[comp.sys.amiga] Smaller executables, after the fact.

bryce@COGSCI.BERKELEY.EDU (Bryce Nesbitt) (05/19/87)

[eat me]

Many executable files for the Amiga contain a bunch of loader-ignored junk
that is not needed for the program to operate.	This includes empty HUNKS
added by ALINK and symbol HUNKS that bind the symbolic names used in the
source code into the executable file.  These symbol hunks are useful for
debugging a program, but are not needed by the end user.

A program called "Stripa" is provided on the developer's disk to remove
this extra information.  "Stripa", however, is a bit too effective;
Programs processed by it often will not work.


"BLINK", the shareware linker and "ALINK" replacement is the reliable way to
do the stripping:

BLINK <fromfile> TO RAM:TEST NODEBUG

The savings range from nothing to significant.  Here are two examples:

WACK from the Gamma 1 toolkit:	78996 to 40332
CLOCK from the V1.2 workbench:	17448 to 16800


Before you ask; BLINK is available on at least one of the FISH disks, many
BBS systems and from The Software Distillery, 235 Trillingham Lane, Cary
NC  27511 USA - BBS: 919-471-6436

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 {o O} .  bryce@cogsci.berkeley.EDU      seismo!ucbvax!cogsci!bryce
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