A way to creating small executables with Microsoft Visual Studio, without import directory, remove the C runtime library initialization code, but can dynamic call C standard library from msvcrt.dll.
All windows API and C API dynamic load from DLL, include Loadlibrary, so we can build an EXE without import directory.
- Get
kernel32.dllbase from PEB - Get
LoadLibraryA, ... API address fromkernel32.dllbase - Load
user32.dllandmsvcrt.dll - Get others
APIby loaded mod's export table - Spec our entry point, do not link default
C run time(/NODEFAULTLIB)
Realize mainCRTstartup function, by miniCRT
Use Cmake-GUI or console version if u want.
On my PC, size of EXE only 2560Bytes(2.5 KB), it could be smaller, no run time dependence, all DLLs are windows original.
x86
x64