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<title>Executable compression</title>

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Executable compression

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Executable compression is any means of <a href="Data_compression" title="Data compression">compressing</a> an <a href="Executable" title="Executable">executable</a> file and combining the compressed data with decompression code into a single executable. When this compressed executable is executed, the decompression code recreates the original code from the compressed code before executing it. In most cases this happens transparently so the compressed executable can be used in exactly the same way as the original. Executable compressors are often referred to as executable packers, runtime packers, software packers, software protectors, or even "<a href="Polymorphic_packer" class="mw-redirect" title="Polymorphic packer">polymorphic packers</a>" and "<a href="Obfuscation_(software)" title="Obfuscation (software)">obfuscating tools</a>".

A compressed executable can be considered a <a href="Self-extracting_archive" title="Self-extracting archive">self-extracting archive</a>, where a compressed executable is packaged along with the relevant decompression code in an executable file. Some compressed executables can be decompressed to reconstruct the original program file without being directly executed. Two programs that can be used to do this are CUP386 and UNP.

Most compressed executables decompress the original code in memory and most require slightly more memory to run (because they need to store the decompressor code, the compressed data and the decompressed code). Moreover, some compressed executables have additional requirements, such as those that write the decompressed executable to the file system before executing it.

Executable compression is not limited to binary executables, but can also be applied to scripts, such as <a href="JavaScript" title="JavaScript">JavaScript</a>. Because most scripting languages are designed to work on <a href="Source_code" title="Source code">human-readable code</a>, which has a high <a href="Redundancy_(information_theory)" title="Redundancy (information theory)">redundancy</a>, compression can be very effective and as simple as replacing long names used to identify <a href="Variable_(programming)" class="mw-redirect" title="Variable (programming)">variables</a> and <a href="Subroutine" class="mw-redirect" title="Subroutine">functions</a> with shorter versions and/or removing <a href="Whitespace_character" title="Whitespace character">white-space</a>.

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Advantages_and_disadvantages">Advantages and disadvantages</h2></div>

<a href="Software" title="Software">Software</a> distributors use executable compression for a variety of reasons, primarily to reduce the <a href="Secondary_storage" class="mw-redirect" title="Secondary storage">secondary storage</a> requirements of their software; as executable compressors are specifically designed to compress executable code, they often achieve better <a href="Compression_ratio" title="Compression ratio">compression ratio</a> than standard <a href="Data_compression" title="Data compression">data compression</a> facilities such as <a href="Gzip" title="Gzip">gzip</a>, <a href="ZIP_(file_format)" title="ZIP (file format)">zip</a> or <a href="Bzip2" title="Bzip2">bzip2</a> . This allows software distributors to stay within the constraints of their chosen distribution media (such as <a href="CD-ROM" title="CD-ROM">CD-ROM</a>, <a href="DVD-ROM" class="mw-redirect" title="DVD-ROM">DVD-ROM</a>, or <a href="Floppy_disk" title="Floppy disk">floppy disk</a>), or to reduce the time and bandwidth customers require to access software distributed via the <a href="Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a>.

Executable compression is also frequently used to deter <a href="Reverse_engineering" title="Reverse engineering">reverse engineering</a> or to obfuscate the contents of the executable (for example, to hide the presence of <a href="Malware" title="Malware">malware</a> from <a href="Antivirus_software" title="Antivirus software">antivirus scanners</a>) by proprietary methods of compression and/or added <a href="Encryption" title="Encryption">encryption</a>. Executable compression can be used to prevent direct <a href="Disassembly" class="mw-redirect" title="Disassembly">disassembly</a>, mask <a href="String_(computer_science)" title="String (computer science)">string literals</a> and modify signatures. Although this does not eliminate the chance of reverse engineering, it can make the process more costly.

A compressed executable requires less storage space in the file system, thus less time to transfer data from the file system into memory. On the other hand, it requires some time to decompress the data before execution begins. However, the speed of various storage media has not kept up with average processor speeds, so the storage is very often the bottleneck. Thus the compressed executable will load faster on most common systems. On modern desktop computers, this is rarely noticeable unless the executable is unusually big, so loading speed is not a primary reason for or against compressing an executable.

