Message-Id: <m0z1ask-000S4AC@inti.gov.ar>
Comments: Authenticated sender is <salvador AT natacha DOT inti DOT gov DOT ar>
From: "Salvador Eduardo Tropea (SET)" <salvador AT inti DOT gov DOT ar>
Organization: INTI
To: matthew DOT krause AT juno DOT com, djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 15:33:10 +0000
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Subject: Re: exe to c
In-reply-to: <19980729.124006.16238.0.matthew.krause@juno.com>
Precedence: bulk

matthew DOT krause AT juno DOT com wrote:

> *****Summary and Conclusion*****
> So as of now DCC is only of use for decompiling older programs. May I
> point out that this against the License of many programs, which prohibit
> the "decompilation or reverse engineering" of the program.

The main limitation of DCC are memory and speed. I tried it with small real 
mode programs and works but consumes a lot of memory and time to decompile a 
silly program. As DCC is a real mode program the 640Kb limit is reached with 
a very small C program.
 
> However, DCC could be a useful tool for learning. 

DCC is just for it: learning, if I remmember well is the result of a Thesis 
for PhD or D degree.

> It __may__ be possible
> to adapt dcc to read/decompile DJGPP programs. 

Please avoid it, adapt it for VC++ 5 ;-)

> From what little of the
> documentation & accompianing thesis I've been able to read (some of it is
> in postscript, and I have no way of converting this to something I can
> read (pointers to ps>html; ps>text; etc. coverters wouild be greatly
> appreciated)), 

Look in the v2app/TeX directory, there are postcript tools, you can see the 
postcript or print it (thanks goes to Eli who ported the TeX beast).

> I **think **DCC uses 'signatures' which help it determine
> what compiler compiled the program, 

Yes, and uses a map of the standard library to detect things like printf.

> and how to dissassemble it. As one
> can grok from DCC's output, it lacks a suitable signutaure file for
> DJGPP. It __may__ be possible to write one.

Again: do it for other compiler ;-)

SET 
------------------------------------ 0 --------------------------------
Visit my home page: http://set-soft.home.ml.org/
or
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/6552/
Salvador Eduardo Tropea (SET). (Electronics Engineer)
Alternative e-mail: set-soft AT usa DOT net set AT computer DOT org
ICQ: 2951574
Address: Curapaligue 2124, Caseros, 3 de Febrero
Buenos Aires, (1678), ARGENTINA
TE: +(541) 759 0013