Changes

'''Obfuscation''' is the process of renaming all of the fields, methods, and classes of the compiled code into unreadable, machine-generated names (such as <code>aaa</code>, <code>bC</code>), and removing package structures (this makes everything package-local and makes the obfuscated code smaller somewhat. This is commonly used by companies to prevent external entities from easily decompiling their released binaries/executables and retrieving their source code/intellectual property, though it does have size advantages.

'''Obfuscation''' is the process of renaming all of the fields, methods, and classes of the compiled code into unreadable, machine-generated names (such as <code>aaa</code>, <code>bC</code>), and removing package structures (this makes everything package-local and makes the obfuscated code smaller somewhat. This is commonly used by companies to prevent external entities from easily decompiling their released binaries/executables and retrieving their source code/intellectual property, though it does have size advantages.

Additionally, due to the way the Local Variable Table (LVT) of Java bytecode is stored, every function-local variable name is turned to ☃ (that's right, a snowman) in the compiled files. This makes immediate recompilation of the game literally and physically impossible, as every Java compiler currently available requires that local variables have unique names.

Additionally, due to the way the Local Variable Table (LVT) of Java bytecode is stored, every function-local variable name is turned to <code>☃</code> (that's right, a snowman) in the compiled files. This makes immediate recompilation of the game literally and physically impossible, as every Java compiler currently available requires that local variables have unique names.

Minecraft is a commercial game, which means the source code is unavailable to all except the developers of Mojang. To prevent piracy and the copying of their intellectual property, Mojang applies this obfuscation process to the game before they release it. They use a tool called [https://www.guardsquare.com/en/products/proguard ProGuard], which is both an optimizer<ref>An optimizer is a program that removes redundant/unused instructions and compacts the code to be faster and smaller.</ref> and an obfuscator.

Minecraft is a commercial game, which means the source code is unavailable to all except the developers of Mojang. To prevent piracy and the copying of their intellectual property, Mojang applies this obfuscation process to the game before they release it. They use a tool called [https://www.guardsquare.com/en/products/proguard ProGuard], which is both an optimizer<ref>An optimizer is a program that removes redundant/unused instructions and compacts the code to be faster and smaller.</ref> and an obfuscator.