Package Reference

Every MSBuild property, item and target defined by the Babel.Obfuscator package, and the mapping between the package properties and the attributes of the Babel task.

Package Properties

The properties below control the package itself. Obfuscation settings are listed in the Property Mapping table.

Property	Default	Description
`BabelEnabled`	`true`	Master switch. When `false`, no Babel target runs, publish adjustments included.
`BabelPublishEnabled`	`$(BabelEnabled)`	Whether merged and embedded assemblies are removed from the publish set.
`BabelUpdateDependencyFile`	`$(BabelEnabled)`	Whether the build and publish `.deps.json` files are updated after obfuscation.
`BabelOverrideCompile`	`true`	Whether the package injects the obfuscation step after `CoreCompile`. Set to `false` to wire the `ObfuscateBuild` target yourself.
`RunBabelAfterBuild`	`false`	When `true`, Babel runs at the end of the build on `$(TargetPath)` instead of on the intermediate assembly.
`BabelBeforeTargets`		Runs the obfuscation step before the named target, disabling the default placement.
`BabelAfterTargets`		Runs the obfuscation step after the named target, disabling the default placement.
`BabelPackageDir`	package root	Root folder of the extracted package.
`BabelTaskDir`	per host	Folder the Babel task and tools are loaded from; see Selecting the Build Tools.
`BabelPath`	`$(BabelTaskDir)`	Folder of the Babel executable to run (task attribute `ToolPath`).
`BabelExe`		Name of the Babel executable, `babel.exe` or `babel.dll` (task attribute `ToolExe`).
`BabelInputFile`	intermediate assembly	Assembly to obfuscate. Computed by the package; override it in a settings target.
`BabelOutputFile`	`$(BabelInputFile)`	Obfuscated output. Computed by the package; override it in a settings target.
`BabelLicense`	`babel.licenses` found in the project folder or a parent folder	License file path, license key or `floating:` user key.
`BabelLicenseDir`		Folder where `babel.licenses` was found, set by the package.
`SymbolsRenaming`	`true`	Enables or disables every renaming feature at once.
`NoConfiguration`	`true`	Whether Babel ignores its configuration file.
`GenerateDebug`	`true` when a PDB exists	Whether debug symbols are generated for the obfuscated assembly.
`CopyOutputSymbolsToPublishDirectory`	`false` in Release	Standard SDK property; the package turns it off in Release so PDB files are not published.
`BabelProvideCommandLineArgs`	`false`	Writes the Babel command line to the log and to the `@(BabelCommandLineArgs)` item.
`BabelWarningsAsErrors`		Warning codes to report as errors. Set it to `W00000` to fail builds that run in evaluation mode.
`BabelWarningsAsInfos`		Warning codes to report as informational messages.
`BabelWarningsToIgnore`		Warning codes to suppress.
`BabelExitCode`		Output: exit code of the Babel task, available after `CoreObfuscate`.

Package Items

Item	Description
`BabelRules`	XML rules files. `babelRules.xml` in the project folder is added automatically.
`MergeAssembly`	Assemblies to merge into the target assembly.
`EmbedAssembly`	Assemblies to embed in the target assembly.
`MapInFile`	XML map files of already obfuscated assemblies.
`BabelPlugin`	Plugin assemblies to load.
`BabelSearchDirectories`	Assembly search directories. Computed from the project references; replace or extend it in a settings target.
`BabelTargetReferences`	Additional search entries passed as references.
`AddReferences`	Assemblies to add as references of the obfuscated assembly.
`SatelliteAssembly`	Satellite assemblies to process.
`XmlDocumentationFile`	XML documentation files to process together with the assembly.
`BabelCommandLineArgs`	Output: the command line passed to Babel, when `BabelProvideCommandLineArgs` is `true`.

