topic Re: Cobol executable file in Operating System - HP-UX

Cobol executable file

shameem_2 — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 07:51:01 GMT

Hi ,

Hope you are aware that it is possible to get java source code from java class file.

Similarly is it possible to get Cobol Source code from the cobol executable file.

Thanks,
Shameem.

Re: Cobol executable file

John Strang — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 09:31:57 GMT

Hi Shameem,

I don't think it is possible, sorry.

John

Re: Cobol executable file

shameem_2 — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 09:52:55 GMT

Hi John,

I searched in google.com and I found the chances of getting the cobol source code throught this link http://www.year2000.com/vendors/src.html
But Im not sure how it will help me. Should I rely on them?

Thanks,
Shameem.

Re: Cobol executable file

harry d brown jr — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 10:07:19 GMT

From your link:

statements for applications running on IBM mainframes running under MVS, VSE or VM operating systems.

You could write a decompiler, but if the code is not yours, meaning you purchased it from someone, then it is Illegal to decompile it.

live free or die
harry

Re: Cobol executable file

Martin Johnson — Thu, 06 Jun 2002 18:30:15 GMT

The source code is the vendors property. Sometimes you can buy the source code, but usually it is expensive.

Some debuggers will show you assembler code if the source is not available. This can be helpful in pinpointing a problem for the vendor.

There is also the problem of compiler optimizations. I tried to debug a C problem and the optimizer optimized half my variables away! That makes it hard to decompile a program.

Marty