Larger size with Mingw

[sudip]

Hello All,

I found that apps created with Mingw compiler are of larger size than apps created with BCC 5.5.1.
I noticed this first with another GUI library of Harbour (gtwvg) and again confirmed this with Minigui (testing same code with official and extended version).

Is there any switch with Mingw compiler to decrease the size of executable files?

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not comparing any software tool with another. I want to know the fact as a student of computer software

Thanks in advance.

With best regards.

Sudip

[Rathinagiri]

Sudip,

Had you included any resource files especially bitmaps?

May I know the difference between the sizes of hello world.prg with GUI and without GUI?

[sudip]

Hello Rathi,

Thanks a lot for your reply

I tested "hello world" sample with both HMG 3.0.0 and Minigui Ext 1.7 (build 77)

For HMG Official size is 1,893 kb
For HMG Ext size is 1,192 kb

I didn't test without gui.

Again one more thing I have noticed - BCC 5.5.1 is a (very ) old version comparing Mingw compiler. About 9 years old

With best regards.

Sudip

[Rathinagiri]

Sorry Sudip,

I want to know the zipped sizes of both the executables too.

[sudip]

Hello Rathi,

I used upx.exe to compress both files (Hello World example)

HMG 3.0.0 Official - 878 kb
HMG Ext 1.7 (Build 77) - 439 kb

Then I used 7-zip to compress both exe files into .zip format.

HMG 3.0.0 Official - 636 kb
HMG Ext 1.7 (Build 77) - 431 kb


IMHO, as BCC 5.1.1 is a very old version (2000 ?) and MingW is a current version (2009), MingW creates a bigger executable files (may be it has more options for newer O/S s)

Again, I have deep respect and love for both versions I am only a very basic learner of HMG. So please don't mind about my ignorance

With best regards.

Sudip

[mol]

I've noticed that apps created by hmg 3.0 grown in comparison with hmg 294.

[sudip]

Hello Marek,

You are correct, HMG 3.0.0 compiled exe files are of greater size than that of HMG 2.9.5.

Again, I also noticed increase of speed. I am not a very experienced user, but I also feel HMG 3.0.0 compiled apps are very robust.

With best regards.

Sudip

[Roberto Lopez]

<...>
Again, I have deep respect and love for both versions I am only a very basic learner of HMG. So please don't mind about my ignorance

Please, feel free to express any opinion .

My thinking is (and always was) that HMG is not better or worst than any other thing.

It is simply an alternative to other development tools.

[sudip]

Hello Master Roberto,

Thanks a lot for understanding me

I have very little knowledge of C. I can only "try" to understand C programs. I started this topic, because I am searching for some switches of Mingw which can decrease size of .exe files (other than compressing with upx).

I came to know this first with using xMate and gtwvg library. Where as per advice of Pritpal Bedi, I was able to decrease the size of .exe file and compiling time using Mingw.

BCC is a very fast compiler and produced .exe file size is very small, but again it's an older product. And I heard that latest version of BCC it not a "freeware" (again please correct me if I am wrong).

I hope, one day our HMG will be ported with other operating systems also (eg., Linux, Unix), in that case Mingw compiler (as an open source software) will play a great role.

IMHO, efficiency and robustness of a software don't need smaller size. But, smaller size is preferable (especially in my case) when we transfer our software thru net to our clients.

It is simply an alternative to other development tools.

HMG it not a "only" an alternative to other development tools to me. Because I am investing my time and energy for software development with it (yesterday I got another project, which will be developed with it). I strongly believe it's my future

Thank you again for this open discussion

With best regards.

Sudip

[Roberto Lopez]

BCC is a very fast compiler and produced .exe file size is very small, but again it's an older product. And I heard that latest version of BCC it not a "freeware" (again please correct me if I am wrong).

I'm not using BCC since 2005. I haven't any info about it, but AFAIK, it is owned by a private company and it is closed source, so, anything is possible...

IMHO, efficiency and robustness of a software don't need smaller size.

I agree.

But, smaller size is preferable (especially in my case) when we transfer our software thru net to our clients.

Ok.

As many other times, your topics generate changes in HMG

MingW comes with an utility called 'strip.exe' (not in HMG dtribution at present time).

I've attached to this message.

Please, use: strip.exe yourapp.exe.

It should solve your problems.

I'll include it and do by default from the next test release.

Thanks.