On operating systems which <a href="Memory_paging" title="Memory paging">page</a> executable images on demand from the disk, compressed executables make this process less efficient. The decompressor stub allocates a block of memory to hold the decompressed data, which stays allocated as long as the executable stays loaded, whether it is used or not, competing for memory resources with other applications all along. If the operating system uses a swap file, the decompressed data has to be written to it to free up the memory instead of simply discarding unused data blocks and reloading them from the executable image if needed again. This is usually not noticeable, but it becomes a problem when an executable is loaded more than once at the same time—the operating system cannot reuse data blocks it has already loaded, the data has to be decompressed into a new memory block, and will be swapped out independently if not used. The additional storage and time requirements mean that it has to be weighed carefully whether to compress executables which are typically run more than once at the same time.

Another disadvantage is that some utilities can no longer identify <a href="Run-time_library" class="mw-redirect" title="Run-time library">run-time library</a> dependencies, as only the <a href="Static_linking" class="mw-redirect" title="Static linking">statically linked</a> extractor stub is visible.

Also, some older <a href="Virus_scanner" class="mw-redirect" title="Virus scanner">virus scanners</a> simply report all compressed executables as <a href="Computer_virus" title="Computer virus">viruses</a> because the decompressor stubs share some characteristics with those. Most modern virus scanners can unpack several different executable compression layers to check the actual executable inside, but some popular anti-virus and anti-malware scanners have had troubles with false positive alarms on compressed executables. In an attempt to solve the problem of <a href="Malware" title="Malware">malware</a> obfuscated with the help of <a href="Runtime_packer" class="mw-redirect" title="Runtime packer">runtime packers</a> the <a href="IEEE" class="mw-redirect" title="IEEE">IEEE</a> <a href="Industry_Connections_Security_Group" title="Industry Connections Security Group">Industry Connections Security Group</a> has introduced a <a href="Software_taggant" title="Software taggant">software taggant</a> system.

Executable compression used to be more popular when computers were limited to the storage capacity of <a href="Floppy_disk" title="Floppy disk">floppy disks</a>, which were both slow and low capacity media, and small <a href="Hard_drive" class="mw-redirect" title="Hard drive">hard drives</a>; it allowed the computer to store more software in the same amount of space, without the inconvenience of having to manually unpack an archive file every time the user wanted to use the software. However, executable compression has become less popular because of increased storage capacity on computers. It has its use in the <a href="Demoscene" title="Demoscene">demoscene</a> where demos have to stay within a size limit, e.g. <a href="64k_intro" class="mw-redirect" title="64k intro">64k intro</a>. Only very sophisticated compression formats, which add to load time, keep an executable small enough to enter these competitions.

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="List_of_executable_packers">List of executable packers</h2></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="CP/M_and_MSX-DOS_executable">CP/M and MSX-DOS executable</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for <a href="CP/M-80" class="mw-redirect" title="CP/M-80">CP/M-80</a> / <a href="MSX-DOS" title="MSX-DOS">MSX-DOS</a> <a href="COM_file_(CP/M)" class="mw-redirect" title="COM file (CP/M)">.COM files</a>:

<ul><li>PMexe (since 1990, written by Yoshihiko Mino, PMARC.COM+PMEXE.CPM, signature "-pms-")<a href="#cite_note-Logan_1997-1">[1]</a></li>

<li>PopCom! (since 1992, written by Yoshihiko Mino, POPCOM.COM, signature "-pc1-")</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="MS-DOS_executable">MS-DOS executable</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for <a href="MS-DOS" title="MS-DOS">MS-DOS</a>-compatible executable files (<a href="COM_file_(DOS)" class="mw-redirect" title="COM file (DOS)">.COM</a> or <a href=".EXE" class="mw-redirect" title=".EXE">.EXE</a>):