Targets

Target	Description
`ObfuscateBuild`	The obfuscation step injected into the build. Runs `ObfuscateSettings` then `Obfuscate`.
`ObfuscateSettings`	Prepares the Babel task configuration by running the settings targets below.
`ObfuscateDefaultSettings`	Applies the renaming defaults, looks up the license file, adds `babelRules.xml` and builds the search directories.
`ObfuscateFrameworkSettings`	Selects the assembly to process: the intermediate assembly, or `$(TargetPath)` when `RunBabelAfterBuild` is `true`.
`ObfuscateSetupBabelFiles`	Sets `BabelInputFile` and `BabelOutputFile`, and enables `GenerateDebug` when a PDB exists.
`ObfuscateCustomSettings`, `SetupObfuscate`, `ConfigureBabel`	Empty targets, redefine them to adjust the computed configuration before Babel runs.
`Obfuscate`	Runs `BeforeObfuscate`, `CoreObfuscate` and `AfterObfuscate`.
`BeforeObfuscate`	Empty target, redefine it to run tasks just before the Babel task.
`CoreObfuscate`	Runs the Babel task. Do not redefine it.
`AfterObfuscate`	Empty target, redefine it to run tasks just after the Babel task.
`UpdateBabelBuildDependencyFile`	After `GenerateBuildDependencyFile`: removes merged and embedded assemblies and the package from the build `.deps.json`.
`UpdateBabelPublishDependencyFile`	After `GeneratePublishDependencyFile`: the same for the publish `.deps.json`.
`UpdateBabelFilesToPublish`	After `ComputeFilesToPublish`: removes merged and embedded assemblies from the publish set.
`OverrideCompileWithBabel`	After `PrepareForBuild`: inserts `ObfuscateBuild` after `CoreCompile`, unless the step has been moved or the build is a design-time build.
`EnableObfuscationFlag`	Triggered by compilation: enables `ObfuscateBuild` only when the compiler actually ran.

Property Mapping

The table maps every attribute of the Babel task to the MSBuild property or item the package reads. Properties accept the same values as the corresponding command line switch. Attributes marked 12.0 were added in version 12.

