What are the potential pitfalls of encrypting PHP scripts for distribution and testing?

Encrypting PHP scripts for distribution and testing can make it difficult to debug and troubleshoot issues, as the code is not easily readable. It can also pose security risks if the encryption method is not secure enough. Additionally, encrypted scripts may not be compatible with all hosting environments, causing potential compatibility issues.

// To avoid these pitfalls, consider using a secure encryption method and keeping a decrypted copy of the script for testing and debugging purposes.