A Good Decompiler? - RunUO

Alex21 · 07-04-2008, 03:03 AM

Um i been wanting to decompile a really old program for its source code so i can re-write it to have some extra features that i believe it needs.

The problem is that the program is no longer updated or worked on, so i figured i could just decompile it and re-write it for myself.

So i started Googling for a decompiler that will decompile a .exe to a source code of my choice, preferably .Net VB or .Net C#, so far i have no sucess in finding a free decompiler to decompile the .exe, so i figured i might as well post here and ask if anyone knows of one that they may use or have used in the past.

TIA

Radwen · 07-04-2008, 03:07 AM

You cannot decompile an exe to get the source code.

**Jeff** · 07-04-2008, 03:26 AM

You cannot decompile a C++ exe or dll to get source, you can however decompile a .Net dll or exe into source, but 9 out of 10 times it wont be the same code, and it wont work right.... How about instead of being a cunt and stealing someone elses code, you be original, and write the fucking application yourself. Asshole.

Also, if for any reason you are talking about ConnectUO, go fuck yourself, I just updated it today, and have started working on more updates...hopefully you aren't talking about it, but if you are, you are a cunt....

Alex21 · 07-04-2008, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

You cannot decompile a C++ exe or dll to get source, you can however decompile a .Net dll or exe into source, but 9 out of 10 times it wont be the same code, and it wont work right.... How about instead of being a cunt and stealing someone elses code, you be original, and write the fucking application yourself. Asshole.

Also, if for any reason you are talking about ConnectUO, go fuck yourself, I just updated it today, and have started working on more updates...hopefully you aren't talking about it, but if you are, you are a cunt....

Isn't the purpose of a decompiler to understand how something works? And i didn't mean source code, i ment like the procedures etc to get an idea of how it handles being communicated with over the internet with out fucking packet sniffing, I do not have the time to do it from scratch.

Um why would i decompile connect uo?, razor connects to uo and it isn't ugly and crash prone.

**Jeff** · 07-04-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex21

Isn't the purpose of a decompiler to understand how something works? And i didn't mean source code, i ment like the procedures etc to get an idea of how it handles being communicated with over the internet with out fucking packet sniffing, I do not have the time to do it from scratch.

Um why would i decompile connect uo?, razor connects to uo and it isn't ugly and crash prone.

No decompiling is for fucking cunts, why dont you go read some whitepapers, or a book and learn just like every other respectable programmer... Or... here is a thought, ask questions to ppl who might know how to do something....dont be a fucking idiot, dont decompile someone elses hard work, its rude and wrong....

Im still guessing it has something todo with UO.

Alex21 · 07-04-2008, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

No decompiling is for fucking cunts, why dont you go read some whitepapers, or a book and learn just like every other respectable programmer... Or... here is a thought, ask questions to ppl who might know how to do something....dont be a fucking idiot, dont decompile someone elses hard work, its rude and wrong....

Im still guessing it has something todo with UO.

Nothing to do with UO, just an outdated fps shooter which has no hack protection, i was going to re-write the server and introduce some kind of anti-hack code, i also want it to produce reports and handle console commands.

**Jeff** · 07-04-2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex21

Nothing to do with UO, just an outdated fps shooter which has no hack protection, i was going to re-write the server and introduce some kind of anti-hack code, i also want it to produce reports and handle console commands.

its prolly written in C++ so you aren't going to get anywhere, write the server from scratch.

Alex21 · 07-04-2008, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

its prolly written in C++ so you aren't going to get anywhere, write the server from scratch.

Its written in C

Alex21 · 07-04-2008, 03:55 AM

Is there a difference between C and C++?

DontdroptheSOAD · 07-04-2008, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex21

Is there a difference between C and C++?

Absolutely none, they are exactly the same things, they just added the ++ to appeal to the younger crowd.

**Jeff** · 07-04-2008, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DontdroptheSOAD

Absolutely none, they are exactly the same things, they just added the ++ to appeal to the younger crowd.

hahahahahahaha

anyway, yes, different compilers, different language.... but none the less both compile to machine code and cannot be decompiled or viewed in their original state....

J MaNN · 07-04-2008, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DontdroptheSOAD

Absolutely none, they are exactly the same things, they just added the ++ to appeal to the younger crowd.

lol, owned.

