upx

UPX (Ultimate Packer for eXecutables) is a command line tool designed for compressing and decompressing executable files in various formats. It is widely used to reduce the size of executable files without affecting their functionality. UPX supports a variety of executable formats including Windows PE, Linux ELF, macOS Mach-O, and several others.

The tool implements compression algorithms such as LZMA and BZIP2 to achieve efficient compression ratios. It can significantly shrink the size of executable files, making them quicker to download and reducing the disk space they occupy.

UPX is an open-source tool written in C and assembly language. It is available for multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD, which makes it versatile and widely accessible.

With UPX, developers can compress their executable files prior to distribution, especially when dealing with large applications where file size is a concern. The compressed files retain their original functionality and can be decompressed and executed seamlessly.

The tool is highly customizable and offers various compression options. Users can control the compression level, choose specific algorithms, and even apply additional filters or transformations to optimize the compression process.

UPX also provides a range of additional features, such as the ability to decompress compressed executables and analyze packed files.

Due to its efficiency and popularity, UPX is often bundled with other software development tools and integrated into build and deployment workflows.

UPX has gained a reputation as a reliable and effective executable packer, trusted by developers worldwide for reducing file sizes and optimizing the distribution of their applications.

The command line interface allows for easy integration into scripts and automation processes, making it convenient for developers to incorporate UPX into their workflows.

Overall, UPX is a powerful and widely-used command line tool that offers compression and decompression capabilities for executable files, making it an essential tool for developers aiming to optimize file sizes and distribution efficiency.