<ul><li>Realia Spacemaker (since 1982, written by <a href="Robert_B._K._Dewar" class="mw-redirect" title="Robert B. K. Dewar">Robert B. K. Dewar</a>, SM.COM, signature "MEMORY$")<a href="#cite_note-Cambridge-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-Realia_1983-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-Dewar_1984-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-Paul_2002_EXEPACK-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-Necasek_2018_SM-6">[6]</a><a href="#cite_note-Parsons_2019_NU-7">[7]</a><a href="#cite_note-Necasek_2019_NU-8">[8]</a><a href="#cite_note-Necasek_2018_EXEPACK-9">[9]</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a> EXEPACK (since 1985, written by Reuben Borman, EXEPACK.EXE, LINK.EXE /E[XEPACK], signature "RB")<a href="#cite_note-Necasek_2018_EXEPACK-9">[9]</a><a href="#cite_note-Paul_2002_EXEPACK-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-Dewar_1984-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-Miles-Nather_1986-10">[10]</a></li>

<li>LZEXE (since 1989, written by <a href="Fabrice_Bellard" title="Fabrice Bellard">Fabrice Bellard</a>, LZEXE.EXE)<a href="#cite_note-Bellard_2003_LZEXE-11">[11]</a><a href="#cite_note-Salomon_2000-12">[12]</a></li>

<li><a href="PKWare" title="PKWare">PKWare</a> PKLite (since 1990, written by <a href="Phil_Katz" title="Phil Katz">Phil Katz</a>, PKLITE.EXE)<a href="#cite_note-Salomon_2000-12">[12]</a><a href="#cite_note-Paul_2002_DRPKLITE-13">[13]</a></li>

<li>DIET (since 1991, written by Teddy Matsumoto, DIET.EXE)<a href="#cite_note-Salomon_2000-12">[12]</a></li>

<li>TINYPROG (TINYPROG.EXE)</li>

<li>RJS Software RJCRUSH (since 1994, written by Roland Skinner, RJCRUSH.EXE)</li>

<li>XPA (since 1995, written by JauMing Tseng, XPA.EXE)</li>

<li>Ibsen Software aPACK (since 1997, written by Jørgen Ibsen, APACK.EXE)</li>

<li><a href="UPX" title="UPX">UPX</a> (since 1998, written by Markus F. X. J. Oberhumer and László Molnár)</li>

<li>32LiTE (since 1998, written by Oleg Prokhorov, 32LITE.EXE)</li>

<li>Knowledge Dynamics LZW Compressor<a href="#cite_note-mz-explode-14">[14]</a></li>

<li>WWpack (since 1994, written by Piotr Warezak and Rafal Wierzbicki, WWPACK.EXE)</li>

<li>624 (only for .COM files smaller than 25 KB, uses <a href="Lempel%E2%80%93Ziv%E2%80%93Welch" title="Lempel–Ziv–Welch">LZW</a>)</li>

<li>AINEXE</li>

<li>AvPack</li>

<li>ComPAck</li>

<li>HASP Envelope</li>

<li>PMWLITE</li>

<li>ProPack</li>

<li>UCEXE</li>

<li>WDOSX</li>

<li>XPack</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="OS/2_executable">OS/2 executable</h3></div>

Known executable compressors under <a href="OS/2" title="OS/2">OS/2</a>:

<ul><li>NeLite</li>

<li>LxLite</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="New_Executable">New Executable</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for <a href="New_Executable" title="New Executable">New Executables</a>:

<ul><li>PackWin</li>

<li>PKWare PKLite (from version 2.01)</li>

<li>WinLite</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Portable_Executable">Portable Executable</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for <a href="Portable_Executable" title="Portable Executable">Portable Executables</a>:

Note: Clients in purple are no longer in development.

<th>Name

</th>

<th>Latest stable

</th>

<th><a href="Software_license" title="Software license">Software license</a>

</th>

<th><a href="X86-64" title="X86-64">x86-64</a> support

</th></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">32Lite

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Alienyze

</th>

<td>1.4 (17 August 2020 (2020-08-17))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">ANDpakk2

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #F4E3FF; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; font-weight: bolder;" scope="row" class="rh heading table-rh">Armadillo

</th>

<td>9.62 (7 June 2013 (2013-06-07))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">ASPack

</th>

<td>2.40 (7 December 2018 (2018-12-07))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">ASPR (ASProtect)

</th>

<td>2.78 (7 December 2018 (2018-12-07))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">BeRoEXEPacker

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">BIN-crypter

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">BoxedApp Packer

</th>

<td>3.3 (26 July 2015 (2015-07-26))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #F4E3FF; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; font-weight: bolder;" scope="row" class="rh heading table-rh">CExe

