Execute the executable file. What is this in common understanding?

Most users of modern computer systems, one way or another, are faced with the launch of programs, which mostly lead to executing the executable. Roughly speaking, all programs use the EXE format object to run the main application. But it is not always the case.

In legacy OSs like DOS or different from Windows, such files can have a completely different extension, although the principle of start remains absolutely unchanged.

Execute the executable: what does this mean?

To fully understand the essence of what is happening, it is first necessary to understand what any process of launching an application is. The same executing file "Navitel" or any other program is a certain applet in which a startup code is recognized, which is recognized by the operating system or additional applications intended for this purpose. But here it is worthwhile to understand that programs that consist exclusively of one executable file are irrelevant today. As a rule, the package includes a huge number of accompanying components in the form of the same dynamic libraries that have a DLL extension. It's not always possible to execute an executable without them.

The bottom line is that when you run the main module of the software package, which is the start of the EXE file, some applications require "loading" additional modules, which are just configuration files (config) or the same dynamic libraries containing data about Program.

By the way, sometimes dynamic libraries themselves can play the role of programs. So, for example, the start of any VST-tool in a modern studio (DAW) occurs precisely on this principle. The program itself as a version of Standalone may be missing, but the plug-in as its analog with a DLL extension is recognized by any program.

Programs executables: types

But that's not all. Expansion of executable files today is not so easy to define, not to mention EXE or COM files. стандарты, но и архивные данные. Separately it is worth noting not only the standards mentioned above , but also archival data.

In fact, SFX (Self-Extracting) files are self-extractable data based on the unpacking algorithm. Executing an executable of this type is easy. It is enough just to make a double click, and the operation when selecting the extraction point will be made automatically. On mobile devices, formats like JAR, JAD APK, etc., that are related to the installer category are used.

Can I open executable files?

Many users are interested in the issue of editing the launched files. Immediately it is worth all to upset. The fact is that the same "executables" are compiled programs whose source code can not normally be viewed. You can, of course, use utilities such as Disassembler, but they can not give this result if you write the application initially in C ++.

How to make the simplest editing?

As you can see, the EXE file can not be opened in its readable form, since the program itself can be written in different programming languages. The same goes for dynamic libraries. But you can open the configuration files even in the standard Notepad. And if you run it on behalf of the administrator, you can even set access restrictions to certain sites on the Internet, and then save the configuration, which in normal mode is not possible. The same "configs" are edited elementary.

Can I make any file executable?

In principle, any file on the hard disk is executable. More precisely, to execute an executable file - means, to launch the application responsible for its opening. Even in startup, you can start the file at startup quite simply.

It is enough to add the process to the list and specify a companion object that will be loaded immediately (for example, opening an Office document). Make the file executable is not the most important thing.

Summary

Thus, completing the topic, it is worth noting that the files or objects responsible for launching an application in the standard version can only be opened with a double click. But to edit them is not possible. However, if the programs have the status of freely distributed under the GNU license, it is very easy to make changes to the application code.

But this is a special case, which, in general, is not connected with the main topic. Another matter is the launch of an executable file, which the user and the view does not have. In this case, the focus should be on viruses that can come in the form of the same email attachments. If you see that the attached file does not have an icon, do not try to open it. Although equally it applies to viruses that masquerade as such messages. In this case, the malicious program will be able to execute the executable file or the code embedded in it quite easily, and then there will be a huge bunch of problems.

And the call (launch) of the executable file in this case can no longer depend on the user, since the virus was introduced into the system. It remains only to rely on universal programs in the form of portable versions or on utility modifications of Rescue Disk with the loading and testing of the system even before the start of Windows.

Executable file itself, which is the most interesting, the bootloader does not. But there is a configurator BIN, which is responsible for starting the system. In addition, in older versions of Windows, you can also find folders like i386, which contain drivers and some other related utilities. But in new versions of the system there are no such objects.