[SigmundA]

C# / .Net will have the same issue, but when they developed native compilation for windows phone apps they added a concept of a runtime definition file that lets you control how much needs to be retained for reflection: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn600639%28v=vs.110%...

The native compilation technology is moving over to normal .Net and I would imagine the runtime definition file could be used for javascript transpiling tree-shaking as well.

[rdwallis]

Thanks on first glance that looks like a much better solution than gwts' generators.

[JamesXNelson]

My implementation in GWT lets you control how much is retained by using annotations to control the retention level. It even gives you the option to defer loading reflection until a future code split, such that you only download the extra bytes for reflection support when you will actually need it. See above for link.