Ray · 07-04-2008, 07:15 AM

So eh... written in C
Then you shouldnt expect anything really useful from a decompiler as nearly every bit of information besides the procedural workflow gets removed/optimized and stripped away when the compiler does it's duty.

This means: No comments, no variable names, no macros nor inline-functions. No custom datatypes, No functoin names (except the entrypoint 'main' and perhaps some external functions in shared link libraries) and most likely: lots of ASM instructions.

The produced code doesnt even look like the original code.
And if you compile it again, you'll get, probably, something different.

There are lots of decompilers out there. Use a webcrawler to get one that fits your needs. But im pretty sure there's no decompiler for a native PE to managed code, as those languages lack support of ASM instructions. Decompilers need them, as not every bit of machine code can be translated back to a function that would make any sense. And nothing more than translators they are. Think of them like using babelfish.

If you're into added functionality, you should try code-injection rather than decompillation. That way, you dont fuck up the binaries ( hell - debuggung decompillated code), and you dont have to distribute property of the legal owner/creator of the code, which would be an infringement.
But this topic is pretty advanced... sorry to say

if you don't know the difference between C and C++ then both ways are most likely beyond your abilities.
Anyways, it could be a good hint to have decompillated C code procedures to write your very own server. But even that is miles away from Copy/Pasteable code.

Good luck.

Suil Ban · 07-04-2008, 11:36 AM

Learn a debugger and some ASM

Amy- · 07-04-2008, 01:57 PM

Wow no wonder the runuo forums are known as an unfriendly place.
Talk about overreacting...

Anti-Basic · 07-04-2008, 02:05 PM

There's no such thing as overreacting when Alex21 is involved. Consider it along the lines of the straw that broke the camel's back. As far as Jeff's educated guess about cuo, its most likely accurate, as Alex21 has expressed desire to do that in the past. So it's not just a random accusation.

**Jeff** · 07-04-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy-

Wow no wonder the runuo forums are known as an unfriendly place.
Talk about overreacting...

cant take the heat, get the fuck out of the kitchen. oh, and have a nice day.

Sleepy Char · 07-04-2008, 05:32 PM

Just out of interest, Jeff, how do you think the applications powering the shards which your app links to were created? Don't get me wrong, I know the RunUO team are clever, but I doubt the packet descriptions came to them in a dream. Same for Krioss' client and its handling of graphics, sound, and other UO datafiles.

You sure are uppity about reverse engineering for somebody whose claim to fame is an app built on private server emulators.

Alex21 · 07-04-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Basic

There's no such thing as overreacting when Alex21 is involved. Consider it along the lines of the straw that broke the camel's back. As far as Jeff's educated guess about cuo, its most likely accurate, as Alex21 has expressed desire to do that in the past. So it's not just a random accusation.

where have i showed the intention, source?

Anti-Basic · 07-04-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex21

where have i showed the intention, source?

You mean the link that got deleted for advertising, where you wanted people to check out your "UO Connect" Website? Gee that name sounds awfully familiar...

Alex21 · 07-04-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Basic

You mean the link that got deleted for advertising, where you wanted people to check out your "UO Connect" Website? Gee that name sounds awfully familiar...

that is a website i started from scratch, and since the name offended you guys, it was changed to join uo, and the graphics are being re-done, ty for all the feedback in that thread btw, it now does almost everything the CUO website does it just doesn't look as good

, and we havn't really though of making a client yet, with razor to compete with why bother.

Suil Ban · 07-04-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex21

that is a website i started from scratch, and since the name offended you guys, it was changed to join uo, and the graphics are being re-done, ty for all the feedback in that thread btw, it now does almost everything the CUO website does it just doesn't look as good

, and we havn't really though of making a client yet, with razor to compete with why bother.

y so dumb ??

Anti-Basic · 07-04-2008, 08:13 PM

I don't think he fully understands the difference between those two programs

Rosetta · 07-04-2008, 10:03 PM

I like how much easier it is to play on a custom shard with CUO.
But Razor is great for no custom shards and macros. Plus all the other things one can do with it.

