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Index > Compiler Internals > Size of executing file

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Kermil



Joined: 26 Oct 2005
Posts: 35
Location: Russia
Kermil 26 Oct 2005, 14:14
Forgive me, for mine English

When I compile the project the size of executing file is increased each time on kilobyte, how to reduce the size of a executing file?
Post 26 Oct 2005, 14:14
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Reverend



Joined: 24 Aug 2004
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Reverend 26 Oct 2005, 18:52
Hmm... The more code you have the larger .exe file gets Smile Simple.
But there are some ways to make .exes smaller. Use PE Packer eg. FSG is great and free, but it has two disadvantages: some stupid antivirus programs claim that all programs packed with fsg are viruses; second, if some processors (recent ones) have such protection that code inside a header cannot be executed - and this trick was used in FSG. Other solution is to use (also free) UPX. Google for both and check them
Post 26 Oct 2005, 18:52
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Kermil



Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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Location: Russia
Kermil 27 Oct 2005, 06:41
Thanks, but I wanted to tell absolutely another. When I compile the file, in my exe-file there is a lot of empty space between sections. How to make, that it has disappeared? I used only one section but file, at the same there is a lot of empty space.
Post 27 Oct 2005, 06:41
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vid
Verbosity in development


Joined: 05 Sep 2003
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vid 27 Oct 2005, 08:25
what you meant is section alignment. it's value somwhere in PE file header, which gives minimum size of section, and each section mustb multiply of this number. in theory you could change this number, but i think windows refuses to run EXE with any other than it's (i think it's 512 bytes, not sure). There are some hacks how to make section smaller, but they are quite system-dependant (they maybe won't run on newer windozes etc.). It's really best with bigger EXEs to use some packer
Post 27 Oct 2005, 08:25
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Kermil



Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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Kermil 27 Oct 2005, 08:33
The size of file only 3 kb and UPX does not want to pack this file.
Post 27 Oct 2005, 08:33
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Kermil



Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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Kermil 27 Oct 2005, 08:38
Is opportunity in fasm, that change alignment? The option 'align' does not help. Masm32 give such opportunity.
Post 27 Oct 2005, 08:38
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vid
Verbosity in development


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vid 27 Oct 2005, 09:36
no, because windows wouldn't be able to run such executable anyway
Post 27 Oct 2005, 09:36
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Kermil



Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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Kermil 27 Oct 2005, 09:46
Why? I thought, that alignment is needed only for quickly execution application in Windows.
Post 27 Oct 2005, 09:46
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vid
Verbosity in development


Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Posts: 7105
Location: Slovakia
vid 27 Oct 2005, 10:58
yes, but they, as usual, don't support specification (even thei own). If PE executable has other alignment then they want it won't load. THis is how it ends up with commercial projects - if it works (somehow), thn leave it be
Post 27 Oct 2005, 10:58
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Kermil



Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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Kermil 27 Oct 2005, 11:04
Ok, thx.
Post 27 Oct 2005, 11:04
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Reverend



Joined: 24 Aug 2004
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Reverend 01 Nov 2005, 09:52
1 - upx compresses only files above 5 kb I think
2 - section alignment set by default is the smallest possible Smile you can change it, but only to higher value; but there's one exception for this - drivers, afaik they can have section alignment set to 2
There's also one trick to mention. You can rip all zeroes in the last section.The file will have then some weirdsize, but it will execute normally. Also you can have all data in one section, and so when you rip these zeroes you don't have any unused space
Post 01 Nov 2005, 09:52
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