Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

Dev.SN ♥ developers

Editing Binaries: Easier Than It Sounds

posted by janrinok on Monday March 24 2014, @04:51PM   Printer-friendly
from the not-for-the-faint-hearted dept.

Anonymous Coward writes:

"Dan Luu, in his blog, suggests that editing binaries is something that we should consider from time to time. From that blog:

Editing binaries is a trick that comes in handy a few times a year. You don't often need to, but when you do, there's no alternative. When I mention patching binaries, I get one of two reactions: complete shock or no reaction at all. As far as I can tell, this is because most people have one of these two models of the world:

  • There exists source code. Compilers do something to source code to make it runnable. If you change the source code, different things happen.
  • There exists a processor. The processor takes some bits and decodes them to make things happen. If you change the bits, different things happen.

If you have the first view, breaking out a hex editor to modify a program is the action of a deranged lunatic. If you have the second view, editing binaries is the most natural thing in the world. Why wouldn't you just edit the binary?"

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Editing Binaries: Easier Than It Sounds | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 1000 moderator points   | 38 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 2) by Snotnose on Monday March 24 2014, @07:59PM

    by Snotnose (1623) on Monday March 24 2014, @07:59PM (#20644)

    You figure out what in the source code needs to change, fix the source, then edit the binary while you wait for the source to build (or test the change before starting a new build).

    Some builds take a while. Some of us prefer to be productive with our time, as opposed to reading Soylent News and Fark during a 30 minute build.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   2