Bloatware contest: producing 100+ MiB executable

Question

Create short source code in your favourite compiled language that compiles into a big (not less than 104857600 bytes) executable file. The program must be runnable (assuming 1GB of free memory) and can do anything (preferrable something simple like a hello world).

Usage of non-obvious tricks is encouraged.

Boring example in C:

int a[1024*1024*25] = { 1 };

int main(){}

Bonus points if it can be "explained" why the executable can't be reduced in size (i.e. all bloat is actually used somehow).

Answer 1

OK, here's another one in C, going for the vaguely defined bonus points:

#define a(x) x,x|1,x|2,x|3,x|4,x|5,x|6,x|7
#define b(x) a(x),a(x|8),a(x|16),a(x|24)
#define c(x) b(x),b(x|32),b(x|64),b(x|96)
#define d(x) c(x),c(x|128),c(x|256),c(x|384)
#define e(x) d(x),d(x|512),d(x|4<<8),d(x|6<<8)
#define f(x) e(x),e(x|2048),e(x|4096),e(x|6144)
#define g(x) f(x),f(x|8192),f(x|4<<12),f(x|6<<12)
#define h(x) g(x),g(x|2<<14),g(x|4<<14),g(x|6<<14)
#define i(x) h(x),h(x|2<<16),h(x|4<<16),h(x|6<<16)
#define j(x) i(x),i(x|2<<18),i(x|4<<18),i(x|6<<18)
#define k(x) j(x),j(x|2<<20),j(x|4<<20),j(x|6<<20)
int u,v,z[]={k(0),k(2<<22),k(4<<22),k(6<<22)}
int main(){for(u=v=0;u<1<<25;u++)v|=u!=z[u];return v;}

Basically, at compile time, it build a ascending sequence of integers from 0 to 2²⁵ − 1. At runtime, it verifies that the sequence indeed contains the expected values, and if not, returns a non-zero error code.

Ps. If I did my math right, the executable should be over 100 MiB. I'll let you know the exact size once it's done compiling...

Answer 2

C#

Not sure if this qualifies as short, because the source code ended up being >30k :)

I.e - too big to quote. Here's a slightly shortened version of it

using System.Collections.Generic;
class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var a = new List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<List<int>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>();
    }
}

The code I actually compiled can be found here: http://pastebin.com/R5T3e3J0

This will create a .EXE file of ~45KiB when compiled without optimizations. Compile it again with Ngen.exe (Native Image Generator) and it becomes a whopping 104MiB!

This works due to how the CLR generic type system works. Each and every List<> in the above code will generate a new type declaration (normally through JIT compilation, but Ngen performs AOT compilation). So one type for List< int >, another for List< List< int > >, and so on. So for this code, a total of 5160 different generic lists will be created.

Answer 3

COBOL

   ID DIVISION. 
   PROGRAM-ID. BLOAT. 
   ENVIRONMENT DIVISION. 
   DATA DIVISION. 
   WORKING-STORAGE SECTION. 
   01  THE-TEST-STRINGS. 
       05  FILLER OCCURS 11584 TIMES. 
           10  TEST-STRING          PIC X(11584). 
   LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION. 
   01  FIRST-TIME-FLAG              PIC X VALUE "Y". 
   01  DISP-BEFORE-STRING     COMP  PIC 9(8). 
   01  LOOP-COUNTER           COMP  PIC 9(8). 
   01  START-STRING. 
       05  FILLER OCCURS 0 TO 11584 TIMES 
           DEPENDING ON DISP-BEFORE-STRING. 
           10  FILLER               PIC X. 
       05  THE-SUBSTRING            PIC X(12). 
   01  INITIAL-STRING               PIC X(12) 
                                     VALUE "HELLO WORLD!".
   LINKAGE SECTION. 
   01  STRING-PARAMETER             PIC X(11584). 
   01  THE-RESULT                   PIC X. 
   PROCEDURE DIVISION USING 
                                    STRING-PARAMETER 
                                    THE-RESULT 
                                    . 

