Alternatives

There are quite a few Java class file shrinkers 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. Note that many programs, even commercial ones, have been abandoned. Please drop me a note if you know of any other shrinkers or obfuscators, or if some information provided below is incorrect.

Author/Company Program Shrinking Obfuscation License
Eric Lafortune ProGuard x x Free (GPL)
Jochen Hoenicke Jode x x Free (GPL)
Hidetoshi Ohuchi Jarg x x Free (BSD)
NQ4 Joga x x Free (no source)
Alexander Shvets CafeBabe x x Free
Nate Nystrom Bloat x
Free
RiggsHill Software GenJar x
Free (Apache)
RetroLogic RetroGuard
x Free (LGPL)
Thorsten Heit JavaGuard
x Free (LGPL)
Patrick Mueller Mwobfu
x Free (GPL)
Bajie JCMP
x Free
yWorks yGuard
x Free
Dr. Java Marvin Obfuscator
x Free (no source)
IBM AlphaWorks JAX x x Commercial
PreEmptive DashOPro x x Commercial
Zelix KlassMaster x x Commercial
S5 Systems jPresto x x Commercial
CodingArt CodeShield x x Commercial
Plumb Design Condensity 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
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 (disappeared?)
Eron Jokipii Jobe
x (disappeared?)
JRC DeCaf
x (disappeared?)
4th Pass SourceGuard x x Commercial (discontinued?)
HashJava HashJava
x Commercial (disappeared?)

All trademarks are property of their respective holders.


Copyright © 2002-2003 Eric Lafortune.