Abstract: A method for renaming identifiers in a Java.TM. program. In one embodiment, new names are assigned to Java classes, fields and methods within the given constraints inherent within a Java system. In one embodiment, a minimum number of different new names are assigned to the identifiers to achieve an optimal renaming. In one embodiment, a class inheritance hierarchy and method lists are used to identify naming dependencies. In one embodiment, new method names are then proposed and assigned systematically by starting at a given location in an ordered list of new names and then traversing the ordered list until an acceptable new name is identified in view of the naming dependencies. In one embodiment, naming redundancy is introduced. In one embodiment, the new names are shorter than the original names such that less storage space is required for the Java class files. In another embodiment, the new names are non-descriptive such that the program with renamed identifiers is obfuscated.

Abstract: A method of reducing the number of instructions in a computer program. A program definition instruction and a use instruction that operate on the same program variable are identified. If the use instruction may be moved ahead of one or more other instruction in the computer program to be adjacent the definition instruction, then the use instruction and the definition instruction are removed from the computer program.