From: John Wells <lists@...>
Date: 2005-04-27T09:35:47+09:00
Subject: Re: [OT] Re: Precompiling Ruby programs

Ara.T.Howard@noaa.gov said:
>> I appreciate any insight you can provide.
>
> this doesn't make me feel too comfortable
>
>    http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=decompile+java&btnG=Google+Search
>
> in particular
>
>    "It turns out, due to a quirk in the design of the Java Runtime system
> and
>    the relationship with its compilers, that Java code can be almost
> entirely
>    reconstructed, including the actual names of variables used by the
> original
>    programmer! The only things missing are the comments. This is an
> amazing
>    oversight in the architecture of Java. Why is it this way? I don't
> know. I'd
>    be interested in hearing more."

Yes...you're right.  Bytecode is essentially reversible.  However, note I
mentioned obfuscated bytecode.  Obfuscation can make reverse engineering
impractical, if not impossible.  I'm looking for the equivalent in Ruby.

Thanks,
John