Babel task attribute	Kind	Package property or item
`AddReferences`	Item	`@(AddReferences)`
`AndroidSigningKeyAlias`	Property	`AndroidSigningKeyAlias`
`AndroidSigningKeyPass`	Property	`AndroidSigningKeyPass`
`AndroidSigningKeyStore`	Property	`AndroidSigningKeyStore`
`AndroidSigningStorePass`	Property	`AndroidSigningStorePass`
`BabelDirectory`	Property	`BabelDirectory`
`CleanAttributes`	Property	`CleanAttributes`
`ConstRemoval`	Property	`ConstRemoval`
`ControlFlowIterations`	Property	`ControlFlowIterations` (`ILIterations` is accepted as an alias)
`ControlFlowObfuscation`	Property	`ControlFlowObfuscation`
`CopyAttributes`	Property	`MergeCopyAttributes`
`DbgHelpDllDir`	Property	`DbgHelpDllDir`
`DeadCodeElimination`	Property	`DeadCodeElimination`
`DebuggingProtection`	Property	`DebuggingProtection`
`DependenciesManifest`	Property	`DependenciesManifest`
`DetectIfObfuscated`	Property	`DetectIfObfuscated`
`DisgregateRemoval`	Property	`DisgregateRemoval`
`DynamicProxy`	Property	`DynamicProxy`
`DynamicProxyCallFilters`	Property	`DynamicProxyCallFilters`
`EmbedAssemblies`	Item	`@(EmbedAssembly)`
`EmitInvalidOpcodes`	Property	`EmitInvalidOpcodes`
`EnableObfuscationAgent`	Property	`EnableObfuscationAgent`
`EnumRemoval`	Property	`EnumRemoval`
`FlattenNamespaces`	Property	`FlattenNamespaces`
`Framework`	Property	`Framework`
`GenerateDebug`	Property	`GenerateDebug`
`GenerateLogFile`	Property	`GenerateLogFile`
`GenerateMapOutFile`	Property	`GenerateMapOutFile`
`InlineExpansion`	Property	`InlineExpansion`
`InputFile`	Property	`BabelInputFile`
`Instrument`	Property	`BabelInstrument`
`InstrumentEmptyMethods`	Property	`InstrumentEmptyMethods`
`Internalize`	Property	`MergeInternalize`
`KeyContainer`	Property	`KeyContainerName`
`KeyFile`	Property	`KeyOriginatorFile`
`KeyPwd`	Property	`SigningCertPassword`
`License`	Property	`BabelLicense`
`LogFile`	Property	`BabelLogFile`
`MakeProject`	Property	`MakeBabelProjectFile`
`MapInFiles`	Item	`@(MapInFile)`
`MapOutFile`	Property	`BabelMapOutFile`
`MergeAssemblies`	Item	`@(MergeAssembly)`
`ModuleInitializer`	Property	`ModuleInitializer`
`ModuleInitializerTarget`	Property	`ModuleInitializerTarget`
`ModuleVersionId`	Property	`ModuleVersionId`
`MsilEncryption`	Property	`MsilEncryption`
`NameLength`	Property	`NameLength`
`NamePrefix`	Property	`NamePrefix`
`NoConfiguration`	Property	`NoConfiguration`
`NoWarnings`	Property	`BabelWarningsToIgnore`
`ObfuscateEvents`	Property	`ObfuscateEvents`
`ObfuscateFields`	Property	`ObfuscateFields`
`ObfuscateMethods`	Property	`ObfuscateMethods`
`ObfuscateParameters`	Property	`ObfuscateParameters`
`ObfuscateProperties`	Property	`ObfuscateProperties`
`ObfuscateTypes`	Property	`ObfuscateTypes`
`ObfuscateXaml`	Property	`ObfuscateXaml`
`OutputFile`	Property	`BabelOutputFile`
`OverloadedRenaming`	Property	`OverloadedRenaming`
`PdbFile`	Property	`PdbFile`
`PdbPwd`	Property	`PdbPwd`
`Plugins`	Item	`@(BabelPlugin)`
`PluginsArguments`	Property	`PluginsArguments`
`ProvideCommandLineArgs`	Property	`BabelProvideCommandLineArgs`
`RandomSeed`	Property	`RandomSeed`
`References`	Item	`@(BabelTargetReferences)`
`RemoveFiles`	Property	`BabelRemoveFiles`
`ResourceEncryption`	Property	`ResourceEncryption`
`RulesFiles`	Item	`@(BabelRules)`
`SatelliteAssemblies`	Item	`@(SatelliteAssembly)`
`SealClasses`	Property	`SealClasses`
`SearchDirectories`	Item	`@(BabelSearchDirectories)`
`SearchSatelliteAssemblies`	Property	`SearchSatelliteAssemblies`
`ShowLogo`	Property	`ShowLogo`
`ShowStatistics`	Property	`ShowStatistics`
`SingleFile`	Property	`PublishSingleFile` (standard SDK property)
`SkipFiles`	Property	`BabelSkipFiles`
`StatisticsFile`	Property	`StatisticsFile`
`StringEncryption`	Property	`StringEncryption`
`SuppressIldasm`	Property	`SuppressIldasm`
`SuppressReflection`	Property	`SuppressReflection`
`TakeFiles`	Property	`BabelTakeFiles`
`TamperingDetection`	Property	`TamperingDetection`
`TargetAssemblyName`	Property	`TargetAssemblyName`
`ToolExe`	Property	`BabelExe`
`ToolPath`	Property	`BabelPath`
`Trace`	Property	`Trace`
`TrustedBundle` 12.0	Property	`TrustedBundle`
`TrustedSigner` 12.0	Property	`TrustedSigner` (several fingerprints separated by `;`)
`TrustedTeam` 12.0	Property	`TrustedTeam`
`UnicodeNormalization`	Property	`UnicodeNormalization`
`Use`	Property	`Use`
`ValueEncryption`	Property	`ValueEncryption`
`VerboseLevel`	Property	`VerboseLevel`
`VirtualFunctions`	Property	`VirtualFunctions`
`WarningsAsErrors`	Property	`BabelWarningsAsErrors`
`WarningsAsInfos`	Property	`BabelWarningsAsInfos`
`XapCompressionLevel`	Property	`XapCompressionLevel`
`XmlDocFiles`	Item	`@(XmlDocumentationFile)`
`XmlRules`	Property	`XmlRules`

Setting the String Encryption Algorithm

The StringEncryption package property enables string encryption and selects the algorithm, exactly like the --stringencryption command-line switch. Accepted values are xor, hash, stream and custom (see String Encryption for a description of each). A boolean true enables string encryption with the default algorithm, while an algorithm name both enables it and selects that algorithm.

For example, to encrypt strings with the STREAM algorithm (authenticated per-string encryption, fully managed, AOT/trim/FIPS-safe, and supported from .NET Framework through .NET 10 including Android/iOS/MAUI), add to your project file:


<PropertyGroup>
  <StringEncryption>stream</StringEncryption>
</PropertyGroup>

The STREAM algorithm Ultimate is not included in lower editions: with those, stream falls back to the default algorithm.

On .NET Android / iOS / MAUI projects, run the obfuscation as a string-encryption-only pass so that type and member names stay intact for the platform interop layer.