Xslimmer
Encyclopedia
Xslimmer is an application for Apple's Mac OS X
developed by LateNiteSoft.
The software is a utility to tweak universal binaries
by stripping the binary from either its PowerPC
or Intel
code (depending on the system architecture used). This recovers hard disk space. Purportedly, the recovered space is significant. For example, according to the developers Google Earth
4 shrinks from 101 MB to 52.8 MB (a 47% reduction).
The developer's stated goal of Xslimmer is to achieve size reduction without compromising functionality. As of version 1.2, the option to strip applications of unwanted language files and localizations is added.
Additional features for safe use include a "blacklist" and a custom folder list (populated with key system locations by default). This prevents applications (or the system itself) from becoming unable to work after the size reduction.
With the "App Finder Genie", a user can list all application candidates for size reduction and choose to slim them to recover hard disk space.
(Beta) now has "a solid 5 second launch time vs. the previous 6–8 seconds" on a 2 GHz MacBook
with 2 GB RAM. This was achieved after slimming the binary, restarting the computer, and reopening the application. Other applications may possible benefit from similar speed improvements. However, most of the Adobe Suite CS3 applications are now on the black list.
, French
, and Italian
have been added.
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
developed by LateNiteSoft.
The software is a utility to tweak universal binaries
Universal binary
A universal binary is, in Apple parlance, an executable file or application bundle that runs natively on either PowerPC or Intel-manufactured IA-32 or Intel 64-based Macintosh computers; it is an implementation of the concept more generally known as a fat binary.With the release of Mac OS X Snow...
by stripping the binary from either its PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
or Intel
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
code (depending on the system architecture used). This recovers hard disk space. Purportedly, the recovered space is significant. For example, according to the developers Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
4 shrinks from 101 MB to 52.8 MB (a 47% reduction).
The developer's stated goal of Xslimmer is to achieve size reduction without compromising functionality. As of version 1.2, the option to strip applications of unwanted language files and localizations is added.
Additional features for safe use include a "blacklist" and a custom folder list (populated with key system locations by default). This prevents applications (or the system itself) from becoming unable to work after the size reduction.
With the "App Finder Genie", a user can list all application candidates for size reduction and choose to slim them to recover hard disk space.
Notable observations
The mini-review of The Apple Blog states that Photoshop CS3Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.Adobe's 2003 "Creative Suite" rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8's renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop...
(Beta) now has "a solid 5 second launch time vs. the previous 6–8 seconds" on a 2 GHz MacBook
MacBook
The MacBook was a brand of Macintosh notebook computers built by Apple Inc. First introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook and 12-inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple–Intel transition. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook was aimed at the...
with 2 GB RAM. This was achieved after slimming the binary, restarting the computer, and reopening the application. Other applications may possible benefit from similar speed improvements. However, most of the Adobe Suite CS3 applications are now on the black list.
Future development
The developer has hinted that the program will support additional languages. At the moment, SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
have been added.