</th>

<td>1.0b (20 July 2001 (2001-07-20))

</td>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Crinkler

</th>

<td>2.3 (22 July 2020 (2020-07-22))

</td>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">dotBundle

</th>

<td>1.3 (4 April 2013 (2013-04-04))<a href="#cite_note-DOTBUNDLE-15">[15]</a>

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Enigma Protector

</th>

<td>6.60 (21 August 2019 (2019-08-21))<a href="#cite_note-Enigma_Protector-16">[16]</a>

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Enigma Virtual Box

</th>

<td>9.40 (10 October 2019 (2019-10-10))<a href="#cite_note-Enigma_Protector-16">[16]</a>

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">exe32pack

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">EXE Bundle

</th>

<td>3.11 (7 January 2011 (2011-01-07))<a href="#cite_note-Webtoolmaster-17">[17]</a>

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #EEE); color: var(--color-base, black); vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center;" class="table-Unknown">?

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">EXECryptor

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">EXE Stealth

</th>

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #EEE); color: var(--color-base, black); vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center;" class="table-Unknown">?

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">eXPressor

</th>

<td>1.8.0.1 (14 January 2010 (2010-01-14))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #EEE); color: var(--color-base, black); vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; text-align: center;" class="table-Unknown">?

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #F4E3FF; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; font-weight: bolder;" scope="row" class="rh heading table-rh">FSG

</th>

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Freeware" title="Freeware">Freeware</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #F4E3FF; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; font-weight: bolder;" scope="row" class="rh heading table-rh">kkrunchy src

</th>

<td>0.23a4 (Unknown)

</td>

<td style="background: #DFF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="free table-free"><a href="Public-domain-equivalent_license" title="Public-domain-equivalent license">Public domain</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #F4E3FF; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; font-weight: bolder;" scope="row" class="rh heading table-rh">MEW

</th>

<td>1.1 (Unknown)

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Freeware" title="Freeware">Freeware</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">MPRESS

</th>

<td>2.19 (2 January 2012 (2012-01-02))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Freeware" title="Freeware">Freeware</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">MuCruncher

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">NeoLite

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">NsPack

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Obsidium

</th>

<td>1.6 (11 April 2017 (2017-04-11))<a href="#cite_note-Obsidium-19">[19]</a>

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">PECompact

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">PEPack

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">PESpin

</th>

<td>1.33 (3 May 2011 (2011-05-03))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Freeware" title="Freeware">Freeware</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Petite

</th>

<td>2.4 (22 September 2016 (2016-09-22))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Freeware" title="Freeware">Freeware</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">PKLite32

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #F4E3FF; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; font-weight: bolder;" scope="row" class="rh heading table-rh">RLPack Basic

</th>

<td>1.21 (31 October 2008 (2008-10-31))

</td>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Shrinker32

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Smart Packer Pro X

</th>

<td>2.0.0.1 (3 June 2019 (2019-06-03))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Themida/WinLicense

</th>

<td>3.0 (24 October 2019 (2019-10-24))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Upack

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

</th>

<td>5.0.1 (6 May 2025 (2025-05-06))

</td>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">VMProtect

</th>

<td>3.4 (3 August 2019 (2019-08-03))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#9EFF9E;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-yes">Yes

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">WWPack32

</th>

<td>1.20 (19 June 2000 (2000-06-19))

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #F4E3FF; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left; font-weight: bolder;" scope="row" class="rh heading table-rh">XComp/XPack

</th>

<td>0.98 (18 February 2007 (2007-02-18))

</td>

<td style="background: #E7E7FF; color:black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-proprietary"><a href="Freeware" title="Freeware">Freeware</a>

</td>

<td style="background:#FFC7C7;color:black;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;" class="table-no">No

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">Yoda's Crypte

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr>

<tr>

<th style="background: #ececec; color: black; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" class="table-rh">YZPack

</th>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="ELF_files">ELF files</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for <a href="Executable_and_Linkable_Format" title="Executable and Linkable Format">ELF</a> files:

<ul><li>gzexe (uses a <a href="Shell_script" title="Shell script">shell script</a> stub and <a href="Gzip" title="Gzip">gzip</a>, works on most Unix-like systems)</li>