**MrBrightside** · 07-05-2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DontdroptheSOAD

Absolutely none, they are exactly the same things, they just added the ++ to appeal to the younger crowd.

rofl

07-04-2008, 03:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
Alex21 Forum Expert Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia, Queensland, Sunshine Coast Age: 16 Posts: 1,162	A Good Decompiler? Um i been wanting to decompile a really old program for its source code so i can re-write it to have some extra features that i believe it needs. The problem is that the program is no longer updated or worked on, so i figured i could just decompile it and re-write it for myself. So i started Googling for a decompiler that will decompile a .exe to a source code of my choice, preferably .Net VB or .Net C#, so far i have no sucess in finding a free decompiler to decompile the .exe, so i figured i might as well post here and ask if anyone knows of one that they may use or have used in the past. TIA

07-04-2008, 03:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Radwen Master of the Internet Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nowhere Age: 22 Posts: 11,653	You cannot decompile an exe to get the source code. __________________ -Socks are great. Ask Radwen. http://www.runuo.com/forums/starbucks-runuo-com/76473-ask-radwen.html

07-04-2008, 03:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jeff ConnectUO Creator Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 28 Posts: 4,891	You cannot decompile a C++ exe or dll to get source, you can however decompile a .Net dll or exe into source, but 9 out of 10 times it wont be the same code, and it wont work right.... How about instead of being a cunt and stealing someone elses code, you be original, and write the fucking application yourself. Asshole. Also, if for any reason you are talking about ConnectUO, go fuck yourself, I just updated it today, and have started working on more updates...hopefully you aren't talking about it, but if you are, you are a cunt.... __________________ Jeff Boulanger ConnectUO - Core Developer Want to help make ConnectUO better? Click here to submit your ideas/requests Use your talent to compete against other community members in RunUO hosted coding competitions If you know XNA (even if its just a little) or are a good artist(2d or 3d) and are interested in making games for a hobby send me a pm or drop by #xna in irc.runuo.com. I'm looking to put together a small game development team. Please do not pm me for support. If you are having issues please post in the appropriate forum. Thanks for your continued support of both ConnectUO and RunUO

07-04-2008, 11:36 AM	#14 (permalink)
Suil Ban Master of the Internet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Germany Age: 17 Posts: 14,817	Learn a debugger and some ASM __________________ go fish

07-04-2008, 10:03 PM	#24 (permalink)
Rosetta Forum Expert Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the Trees =] Age: 32 Posts: 982	I like how much easier it is to play on a custom shard with CUO. But Razor is great for no custom shards and macros. Plus all the other things one can do with it. __________________ Rose: You think you're so impressive. The Doctor: I am so impressive! Rose: You wish.

07-04-2008, 03:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Alex21 Forum Expert Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia, Queensland, Sunshine Coast Age: 16 Posts: 1,162	Is there a difference between C and C++?

07-04-2008, 07:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
Ray Forum Novice Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Switzerland Age: 25 Posts: 234	So eh... written in C Then you shouldnt expect anything really useful from a decompiler as nearly every bit of information besides the procedural workflow gets removed/optimized and stripped away when the compiler does it's duty. This means: No comments, no variable names, no macros nor inline-functions. No custom datatypes, No functoin names (except the entrypoint 'main' and perhaps some external functions in shared link libraries) and most likely: lots of ASM instructions. The produced code doesnt even look like the original code. And if you compile it again, you'll get, probably, something different. There are lots of decompilers out there. Use a webcrawler to get one that fits your needs. But im pretty sure there's no decompiler for a native PE to managed code, as those languages lack support of ASM instructions. Decompilers need them, as not every bit of machine code can be translated back to a function that would make any sense. And nothing more than translators they are. Think of them like using babelfish. If you're into added functionality, you should try code-injection rather than decompillation. That way, you dont fuck up the binaries ( hell - debuggung decompillated code), and you dont have to distribute property of the legal owner/creator of the code, which would be an infringement. But this topic is pretty advanced... sorry to say if you don't know the difference between C and C++ then both ways are most likely beyond your abilities. Anyways, it could be a good hint to have decompillated C code procedures to write your very own server. But even that is miles away from Copy/Pasteable code. Good luck.

07-04-2008, 01:57 PM	#15 (permalink)
Amy- Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 26 Posts: 62	Wow no wonder the runuo forums are known as an unfriendly place. Talk about overreacting...

07-04-2008, 05:32 PM	#18 (permalink)
Sleepy Char Newbie Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 69	Just out of interest, Jeff, how do you think the applications powering the shards which your app links to were created? Don't get me wrong, I know the RunUO team are clever, but I doubt the packet descriptions came to them in a dream. Same for Krioss' client and its handling of graphics, sound, and other UO datafiles. You sure are uppity about reverse engineering for somebody whose claim to fame is an app built on private server emulators.