[Freedos-user] UPX or not UPX FreeDOS programs/TSRs?
Hi all more experienced, I'm trying to revise and update dosemu-freedos package (subset of FreeDOS stuff used in DOSEMU usual installation) and I'm not sure, what is better - whether packaged programs by UPX or not. Actual dosemu-freedos-1.0-bin.tgz contains 40+ binaries, roughly half of them is packed with UPX - generally as FreeDOS program maintainers did. And I'm not sure, what is optimal, use UPX or not. On some binaries it cause significant space reduction - e.g. 'display.exe' 0.13b has 62535 Byte, and UPXed has only 3651 Byte. On other hand - at current disks sizes few (dozen or hundred) kB is nothing, and UPX packaging has perhaps its own disadvantages - and maybe especially with TSRs (as 'display.exe' is) this may lead to memory fragmentation(?). Thus, what is Your opinion on the use of UPX? Thanks, Franta Hanzlik -- Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. Get unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform available. Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free. http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] UPX or not UPX FreeDOS programs/TSRs?
Frantisek Hanzlik schreef op 4-5-2014 11:17: Hi all more experienced, I'm trying to revise and update dosemu-freedos package (subset of FreeDOS stuff used in DOSEMU usual installation) and I'm not sure, what is better - whether packaged programs by UPX or not. Actual dosemu-freedos-1.0-bin.tgz contains 40+ binaries, roughly half of them is packed with UPX - generally as FreeDOS program maintainers did. And I'm not sure, what is optimal, use UPX or not. On some binaries it cause significant space reduction - e.g. 'display.exe' 0.13b has 62535 Byte, and UPXed has only 3651 Byte. On other hand - at current disks sizes few (dozen or hundred) kB is nothing, and UPX packaging has perhaps its own disadvantages - and maybe especially with TSRs (as 'display.exe' is) this may lead to memory fragmentation(?). Thus, what is Your opinion on the use of UPX? Thanks, Franta Hanzlik Runtime programs are usually safe to compress, drivers/TSRs can be tricky as you already indicate, which is a great reason not to compress DISPLAY program. I'd leave it as is right now (unless you're working with some very space-limited bootdisk or so, where every file is essential and any issues will show up very fast because of that exact reason). Bernd -- Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. Get unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform available. Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free. http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] UPX or not UPX FreeDOS programs/TSRs?
Hi, On Sun, May 4, 2014 at 4:17 AM, Frantisek Hanzlik fra...@hanzlici.cz wrote: Thus, what is Your opinion on the use of UPX? I think it's good and works well. Sure, if you don't have any local restrictions (bandwidth limits, mail attachment limits, slow upload time, limited disk size, or similar), it may not matter as much to you personally. But overall it's still a useful tool. The obvious answer is to make sure, before distributing anything, that it still works once packed. Then, try to make sure it will unpack correctly (and still function, even if not always byte-exact). There are always going to be corner cases, but mostly that isn't worth worrying about, AFAIK. Though you could also argue that the real solution is to not need to compress in the first place. But that is a much harder, more time-consuming dilemma (regarding compilers, linkers, libraries, etc). -- Accelerate Dev Cycles with Automated Cross-Browser Testing - For FREE Instantly run your Selenium tests across 300+ browser/OS combos. Get unparalleled scalability from the best Selenium testing platform available. Simple to use. Nothing to install. Get started now for free. http://p.sf.net/sfu/SauceLabs ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
Re: [Freedos-user] UPX or not UPX FreeDOS programs/TSRs?
At least for the programs I write (mostly TSR's), there is additional functionality provided if the executable is not compressed. Specifically, if you TYPE the executable program file (e.g., TYPE FileName.com), you will see some usable information displayed on the screen. For TSR's, this is limited to the program's author and version; for non-TSR's, it is the help screen (the same thing you would see with a FileName /?). I don't ever release my programs in compressed form for this reason, even though it may not be used by very many people. In almost all programs, especially ones with sparse/missing documentation, scanning through the executable file for text strings can reveal all kinds of interesting things. That can't be done if the file is compressed. -- Is your legacy SCM system holding you back? Join Perforce May 7 to find out: #149; 3 signs your SCM is hindering your productivity #149; Requirements for releasing software faster #149; Expert tips and advice for migrating your SCM now http://p.sf.net/sfu/perforce ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