<li>HASP Envelope</li>

<li>624 (for Linux/386)<a href="#cite_note-Linux_624-20">[20]</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="CLI_assembly_files">CLI assembly files</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for <a href="Assembly_(CLI)" title="Assembly (CLI)">CLI assembly</a> files:

<li>NsPack</li>

<li>Mpress</li>

<li>HASP Envelope</li>

<li>dotBundle</li>

<li>Exepack.NET</li>

<li>DotProtect:<a href="#cite_note-DotProtect-21">[21]</a> Commercial protector/packer for .net and mono. Features on-line verifications and "industry standard encryption".</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Mac_OS_Classic_applications">Mac OS Classic applications</h3></div>

Executable compressors for <a href="Mac_OS_Classic" class="mw-redirect" title="Mac OS Classic">Mac OS Classic</a> applications:

<ul><li>Application VISE<a href="#cite_note-Kiene_1999-22">[22]</a></li>

<li>StuffIt InstallerMaker</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Mach-O_(Apple_Mac_OS_X)_files">Mach-O (Apple Mac OS X) files</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for <a href="Mach-O" title="Mach-O">Mach-O</a> (Apple Mac OS X) files:

<ul><li>HASP Envelope</li>

<li>VMProtect</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Commodore_64_and_VIC-20">Commodore 64 and VIC-20</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for executables on the <a href="Commodore_64" title="Commodore 64">Commodore 64</a> and <a href="VIC-20" title="VIC-20">VIC-20</a>:

<ul><li>PuCrunch<a href="#cite_note-PUCRUNCH-23">[23]</a></li>

<li>Exomizer<a href="#cite_note-Exomizer-24">[24]</a></li>

<li>ByteBoozer<a href="#cite_note-BYTEBOOZER-25">[25]</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Amiga">Amiga</h3></div>

Known executable compressors for executables on the <a href="Amiga" title="Amiga">Amiga</a> series:

<ul><li>powerpacker<a href="#cite_note-Ronald_van_Dijk-26">[26]</a></li>

<li>Titanics cruncher<a href="#cite_note-Ronald_van_Dijk-26">[26]</a></li>

<li>imploder<a href="#cite_note-Ronald_van_Dijk-26">[26]</a></li>

<li>TNM cruncher</li>

<li>Shrinkler<a href="#cite_note-Shrinkler-27">[27]</a></li>

<li>PackFire<a href="#cite_note-PackFire-28">[28]</a></li></ul>

Known executable compressors for <a href="Java_(software_platform)" title="Java (software platform)">Java</a>:

<a href="JAR_(file_format)" title="JAR (file format)">JAR</a> files:

<ul><li>HASP Envelope</li>

<li><a href="ProGuard_(software)" class="mw-redirect" title="ProGuard (software)">ProGuard</a></li></ul>

<a href="WAR_(Sun_file_format)" class="mw-redirect" title="WAR (Sun file format)">WAR</a> files:

<ul><li>HASP Envelope</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="JavaScript">JavaScript</h3></div>

There are two types of compression that can be applied to <a href="JavaScript" title="JavaScript">JavaScript</a> scripts:

<ul><li>Reduce the redundancy in the script (by removing comments, white space and shorten variable and functions names). This does not alter the behavior of the script.</li>

<li>Compress the original script and create a new script that contains decompression code and compressed data. This is similar to binary executable compression.</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Self-decompressing_compressors">Self-decompressing compressors</h4></div>

These compress the original script and output a new script that has a decompressor and compressed data.

<ul><li>JsSfx</li>

<li>Packify</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Redundancy_reducing_compressors">Redundancy reducing compressors</h4></div>

These remove white space, remove comments, and shorten variable and function names but do not alter the behavior of the script.

