IBM Mainframe Forum

Hello,

Do you know if there are tools to facilitate the reverse engineering of an assembly program?

And without tools, it is the safest way to achieve this?

Thank you.

I was told that there was a guy who wrote a program that would reverse engineer a load module int various source code formats (PL/1 cobol etc). I believe he is in jail now. Totally irrelevant to your question unless yuou are trying to reverse engineer a proprietary load module!

I believe there are a variety of tools for converting load modules into source code of various sorts (search on "decompiler" or "disassembler"). The problem is that the load module does not preserve any name information, so you end up with pretty incomprehensible code, on the order of "MOVE $000TX4 TO $000FN7".

Decompilation is a gray area. Reverse engineering proprietary tools is generally forbidden under copyright law in both the U.S. and Europe, although of course it's always possible to cite a contradictory opinion. OTOH, there are commercial decompilers for re-creating source lost through disasters or to time.

Hello,

And without tools, it is the safest way to achieve this?

Assuming the code was written "on-site" find the original specifications and recode.

If the original specs are not to be found, Observe the actions of the code (depending on the functionality/comnplexity of the module, this may take considerable time) and write new specifications. Then re-code.

If you have hundreds or thousands of missing source modules investing in a "tool" might be worth it. For one or 2, just re-implement.

If you re-code, there is probably no need to re-write in assembler. . . Unless you happen to have considerable assembler expertise available.

Hello,

Yes, in fact it is moving from assembler to cobol. For now I do not know the level of complexity of applications.
Whether to invest in a tool, what would it be?

check the PROGRAM UNDERSTANDING TOOL from the IBM ASSEMBLER TOOLKIT

I looked on the IBM site. This is very interesting. But what does it cost?

Hello,

Ask IBM for prices. . .

Hello,


And thank you for your answers.


Michel.