PortableApps.com AppCompactor 1.0 has been released. It allows you to easily compress applications to decrease size on disk and increase performance when running from slow media like flash drives without affecting functionality. Though intended for developers, some advanced end users may also find it useful. It's packaged as a portable app, so you can shrink your apps on the go. It's packaged in PortableApps.com Format so it can easily integrate with the PortableApps.com Suite. And it's open source and completely free.
Features
PortableApps.com AppCompactor allows you to easily compress application to decrease size on disk and increase performance when running from a slow media (like flash drives). It packages UPX and 7-Zip within an easy to use wizard allowing you to easily compress an app's EXEs, DLLs and other binaries using UPX in either NRV2E, NRV2D, LZMA or BRUTE mode as well as recompressing ZIP and JAR files to their maximum level using 7-Zip. It also has an option to DECOMPRESS an app's binary files that were previously compressed with UPX. Just select the directory and all the DLL, EXE, ZIP, JAR, IRC, PYD and BIN files within that directory will be compressed. Depending on the files, the PortableApps.com AppCompactor can decrease an app's size by 50% or more without affecting functionality. This same tool has been used on PortableApps.com's most popular apps including OpenOffice.org Portable, Pidgin Portable, GIMP Portable and more.
PortableApps.com Installer / PortableApps.com Format
PortableApps.com AppCompactor is packaged in a PortableApps.com Installer so it will automatically detect an existing PortableApps.com installation when your drive is plugged in. It supports upgrades by installing right over an existing copy, preserving all settings. And it's in PortableApps.com Format, so it automatically works with the PortableApps.com Suite including the Menu and Backup Utility.
Download
PortableApps.com AppCompactor is available for immediate download from the PortableApps.com AppCompactor homepage. Get it today!
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Comments
Re-Release
After SourceForge.net's release system maintenance interfered with the release earlier today, we're now re-releasing this. Downloads should work for everyone now.
They do..
Thanx for the release...
Download is working fine
Download is working fine
Destroyed...
This App destroyed almost all of the apps I compressed. I compressed ClamWin Portable, Firefox Portable, Thunderbird Portale, FileZilla Portable and VLC Portable. All of the Apps are now destroyed exept VLC and Thunderbird. I really think this App needs improvement! I am kind of frustrated now because now I can sit myself in front of the computer and install all of the destroyed portable apps again. Actually it's not a problem if it just wouldn't be that now I also have to install all the extensions for Firefox Portable again!
But ok... I can't do anything against it now...
I really think this app is a awsom thing and especially on Thunderbird it made it faster and even a lot smaller! The bad thing about it is that it destoys most of my apps!
landchri
Please Read First
If you'd read the instructions that are on the homepage and the app itself you'll see that it states NOT to compress the launchers (like FirefoxPortable.exe and ClamWinPortable.exe) since it will break them. It's supposed to be used on directories like X:\PortableApps\FirefoxPortable\App\, NOT on directories like X:\PortableApps\FirefoxPortable). Most of our apps are already compressed with this tool (FileZilla, VLC, ClamWin, OpenOffice.org, etc) so there is no need to run it on our apps. This tool is for developers and advanced users and requires reading through the instructions before use. It says right on the first page of the app to be sure to back up your files before use.
If you have additional issues, please post them to the forums and not as comments on a news story.
backup
hay, you should make a backup from time to time. You can do that with the PortableApps.com menu's built-in app.
Sorry...
Ok... Sorry... I really should start reading the Manuals!
And good idea: I totally forgot that I actually have a Backup! Thank you...
Regards,
landchri
Hmm, i don't know about this app
First off, PortableApps are wonderful IF and ONLY IF they should be portable. Take for example "ClamWin" or "GnuCash". You can only install them if you run the installer (which I hate because they modify the registry). Installers are great to simplify the installation process (i.e installing a codec or a system driver). When you write a wrapper around UPX, that's really pushing it (in my opinion). UPX has only a few command line options anyways, so why come up with a wrapper that only works on directories, and to to top it off, the cmd window shows up when you run UPX. I think this app does not deserve to be portable. Sorry for the opinion.
Developers
Remember, this is primarily targeted at developers. *WE* use this on apps like ClamWin Portable, GnuCash Portable and all the other apps you enjoy. This is how we compress them. I know I wouldn't want to go through the 3,000+ files in GnuCash and UPX them one at a time. It also rezips the JARs and ZIP files in apps that have them. It's this tool that lets us cut GIMP Portable from 36MB to 19MB and ClamWin Portable from 15.5MB to 8.3MB.
The purpose of this portable app is to get one step closer to being able to easily do all your portable development within the PortableApps.com Platform. It just happens that it's also handy for advanced users to be able to compress their own apps they're using but can't redistribute for licensing reasons, etc.
Discussion Moved
The additional discussion around UPX performance has been moved to the forums:
https://portableapps.com/node/16385
Great App
It makes everything use up a lot less space. I used it on a typing tutor program I just got from cnet and now it just made the space the program uses from 8mb to only 5.4mb. Great job!
Not happy
mmmm, at first I tough -great, I'll compact everything un my USB- but then I realize it wasn't applied for *.exe and similar files, no problem, but then, at my USB, looking at my portable apps, the majority of the parts were *.exe and related (specially GNU cash) so I cannot find a real use for this app, specially if the author forgot something: the program itself should be able to differentiate which files can compact or which ones can not, instead of us (humans).
best wishes
Please ReRead
If you read the announcement and the homepage, you'll see that we already use this for all our apps (except Mozilla apps) so there is no need to use it on GnuCash (it won't do anything a 2nd time). This tool is for developers making their own apps and advanced users trying to use non-PortableApps.com apps portably.
of course I've read it, but
of course I've read it, but also I wanted to do that ... caprice
Love this app
Originally did a full-install of Winamp to my stick and made it portable. After I deleted extraneous files, plug-ins and skins I'm not using I ran AppCompactor and turned a 25.5M app down to 6.1M for my portable version. Thanks John and the other developers here for all the great work you're all doing. Keep making more and I'll keep crunching LOL.
source posted
I've posted the source to my AppCompactor "file walking procedure" (actually, the whole app) at:
http://drop.io/pappsmirror
Thought someone might find it useful. -hea
P.S. Don't forget about the advantages of
ExecDos::execovernsExec::Exec....where is does it output the packed file
i just tried this app and just have one question :
where is does it output the packed file ?
in place
it compacts all the files in place. it's not for making a zip (see 7-Zip Portable) or an installer (see PortableApps.com Installer in the Development section)
thankx got it
thankx got it
Doesn't Work!
I tried to compact my Portable Apps and NONE of them worked after that! I had to copy them all from my backup!
Read
If you read the instructions on the homepage you'll see that the apps release are already compressed. And that you can't compress the launchers (ex: FirefoxPortable.exe) or it breaks them, which is what you did.
you seem to be a patience guy
you seem to be a patience guy ... jajaja ... vales un perú