Crinkler vs Obsidium

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.

Obsidium protects 32-bit and 64-bit Windows software and games against reverse engineering, unauthorized modification, and redistribution while adding licensing controls. It handles native EXE, DLL, and SCR files plus .NET Framework 4.x executables, supporting Windows XP through Windows 11. Selected native code can be converted into bytecode for a virtual CPU. Licensing uses RSA or elliptic-curve cryptography, with expiration dates, hardware locking, and code encryption tied to licenses. Time trials can end on a date, after days or executions, or after specified application actions. Security tools include integrity checks, encrypted data files, anti-disassembly and anti-debugging measures, and license-key blacklisting. An SDK provides examples for C/C++, Delphi, Rust, C#, Visual Basic, PureBasic, and other languages. A key-generation library is available as a Windows DLL and Linux CGI. Network Licensing distributes floating licenses through a local corporate-network service. Obsidium is paid, has no free plan, and offers a free trial.