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Everything about Decompiler

Program translating executable to source code

A decompiler is a computer program that translates an executable file back into high-level source code. Unlike a compiler, which converts high-level code into machine code, a decompiler performs the reverse process. While disassemblers translate executables into assembly language, decompilers reconstruct higher level representations resembling source languages such as C. Because compilation generally discards source-level information such as variable names, comments, types, and aspects of the original program structure, a decompiler usually cannot reproduce the original source code exactly. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: DecompilerA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: Android decompiler performance on benign and malicious apps: an empirical studyInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: The web application hacker's handbookThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Neutron: an attention-based neural decompilerCited 24 times
  5. Go sideways: Assembly languageA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: DisassemblerA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Noun A computer program performing the reverse operation to that of a compiler.

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Introduction
  2. Design
  3. Legality

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

🔗 Related topics