Is code obfuscation really useful in javascript?

Question

I recently switched to gulp task manager, and I noticed that by default the build task creates .map files. This makes me wonder: is it useful to obfuscate the code for production deployment? Does my software protect against hacking? If so, should I delete my .map files?

Answer 1

Simple obfuscation will not protect your software from hacking. If you really want to protect your javascript, adding something that will make the life of someone trying to steal or tamper with your software is very difficult, you should check out Jscrambler . I have not yet seen a solution that is approaching the level of protection that they allow you to achieve.

Regarding the issue with the source cards, if you obfuscate yes, you should delete them.

Answer 2

Javascript obfuscation will not protect your software from hacking. It’s very easy to write software so you don’t trick it or just use the online tool: http://jsbeautifier.org/

The reason you want to use Gulp to compress your Javascript will reduce file size and fewer server requests. This speeds up the loading of your site.

To answer your question: Do not delete your .map files. They are used to refer to "zeroing / obfuscation" for debugging. See: fooobar.com/questions/19396 / ...