AlushPacker vs Crinkler

AlushPacker is a Windows utility for packing native Portable Executable (.exe) files for in-memory execution. Its builder compresses files with LZAV and encrypts them using a custom XTEA implementation. When run, its reflective loader decrypts and decompresses the embedded executable, then loads it from memory without disk I/O or assistance from the Windows loader. The project says packing can make static analysis and reverse engineering with tools such as IDA Pro or Ghidra more difficult. Listed support covers x86 and x64, including native console, GUI, and legacy EXE files. The loader resolves normal and delay-loaded imports by name or ordinal and supports relocations, SEH registration, and TLS callbacks. An optional -l key setting makes the output request a password before execution. The release ZIP contains packer.exe for generating packed executables. The source is available under the MIT License, which permits use, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to its conditions. The project welcomes code improvements, bug reports, and feature suggestions for maintainer review.

Crinkler is a compressing linker for producing very small 32-bit Windows executables, particularly demoscene intros in 1k, 4k, and 8k sizes. It combines linking and compression; the resulting executable decompresses into memory when run. By default, context modelling compresses code, optional text data, and general data as separate parts. Crinkler can replace the Visual Studio linker and supports its basic options, with configuration through project settings. Its data compressor is also available as a separate library for estimating compressed data size. Crinkler is free and distributed under the zlib license, which permits commercial use subject to its conditions. Version 3.0 requires Windows 10 or later and SSE4.2, including for the executables it produces, although those executables can target older Windows versions. Uncompressed input is limited to 64k per part. The manual warns that tiny-header mode can make decompression prohibitively slow for files significantly larger than 1 KB. The project directs users to GitHub Releases for downloads and links a manual for usage and version history.