Why is it impossible to reverse-engineer closed source software? - eviltoast

The first programs were written in binary/hexadecimal, and only later did we invent coding languages to convert between human readable code and binary machine code.

So why can’t we just do the same thing in reverse? I hear a lot about devices from audio streaming to footware rendered useless by abandonware. Couldn’t a very smart person (or AI) just take the existing program and turn it into code?

  • gaiussabinus@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    It’s not. I believe lowlevellearning has a tutorial on tearing down binaries. If not him, john hammond does for sure. Both are on youtube. That skill set is usually employed in security research since it pays more than reverse engineering old software with problematic licensing and uncertain ownership.