How to Identify Programming Language ?

Discussion in 'Programming' started by daabomb2002, Sep 24, 2007.

  1. #1
    If i download a piece of software that is in .exe format,how do I find out which programming language(java,VB,C++ etc) the file has been written in?

    Also,does anyone know if there is a online dictionary or software for different programming languages that tell you the exact code you need to make a function?
     
    daabomb2002, Sep 24, 2007 IP
  2. jmhyer123

    jmhyer123 Peon

    Messages:
    542
    Likes Received:
    25
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    Usually you can decode/decompile it using something like PE Explorer and can tell by the language it is written in or it might identify the language in the header comments or etc. Each language has it's own characteristics that are unique to that language and if you know them you can tell. (E.g. php files start with <?php and end with ?>)

    I don't know of a dictionary that will tell the code to make a function for all the languages though...
     
    jmhyer123, Sep 24, 2007 IP
  3. AstarothSolutions

    AstarothSolutions Peon

    Messages:
    2,680
    Likes Received:
    77
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    It also depends on what framework has been used - if it is .Net for example it will have been compiled into MSIL irrespective of what language the thing was originally written in. It can easily be viewed as C#, VB, J#, IronPython etc however is exceptionally difficult to tell what it was "originally" written in.
     
    AstarothSolutions, Sep 25, 2007 IP
  4. intoex

    intoex Peon

    Messages:
    414
    Likes Received:
    7
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Delphi, C++ Builder has classes names insite, called TForm, etc. it's in general. Also you can check for headers, or decompile it, and analise. there is difference, how procedures creates in different C compillers for example
     
    intoex, Sep 25, 2007 IP
  5. farjam

    farjam Peon

    Messages:
    368
    Likes Received:
    11
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    It`s not definitly in Java language because java compiler doesn`t make .exe

    and you can use resource hacker .

    it can help you to gather information about the source of a ".exe" program

    but it can`t give you the exact source so by the informatin which "resource

    hacker" gives you, it can possible to guess in which programming language

    your program has been written.;)
     
    farjam, Sep 25, 2007 IP