What is ProGuard file in Android?

Proguard is free Java class file shrinker, optimizer, obfuscator, and preverifier. It detects and removes unused classes, fields, methods, and attributes. Mobile app development companies use proguard in android , it optimizes bytecode and removes unused instructions.

How do you do obfuscation on Android?

How To Obfuscate In Android With ProGuard

  1. Configure your gradlefile. In your app/build.gradle file, set minifyEnabled to true, see snippet below: android {
  2. Use Android default Proguard rules or create your own.
  3. Edit your proguard-rules.pro.
  4. Release your app and test.
  5. Check if your code is obfuscated.

Where is ProGuard Android optimize txt?

The getDefaultProguardFile() refers default file “proguard-android. txt” which gets from the Android SDK tools/proguard/ folder. You can also use “proguard-android-optimize. txt” file for more code shrinking located on the same folder.

Where is ProGuard config file?

R8 configuration files

Source Location
Android Studio /proguard-rules.pro
Android Gradle plugin Generated by the Android Gradle plugin at compile time.
Library dependencies AAR libraries: /proguard.txt JAR libraries: /META-INF/proguard/

Is ProGuard worth?

I would recommend ProGuard. Even without obfuscation (which can significantly shorten the names used in the constant pool) it can remove “dead code” (unused methods) of used libraries, etc. (It can also be used to conveniently merge everything together). It takes a little bit of fiddling to “get correct”, esp.

How to use ProGuard to reduce APK size in Android?

Proguard will obfuscate your code and rename your code. In this process, it will rename your files of different java classes. This will make your app more secure and difficult to reverse engineer. It will remove unused code snippets inside your code and optimize your code. Using proguard will reduce your app size by 8.5 %.

Are there any useful rules for Android ProGuard?

Android’s default ProGuard files (you should always include them, they have some really useful rules) already contain a rule for methods that are implemented on the native side ( -keepclasseswithmembernames class * { native ; } ). Unfortunately there is no catch-all way to keep code invoked in the opposite direction: from JNI into Java.

How do I enable ProGuard in my Gradle app?

To enable proguard inside your app, navigate to the app > gradle Scripts > Open build.gradle file. Inside that gradle file you will get to see below lines of code in your file inside the release section. Change minifyEnabled from false to true. This will activate your proguard with the proguard file.

Can you use ProGuard in Xamarin.Android app?

ProGuard can be used too in Xamarin.Android apps, and also will reduce the APK file size and obfuscate the Java code. Be aware, however, that the ProGuard obfuscation applies only to Java code. To obfuscate .NET code, the developer should use Dotfuscator or similar tools.