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Open/edit .exe files!?

Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 11:16 pm
by Guldstrand
Hi!

Im looking for a program/editor where i can open .exe files, and edit/change the script.

(Just for open source projects of course.) ;)

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:12 am
by feyd
that'd be a hex editor, but altering the internals of an exe without knowing what each part does is dangerous and generally irresponsible unless you know exactly what you're doing.

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:19 am
by Guldstrand
Hmm, ok...

I just wanted to learn more about creating own programs, by looking on other programs/scripts.

What is the easiest way and tool to create own programs like a database program where i can store my dvd's.

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:32 am
by feyd
binary applications won't tell you anything if you just open them in a hex editor.. it'll just show you machine code.

You'd have to, at the least, decompile it. But that probably wouldn't help a lot as it'll be in assembly, the lowest level programming language.

If you want to learn more about programming binary applications and things like .dll's and such, you need to learn a slightly higher level language like C/C++.. Although they can be created in assembly too. I'd suggest getting a few books on C. Not any of the "Teach Yourself C in 21 days, or 24 hrs" crap.. those are mostly trash. For learning C I recommend "Pointers on C" by Kenneth Reek (ISBN 0-673-99986-6), for C++ I recommend "The C++ Programming Language" by Bjarne Stroustrup (ISBN 0-201-88954-4).. If you want to know more about the Win32 API: "Programming Windows" by Charles Petzold (ISBN 1-57231-995-X)

Also, there are tons of examples on the MSDN site, along with all the details of the Windows APIs, DirectX, and many more: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/

Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:34 pm
by phice
C# is better. ^_^

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:26 am
by Guldstrand
phice wrote:C# is better. ^_^
Why is that?

Is it easier or just better because of what?? :?

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:34 am
by kettle_drum
I think thats just Phice's view on the subject. Its hard to compair languages against one another as they were all designed to be used to do certain things - so there good to use when doing what it was designed for, but other things.

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:47 am
by infolock
C# isn't even really close to C++ imo heh. it's more like javascript but on steroids.

Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:51 am
by d3ad1ysp0rk
Javascript on steroids?

lmao.. nice.

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 7:43 pm
by evilmonkey
What is C# for anyway? Does it produce .exe files?

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:03 pm
by feyd
yes. It makes binary executables (after JIT) on supported OS's.. Basically, take the great parts of C, C++, and Java, and smash them together.. Add an XML documentation parser, built-in.. and MASSIVE ability to extend itself, the compiler, and a crap load of other things on the fly, and you have it. Sorta.. Read the MS sites, or dotguru for detailed information.

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:32 pm
by evilmonkey
Thanks feyd. :)

Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:47 am
by phice
infolock wrote:C# isn't even really close to C++ imo heh. it's more like javascript but on steroids.
Why? Because it's not confusing to learn? Right.