reverse-engineers
Decodes existing designs
Reverse-engineers is the verb form of reverse-engineer, meaning to analyze something—a product, system, or process—to understand how it was made or how it works, often to replicate or improve it.
Engineers reverse-engineer competitors' devices; hackers reverse-engineer software to find vulnerabilities.
The term extends beyond technology: She reverse-engineers successful novels to understand their structure.
Those seeking same goal
- patentsExclusive rights to inventions
- productsItems made for sale
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
- benchmarkingMeasuring against top performers
Hardware's permanent programming
- softwarePrograms directing computer operations
- hardwareMetal goods and fittings
- algorithmsFinite instruction sequences
- schematicsTechnical drawings of systems
decompilers · binaries · assembly · executables · protocols · APIs · encryption · malware
Produce something anew
- reproduceCopy or breed
- cloneGenetically identical organism
- copyIdentical reproduction made
- emulateCopy with aspiration
duplicate · mimic · imitate · mirror · simulate · reconstruct · rebuild · replicate
Remove software errors
- troubleshootIdentify and fix faults
- diagnoseDetermine a disease's nature
- examineStudy with attention
- inspectStudy closely for flaws
investigate · probe · decode · decipher · trace · evaluate · assess · dissect
competitors
Those seeking same goal
- patentsExclusive rights to inventions
- productsItems made for sale
- proprietaryLegally owned, restricted use
benchmarking · teardown · cloning · knockoffs · copycat
firmware
Hardware's permanent programming
- softwarePrograms directing computer operations
- hardwareMetal goods and fittings
- algorithmsFinite instruction sequences
schematics · decompilers · binaries · assembly · executables · protocols · APIs · encryption · malware · exploits
recreate
Produce something anew
emulate · duplicate · mimic · imitate · mirror · simulate · reconstruct · rebuild · replicate · match
debug
Remove software errors
- troubleshootIdentify and fix faults
- diagnoseDetermine a disease's nature
- examineStudy with attention
inspect · investigate · probe · decode · decipher · trace · evaluate · assess · dissect · study
disassemble
Separate into parts
- decompileConvert executable to source
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- extractConcentrated derived substance
unpack · decompose · parse · unravel · strip · tear-down · reconstruct · rebuild · reassemble · demystify
reverse-engineer, reverse-engineered, reverse-engineering, reverse, reversal, reversible, reversibility, irreversible, reversed