Re: Obfuscation - optimisation?

[Andrew Haley <aph at redhat dot com>]

Martin Egholm Nielsen writes:
 > Hi there,
 > 
 > >>>> When using classes one can use obfuscation/optimisation tools
 > >>>> on class-files (e.g. progaurd) in order to reduce footprint,
 > >> But that is then the way to go - obfuscation on class-basis and
 > >> then straight ahead?!
 > > Well, what do you want to achieve?  All that "obfuscation" would do
 > > in the gcj context is break debugging.
 > Well, it would make all classes significant smaller - at least it does 
 > in the class-file situation. All the niceAndDescriptiveMethodName() 
 > methods and fields will have their names decimated into something that 
 > does not take up so much space.
 > Hence, the final program will have a smaller footprint when fitting it 
 > into an embedded device with not that much flash.

Ah, now I understand.  Embedded devices, presumably not using virtual
memory.  On a machine that does use virtual memory using such a system
would make no sense at all, but if you want to squeeze such stuff into
flash it might.  

Mind you, in that case you might as well compress the data on the
flash device.  Unless you want XIP, of course.

Andrew.