Pack exe using UPX

[Holger Flick 12]

I recently read on the internet that UPX is not recommended to be used with Delphi VCL applications. I never had any issues, but I am also open to better alternatives. 

 

Is there a better, free alternative?

[dummzeuch 1387]

Which problem are you trying to solve? We have quite a few rather large executables, but that never posed a problem.

[Andrea Raimondi 13]

I am very surprised by this question.

The biggest problem that UPX has is that Windows is blind-sided and memory management for the application at system level becomes a mess.

The same is true for all other packers, including stuff such as Ice Licence (is that still around!?). 

 

I have never used that stuff, never felt a need for it.

[Uwe Raabe 1879]

Good reading on this subject: Are there any downsides to using UPX to compress a Windows executable?

[Arnaud Bouchez 380]

1. It uses less disk, but more memory than a plain exe.

2. I have observed is that the combination of Delphi exe  + UPX is often falsely detected as a potential virus threat by some antiviruses.

 

For me, point 2 is a showstopper, since it is frightening for your users.
 

[David Heffernan 2291]

So far as I can see, EXE packers bring cons but no pros. They are simply tools for making your program worse.