       IF FIRST-TIME-FLAG = "Y" 
           PERFORM                  SET-UP-STRINGS 
       END-IF 
       PERFORM 
         VARYING                    LOOP-COUNTER 
         FROM                       1 
           BY                       1 
         UNTIL                      LOOP-COUNTER 
           GREATER THAN 11584 
         OR STRING-PARAMETER 
             EQUAL TO               TEST-STRING 
                                        ( LOOP-COUNTER ) 
       END-PERFORM 
       IF STRING-PARAMETER 
         EQUAL TO TEST-STRING ( LOOP-COUNTER ) 
           MOVE "Y"                TO THE-RESULT 
       ELSE 
           MOVE "N"                TO THE-RESULT 
       END-IF 
       GOBACK 
       . 
   SET-UP-STRINGS. 
       PERFORM 
         VARYING                    LOOP-COUNTER 
         FROM                       0 
           BY                       1 
         UNTIL                      LOOP-COUNTER 
           EQUAL TO 11584 
           MOVE 11584               TO DISP-BEFORE-STRING 
           MOVE SPACE               TO START-STRING 
           MOVE LOOP-COUNTER        TO DISP-BEFORE-STRING 
           MOVE INITIAL-STRING      TO THE-SUBSTRING 
           MOVE START-STRING        TO TEST-STRING 
                                        ( LOOP-COUNTER + 1 )
       END-PERFORM 
       MOVE "N"                     TO FIRST-TIME-FLAG 
       . 

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

It can be faster to do one large compare than a lot of small compares; IBM's Enterprise COBOL (up to Version 4.2) can have a maximum WORKING-STORAGE of 128MB (Version 5.0 can have 2GB); LOCAL-STORAGE offers a further 128MB if you need more space.

The task is to confirm that a 11584-byte piece of storage has the value "HELLO WORLD!" somewhere, and the rest is space.

The, fictitious, programmer decides to write a sub-program for this (just in case it is needed elsewhere), and to include their high-performance technique (bonus).

The programmer calculates that 11584 * 11584 is 128MB, so uses WORKING-STORAGE for a huge table, and LOCAL-STORAGE for everything else that is needed.

The programmer codes it up, and smiles knowingly to themselves when the compile is clean. They were right about the 128MB.

Tests the code. It works. Possibly a little slow, but there's a heavy load on machine. Smiles again, thinking how slow it would be if coded without their level of expert knowledge.

The WORKING-STORAGE comes in at 134,189,056 bytes, and there's a good few bytes of other stuff as well. Should be large enough.

The reality is that doing a long compare instead of a short compare, as implemented here, is a very slow way to do it.

Even slower, the LOCAL-STORAGE, which is initialised by run-time routines every time a sub-program is called, causes the entire 128MB to be set up for each CALL.

The programmer was just plain wrong about the size of the table, there is enough room without using LOCAL-STORAGE. Long compares can beat short compares, but only when the actual number of compares is reduced.

I considered swapping the LOCAL-STORAGE and WORKING-STORAGE around, it is just far less likely someone would code it that way round, so I didn't. Putting a VALUE SPACE on the table (if it had been in LOCAL-STORAGE) would have initilised the table twice on each CALL, so even slower.

The Bloat can't be removed, without rewriting the program. Most of the code is bad, though there is one useful technique.

This is not a real-life example, but I can imagine someone doing it, if that someone is clever enough :-)

Compiling is no problem at all. Running it with every possibility quickly proves to be not worth attempting.

Of course, there is a plain old Bug as well. A very common one in "searching" tasks.

Answer 4

PowerBASIC

#BLOAT(104857600)
FUNCTION PBMAIN
  PRINT "Hello World"
  BEEP
END FUNCTION

Answer 5

Scala

import scala.{specialized=>s}
import scala.Specializable.{Everything=>E}
class Printer[@s(E) A, @s(E) B, @s(E) C, @s(E) D, @s(E) E, @s(E) F, @s(E) G, @s(E) H]{
    def print(a:A,b:B,c:C)=println(s"$a, $b, $c")
}

object Main extends App{ 
    (new Printer[Int,Int,Int,Int,Int,Int,Int,Int]).print(1,2,3)
}

---

The specialized annotation creates a new class for each type in order to prevent boxing when the types eventually all get turned into objects. It will create 10^8 ((Everything consists of 10 types)^(8 type parameters on the class)) class files, each 300-500 bytes, if it doesn't crash first.

---

This could be explained by saying that performance is important, especially if the class actually did more than have a method to print. Using generic specialized methods instead of putting it all in the declaration would also make it harder to notice

Answer 6

Javascript

function bigenough(){
        var kbytes = $('html').html().length;
        return (kbytes>1024*100);
}
while(!bigenough()){
$('html').append('<p>WASSUP</p>');}

Run this code in Browser Console on this page and when complete, save the page. it should result in a file size greater than 100 MB. Still testing. Will post actual size once done.

update-
the saved page is the result executable. The v8 engine of chrome is the compiler. And the code I posted is the program. i admit that it does take quiet a long to compile. :D