Alternatives

There are quite a few Java class file shrinkers, optimizers, and obfuscators out there. Users of ProGuard tell me it compares with the best of them. However, you may want to check that out yourself.

This is a list of the programs of which I'm aware. Obviously, I've never personally tested all of them. Many programs, even commercial ones, have been abandoned. Please drop me a note if you know of any other shrinkers, optimizers, or obfuscators, or if some information provided below is incorrect.

Author/Company Program Shrinking Optimization Obfuscation License
Eric Lafortune ProGuard x x x Free (GPL)
Jochen Hoenicke Jode x x x Free (GPL)
NQ4 Joga x x x Free (no source)
Hidetoshi Ohuchi Jarg x
x Free (BSD)
Alexander Shvets CafeBabe x
x Free
Nate Nystrom Bloat x x
Free
Christian Grothoff Jamit x

Free (GPL)
RiggsHill Software GenJar x

Free (Apache)
Sable Soot
x
Free (LGPL)
Bajie JCMP
x x Free
RetroLogic RetroGuard

x Free (LGPL)
Thorsten Heit JavaGuard

x Free (LGPL)
Patrick Mueller Mwobfu

x Free (GPL)
yWorks yGuard

x Free
Dr. Java Marvin Obfuscator

x Free (no source)
IBM AlphaWorks JAX x x x Commercial
PreEmptive DashOPro x x x Commercial
Zelix KlassMaster x x x Commercial
S5 Systems jPresto x x x Commercial
CodingArt CodeShield x
x Commercial
Eastridge Technology Jshrink x
x Commercial
Helseth JObfuscator x
x Commercial
LeeSoftware Smokescreen Obfuscator x
x Commercial
Vega Technologies JZipper x
x Commercial
Sergey Sverdlov J.Class Optimizer x x
Commercial
U. of Arizona SandMark
x x Commercial
Force 5 JCloak

x Commercial
WingSoft WingGuard

x Commercial
JAMM Consulting ObfuscatePro

x Commercial
2LKit 2LKit Obfuscator

x Commercial
Duckware Jobfuscate

x Commercial
JProof JProof

x Commercial
4Fang JMix

x Commercial
GITS Blurfuscator

x Commercial
JDevelop JSCO

x Commercial
Alain Moran flmObf

x Free (BSD)
Vasile Calmatui VasObfuLite

x Free
Markus Jansen Jopt x x x (disappeared?)
Eron Jokipii Jobe

x (disappeared?)
JRC DeCaf

x (disappeared?)
Plumb Design Condensity x
x Commercial (discontinued)
4th Pass SourceGuard x
x Commercial (discontinued?)
HashJava HashJava

x Commercial (disappeared?)

All trademarks are property of their respective holders.


Copyright © 2002-2004 Eric Lafortune.