We should probably use upx to package executable in torrenting space (Discussion)

upx.github.io

UPX: the Ultimate Packer for eXecutables - Homepage

UPX is open source and works on linux , windows and mac (ie. cross platform) I would like to know why the torrenting space isn't using it already / having a mature discussion about it.

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Pack what executables exactly?
Like take a copy of Nodobe Notoshop and repack it?
If that's what you mean, uh, politely, but fuck no. Malware is enough of a problem that there's no way I'd want to start downloading crap that's been UPXed since that's going to make it impossible to determine if it's legitimate or not by (most) endpoint tools, or they'll just see UPX and go 'bad shit!' on everything.
- What do you actually mean?
  Do you scan for torrents using some endpoint tools ?
  
  Sorry, I meant antivirus. (Corpo IT calls it endpoint, since it's, well, the endpoint.)
Maybe present what it's for and why you think it should be used? To me, you just proposed a random tool and just shared a link. Sorry dude, I ain't reading all that.
Anti Commercial-AI license
- Okay I have edited it to give more of my side. And not sure why you linked Anti Commercial AI license , I am not a bot .
  
  It's the digital equivalent of those sovereign citizens who think the people in charge give a fuck what they think. It makes them feel better.
  
  It's a licensing statement. Their post is CC-licensed.
- Okay agreed.
The executable being packed in an executable format means it has to be decompressed on each launch. If it doesn't it means it's not saving any space anyway.
I don't know what packing you're looking for, but Windows applications are typically installed with installers. An executable compressed executable goes against this; unless you want to pack installers.
Traditional file compression works well enough. People know to launch an msi or exe or read a README. Introducing non-standard tools is not necessarily a good idea, and certainly is not intuitive to users not already familiar with it.
- Traditional file compression doesn't work that well as compared to upx. Upx supports as much as 500 mb/s on any reasonable device (this is very comparable to https://github.com/mhx/dwarfs) , which is honestly insane.
What advantage does it have over existing methods? It's great that it's cross-platform, but so are zip files. And the content inside isn't cross-platform, so I don't think that ultimately adds anything.
- I mean , I use linux but I can use wine to run the content inside , so in some sense "every content" is cross platform. I think it ultimately adds to better performance specifically for executable torrents in the long run over things like zip.
  
  In what way?
We should use tiny spoons to drink water in communal spaces!
Have you ever used upx on a windows machine, defender throws fits and deletes everything.
- What advantage does it have over existing methods? It’s great that it’s cross-platform, but so are zip files. And the content inside isn’t cross-platform, so I don’t think that ultimately adds anything.
  https://github.com/upx/upx/issues/437
  It states that the more people use and report upx as non antivirus to windows , the better detection rate occurs. This software is open source y'all. Not sure why you all have got your pitchforks
  heres https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/e61c808be19688dacff19d9439563410067e6eb72a9cc8afdb2644a785d056b1 , upx virustotal link.
Is it faster than 7z or have better ratios?
- yes I think it does indeed have better ratio than 7z with better speed , I think without the need of extraction.

25 comments