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Programmer shrinks Notepad to 2.7KB using x86 assembly

By PulseAugur Editorial · [2 sources] ·

Dave W. Plummer, a renowned programmer, has developed RetroPad, a version of Windows XP's Notepad that is functionally identical but incredibly small, measuring just 2,749 bytes. This achievement in x86 assembly programming contrasts sharply with modern software bloat, as current versions of Notepad on Windows 11 are significantly larger, with the executable being a stub for a much larger UWP app. Plummer has made the RetroPad code and executable available on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 license, and has even added features like optional line numbers and dark mode. AI

IMPACT Minimal direct impact on AI operators; showcases extreme software optimization.

RANK_REASON This is a niche software development project, not a major industry release or significant event.

Read on Tom's Hardware →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 2 sources. How we write summaries →

Programmer shrinks Notepad to 2.7KB using x86 assembly

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This is a niche software development project, not a major industry release or significant event.
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COVERAGE [2]

  1. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Mark Tyson ·

    RetroPad is a ‘full-feature-parity version of Notepad from XP’ in just 2,749 bytes — x86 assembly coded apps comes from Windows legend Dave W Plummer

    A 'full-feature-parity version of Notepad' has been written in x86 assembly and it weighs in at under 3KB.

  2. Mastodon — fosstodon.org TIER_1 English(EN) · [email protected] ·

    RetroPad is a ‘full-feature-parity version of Notepad from XP’ in just 2,749 bytes — x86 assembly coded apps comes from Windows legend Dave W Plummer A 'full-fe

    RetroPad is a ‘full-feature-parity version of Notepad from XP’ in just 2,749 bytes — x86 assembly coded apps comes from Windows legend Dave W Plummer A 'full-feature-parity version of Notepad' has been written in x86 assembly and it weighs in at under 3KB. https://www. tomshardwa…

    LINKS tomshardware.com/…/retropad-is-a-full-fea…

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