<ul><li>Packer</li>

<li>YUI compressor</li>

<li>Shrinksafe</li>

<li>JSMin</li></ul>

<ul><li><a href="Disk_compression" title="Disk compression">Disk compression</a></li>

<li><a href="RAM_compression" class="mw-redirect" title="RAM compression">RAM compression</a></li>

<li><a href="Kolmogorov_complexity" title="Kolmogorov complexity">Kolmogorov complexity</a></li>

<li><a href="Self-modifying_code" title="Self-modifying code">Self-modifying code</a></li>

<li><a href="Self-relocating_code" class="mw-redirect" title="Self-relocating code">Self-relocating code</a></li>

<li><a href="Self-extracting_archive" title="Self-extracting archive">Self-extracting archive</a></li>

<li><a href="Self-booting_disk" title="Self-booting disk">Self-booting disk</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite id="CITEREFGielenTaylor1997" class="citation web cs1">Gielen, Pierre; Taylor, Johnathan (1997) [1993]. Logan, Wolverine (ed.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://oldcomputers-ddns.org/public/pub/rechner/zilog/z280/source_from_tilmann_reh/cpu280-files/pmarc_4_dos/pmmanual.txt">"PMarc help manual"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20190422123539/http://oldcomputers-ddns.org/public/pub/rechner/zilog/z280/source_from_tilmann_reh/cpu280-files/pmarc_4_dos/pmmanual.txt">Archived</a> from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-02-22. <q>[…] PMEXE.CPM […] is a module […] in combination with PMARC […] used to make executable compressed COM files (just like LZEXE or PKLITE […] type: PMARC <archive>.COM=PMEXE2.CPM <filename> [options] The archive-name must be .COM […] not .PMA. The output file will have the extension .CPM. It's an <a href="MSX-DOS" title="MSX-DOS">MSX-DOS</a> COM file […] rename file […] to run it […]</q></cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Cambridge-2"><a href="#cite_ref-Cambridge_2-0">^</a> <cite class="citation book cs1">"Expert Report of Robert B. K. Dewar In Response To The Report Of Kenneth D. Crews". <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/georgia/gandce/1:2008cv01425/150651/124/1.html">Cambridge University Press et al v. Patton et al, Filing 124, Supplemental Initial Disclosures by Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Inc., Sage Publications, Inc. - Cambridge University Press, Oxfort University Press, Inc., and Sage Publications, Inc. v. Mark P. Becker, Georgia State University President, et al, Civil Action No. 1:08-CV-1425-ODE</a> (Court document). United States District Court For The Northern District Of Georgia, Atlanta Division. p. 18. Exhibit A. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180501180115/https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/georgia/gandce/1:2008cv01425/150651/124/1.html">Archived</a> from the original on 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2019-04-23. <q>[…] SPACEMAKER and TERMULATOR, commodity software for IBM PC (<a href="PC_DOS" class="mw-redirect" title="PC DOS">PC DOS</a> file compression utility and <a href="VT-100" class="mw-redirect" title="VT-100">VT-100</a> emulator), being marketed by Realia, Inc. <a href="Robert_Berriedale_Keith_Dewar" class="mw-redirect" title="Robert Berriedale Keith Dewar">R.B.K. Dewar</a> (1982–1983), 8088 assembly language, 8,000 lines […]</q></cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Realia_1983-3"><a href="#cite_ref-Realia_1983_3-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFRealia,_Inc.1983" class="citation journal cs1">Realia, Inc. (January 1983). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=vy3cBZkjbZgC&pg=RA3-PA417">"If you use DOS, you need this program"</a>. <a href="PC_Magazine" class="mw-redirect" title="PC Magazine">PC Magazine</a> (advertisement). 2 (9). <a href="Ziff-Davis_Publishing" class="mw-redirect" title="Ziff-Davis Publishing">Ziff-Davis Publishing</a>: 417. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20190422174428/https://books.google.de/books?id=vy3cBZkjbZgC&pg=RA3-PA417&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q&f=false">Archived</a> from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-04-22.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Dewar_1984-4">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Dewar_1984_4-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Dewar_1984_4-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFDewar1984" class="citation web cs1"><a href="Robert_Berriedale_Keith_Dewar" class="mw-redirect" title="Robert Berriedale Keith Dewar">Dewar, Robert Berriedale Keith</a> (1984-03-13). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://people.dsv.su.se/~jpalme/qzkom/ibmpc-8605-000511.html">"DOS 3.1 ASMB (Another Silly Microsoft Bug)"</a>. info-ibmpc@USC-ISIB.ARPA. