dotnet-wrap-stub C:\tools\dotnet_wrap_stub.exe \
  --i MyLib.dll --o MyLib_host.exe

C markers + protect

#include "AkiProtectSDK.h"
// AKI_PROTECT_BEGIN / AKI_PROTECT_END around hot functions

./aki_mac_builder --virt-markers --codesign adhoc -i MyApp -o MyApp_p

Swift Package (from sdk/)

./build_sdk.sh
cd swift
swift build -Xlinker -L../lib -Xlinker -lAkiProtectSDK \
  -Xlinker -rpath -Xlinker @loader_path/../lib
swift run AkiProtectLicenseSmoke

Swift licensing calls

try AkiProtect.setPublicKeyPath("./keys/demo.pub")
try AkiProtect.setActivationURL("https://akiprotect.core-jmp.org/activate.php")
AkiProtect.setProductCode()
let hwid = try AkiProtect.currentHWID()
try AkiProtect.setSerialNumber(serial)
try AkiProtect.activateOnline(ticketPath: "ticket.aktk")

protect + probe

./aki_lin_builder --elf-info -i /bin/ls
./aki_lin_builder --protect -i ./hello -o ./hello_p
AKI_LIN_RUNTIME_PROBE=stderr ./hello_p

RSA verify + license-bind embed

./aki_lin_builder --hwid
./aki_lin_builder --rsa-verify --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub "$SERIAL"
./aki_lin_builder --activate --url https://akiprotect.core-jmp.org/activate.php \
  --serial "$SERIAL" --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub --product 0x414B4944 -o ticket.aktk
./aki_lin_builder --embed-runtime --license-rsa "$SERIAL" --rsa-pub ./keys/demo.pub \
  -i ./hello -o ./hello_p