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How do you know what language a program is written in if the application you are using doesn't say.?

4
2006-08-05 04:21:22, Category: Programming & Design
whether Java, Visual Basic, Perl etc. how would you know - Is there a program out there that can analyse, exe files and tell. - total newbie at programming.

Answers

  1. take two

    On 2006-08-07 01:01:47


    no idea

  2. griz803

    On 2006-08-05 07:05:46


    Usually, you wouldn't be able to tell by any means. There is one thing that commonly appears in the executable that may tell you everything you want to know or may be absent. While it isn't a standard thing at all, some commercial compilers will "embed" a branding notice in the final code of the executable. These are simply ASCII values arranged in the order of the name and language and version of the compiler. I don't know if this information still holds true, simply because it has been years since I wanted to know this. You simply use a dump utility, such as Hexplorer, to look at the code as binary. A string can be searched for, such as "Borland", and will probably be in a group of strings like below. "Borland Turbo C++ Ver. 1.7" I have included a link to a site that has all kinds of editors, tutorials, compilers and other good things free. I hope this helps you out.

  3. justme

    On 2006-08-05 06:35:51


    No. There is no way of telling what language was used once it has been compiled. What you see in a .exe file is pure machine code with no reference to what language was used. You can get a decompiler but the best you can expect is assembly language from it, even then its very confusing to follow even for an experienced programmer.

  4. wolf_whitefeather

    On 2006-08-05 05:36:16


    we call it "Decompileing" judging by your question your asking about web based scripts. one way to discover what your dealing with is a simple right click then seclect view source. this will most likely only give you the idea of what code base was used. php asp jave perl etc. server side app's make html code so from a user end you never see that part only the code it makes. go to hotscripts.com to find the source code for most of these. to view the source code after you have the script you'll need an editor like dreamweaver. however I frind smaller apps better as DW has become a huge program over the past few years. now if your talking about a softwear app like say photoshop you would need something like a "Borland" product. there are programs that let you build c++ code and decompile it but thats a whole other game. and your talking serrious money "Delphi" is not a cheap program!