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180501183936/https://people.dsv.su.se/~jpalme/qzkom/ibmpc-8605-000511.html">Archived</a> from the original on 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2019-04-23. <q>[…] The /E option of the linker should generate an EXE file which is logically equivalent to the uncompressed EXE file. The current version […] results in AX being clobbered. AX on entry to an EXE file has a definite meaning (it indicates drive validity for the parameters), thus it should be passed through to the uncompressed image. Given this one very obvious violation of the interface rules, there may be others, I have not bothered to investigate further […] I did write the Realia SpaceMaker program which does a similar sort of thing to the EXEPACK option (but needless to say does not have this particular […]</q></cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Paul_2002_EXEPACK-5">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Paul_2002_EXEPACK_5-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Paul_2002_EXEPACK_5-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFPaul2002" class="citation newsgroup cs1">Paul, Matthias R. (2002-10-07) [2000]. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.lang.asm/PNOd9zfYow0/vXbab16j4XwJ">"Re: masm .com (PSP) related trouble"</a>. <a href="Usenet_newsgroup" title="Usenet newsgroup">Newsgroup</a>: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="news:alt.lang.asm">alt.lang.asm</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20170903231100/https://groups.google.com/forum/%23!msg/alt.lang.asm/PNOd9zfYow0/vXbab16j4XwJ">Archived</a> from the original on 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2017-09-03.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-Necasek_2018_SM-6"><a href="#cite_ref-Necasek_2018_SM_6-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFNecasek2018" class="citation web cs1">Necasek, Michal (2018-04-30). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.os2museum.com/wp/realia-spacemaker/">"Realia SpaceMaker"</a>. OS/2 Museum. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190127131634/http://www.os2museum.com/wp/realia-spacemaker/">Archived</a> from the original on 2019-01-27. Retrieved 2019-02-22.</cite>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Parsons_2019_NU-7"><a href="#cite_ref-Parsons_2019_NU_7-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFParsons2019" class="citation web cs1">Parsons, Jeff (2019-01-10). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pcjs.org/blog/2019/01/10/">"An Update on Early Norton Utilities"</a>. PCjs. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190129213010/https://www.pcjs.org/blog/2019/01/10/">Archived</a> from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-02-22.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-Necasek_2019_NU-8"><a href="#cite_ref-Necasek_2019_NU_8-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFNecasek2019" class="citation web cs1">Necasek, Michal (2019-01-12). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.os2museum.com/wp/yep-norton-did-it/">"Yep, Norton Did It"</a>. OS/2 Museum. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190422073356/http://www.os2museum.com/wp/yep-norton-did-it/">Archived</a> from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-04-22.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-Necasek_2018_EXEPACK-9">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Necasek_2018_EXEPACK_9-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Necasek_2018_EXEPACK_9-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFNecasek2018" class="citation web cs1">Necasek, Michal (2018-03-23). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.os2museum.com/wp/exepack-and-the-a20-gate/">"EXEPACK and the A20-Gate"</a>. OS/2 Museum. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181113170124/http://www.os2museum.com/wp/exepack-and-the-a20-gate/">Archived</a> from the original on 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2019-04-20.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-Miles-Nather_1986-10"><a href="#cite_ref-Miles-Nather_1986_10-0">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFMilesNather1986" class="citation web cs1">Miles, Ya'akov; Nather, Ed (1986-05-17) [1986-02-05, 1986-02-09]. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://people.dsv.su.se/~jpalme/qzkom/ibmpc-8605-000511.html">"Undocumented Microsoft LINK option: /E"</a>. INFO-IBMPC mailing list. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180501183936/https://people.dsv.su.se/~jpalme/qzkom/ibmpc-8605-000511.html">Archived</a> from the original on 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2019-04-26. <q>[Miles:] There exists an undocumented […] switch to <a href="Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a> LINK.EXE […], which will cause an automatic compaction during binding. This process will eliminate storage for uninitialized arrays from the .EXE file produced by the linker […] To use this feature, specify the /E option to the command line […] [Nather:] The option does not exist in MS Link versions 3.00 and 3.01 [Miles:] By comparing the sizes of the (packed) files generated from LINK ver 3.02 and the /E option with the size of the .EXE file manually packed with […] EXEPACK, I have come to the conclusion that LINK ver 3.02 option /E generates EXACTLY the same size file as manually running EXEPACK on a regular .EXE file output by LINK […]</q></cite>

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