Java - Decompile (JD-GUI) and Obfuscate (Proguard) Exploration

Part 1. The Simple GUI App

• Start with a really simple Java GUI application
• Create a JAR - basic editor and command line commands !
• No Maven, no Gradle, no Netbeans, no Eclipse, etc so we can explore the commands and see what's going on.

Part 2. Compiling the App / creating a JAR

Part 3. Decompiling the original compiled code (JAR) using JD-GUI

• Decompile it and compare using JD-GUI
• JD-GUI: https://github.com/java-decompiler/jd-gui

Part 4. Obfuscating the compiled code (JAR) using Proguard

• Obfuscate the compiled code with Proguard
• Proguard: http://proguard.sourceforge.net/

Part 5. Decompiling the original JAR and the obfuscated JAR and comparing the results using JD-GUI

• Decompile the obfuscate build and compare using JD-GUI

6. Why obfuscate ?

• Why bother protecting YOUR hard work ?

Future Topics ???

• Barely scratched the surface ? Want me to go deeper ?
• Other decompilers ? Other Obfuscaters ?
• Loading resources (icons, html help, sounds, graphics, etc) from inside the JAR file ?
• Additional classes ?
• More complex examples ?
• Deeper exploration of the results, the settings, etc ?
• Yes ?? Well you know what to do ... Hint: watch the end of the video ! :)

My Github where you can find the source code:

• https://github.com/MooseValley/Java-Decompile-JD-GUI-and-Obfuscate-Proguard-Exploration

My Java Software Development YouTube channel:

• http://tinyurl.com/MikesJavaVideos

My web page:

• Moose's Software Valley - Established July, 1996. https://rebrand.ly/MoosesSoftware ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O475IrD6mCk