CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javaloggingobfuscationproguard
Thinhbk
Thinhbk

Reputation: 2214

Log message after obfuscating

I had a java-based product and obfuscated it before releasing, but there are log messages at each method. I understand that the log message may be used to track down the code and use reverse-engineering to reverse the code, but it's useful to track down the error in case something wrong happens.

My question is: Should I keep the log message after obfuscating? If not, is there any other way to track down the error in case something happens wrongly?

Upvotes: 2

Views: 2529

Answers (1)

Jim Garrison
Jim Garrison

Reputation: 86774

I suggest you change your mind-set. If you obfuscate the code, you will prevent a casual "reverse engineer" from understanding it. However, you will probably have little effect on someone who's determined to decipher the code, and you will make your own job much harder when it's time to reproduce a subtle bug using only a field report.

I suggest you do some experiments to evaluate the extra cost of debugging and maintenance (and customer irritation when you can't quickly resolve a problem) vs the value of the intellectual property, the likelihood anybody will actually want to reverse engineer it, and the cost you will incur if someone does reverse engineer parts of your system.

Upvotes: 2

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