Xref: utzoo comp.arch:6679 comp.lang.c:13334 comp.lang.misc:2003 Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!eecae!cps3xx!usenet From: usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) Newsgroups: comp.arch,comp.lang.c,comp.lang.misc Subject: Re: Universal Disassemblers vs. Universal MIILs Message-ID: <895@cps3xx.UUCP> Date: 18 Oct 88 14:52:40 GMT References: <358@istop.ist.co.uk> <7226@ihlpl.att.com> Reply-To: rang@cpswh.cps.msu.edu (Anton Rang) Organization: Michigan State University, Computer Science Dept. Lines: 33 In-reply-to: eric@snark.UUCP's message of 17 Oct 88 14:22:58 GMT In article , Eric S. Raymond (eric@snark.uucp) writes: > [...] >Long ago, in my pre-UNIX days, I once started writing a smart disassembler for >8086 code, one that would recognize illegal instructions, do flow-of-control >analysis on jumps and assign symbolic labels (then allow you to change the >names to meaningful ones). It would recognize and interpret OS service calls, >so you'd be able to spot I/O subroutines at a glance. It would keep its >deductions and your comments on them in a database so you could analyze code >interactively in stages. The Cracker, I called it. > > [... stuff about implications deleted ...] > >Does anyone know of something like this having been actually implemented? > There's a program called "Sourceror" on the Apple ][ series, by Glen Bredon I think. It came with the Big Mac/Merlin assemblers. It knew about all Apple's ROM calls (and many DOS calls), most global variables, the 6502 instruction set, and the "Sweet-16" pseudo-code instruction set. It didn't add comments to the code, but it did take care of things like assigning symbolic names to labels, etc. which helped a lot if you wanted to understand programs (I used it on Applesoft BASIC, for example). It's a good start, anyway.... Anton Rang rang@cpswh.cps.msu.edu +---------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+ | Anton Rang (grad student) | "UNIX: Just Say No!" | "Do worry...be SAD!" | | Michigan State University | rang@cpswh.cps.msu.edu | -- Jill Belscamper | +---------------------------+------------------------+----------------------+