Why did you put so much time into making this software?
My initial intention was to write a small server-side script in PHP language to track visitors because none of the available free packages were meeting my needs.
After starting the actual development new ideas kept coming to my mind and it became a full featured application worth sharing it with other people.
Why is it free?
Why not? :) This project is more like a hobby for me and I really don't want to bar people from using TraceWatch because they don't have enough money however TraceWatch will be online until the advertisements on the website can pay for the hosting expenses.
Any more money I get from the ads more time I'll put into improving TraceWatch instead of doing other jobs to make money for a living. That's why I ask you to link to TraceWatch and encourage other people to use it.
Why is the code obfuscated?
To protect my rights as the developer of TraceWatch. TraceWatch IS NOT open-source though I really appreciate the efforts of people involved in open-source software development.
The code being obfuscated has a positive side effect too, the code is hidden from the eyes of hackers despite I have taken great care to make the code as secure as possible.
Which software did you use to obfuscate the code?
It's another PHP application written by me. If I find some free time I may put that software online for free too but TraceWatch is taking all my time.