Alternatives

There are quite a few Java class file shrinkers and obfuscators out there. I think ProGuard compares with the best of them. It even has some unique points in its favor. However, you may want to check that out yourself.

This is a list of the programs of which I am aware. Obviously, I've never personally tested all of them. Note that some 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)
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)
yWorks yGuard
x Free
Dr. Java Marvin Obfuscator
x Free (no source)
IBM AlphaWorks JAX x x Commercial
PreEmptive DashOPro 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
Zelix KlassMaster
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
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 Eric Lafortune.