How to find the source code of any program?

**Chandrakant81** · 13-02-2009

Hi,
I know that linux is a open source operating system.
I want to know if i can find out the code of a particular program by myself like a media player or a messenger?
I mean how can I see the code on which an exe or any program run.
I am learning C++ & I want to know if this is possible so it will be helpful for me to understand how these programs work?

Regards,

**kelfro** · 13-02-2009

There are programs available called decompilers or disassemblers that attempt to construct source code from an executable. A few things to remember about these are that the code they give you is likely far more cryptic than the original source. One reason is they have to make up names for variables since variables are just memory locations and their original names are not included in an executable. Another thing to consider is that visual basic programs are basically converted to C++ code and then compiled, so a VB decompiler (if such exists) would have to go back two levels which may or may not be feasible.

**Alphonsus** · 13-02-2009

Please have a look at this webpage I hope this helps you!
http://www.sparxsystems.com/uml_tool...ourcecode.html

Regards,

**Ekavir** · 13-02-2009

Hey a google search result page redirected me to this page dont know it will help you or not!
Just have a look
Obtaining a program's source code

**Ettan** · 13-02-2009

In Ubuntu the easiest way is to use apt-src. Assuming you have source repositories enabled (they are by default, I believe), you just type:

Code:

apt-src install packagename

And the sourcecode for "packagename" will be downloaded and extracted to its own folder in the current directory.

Not everything is written in C, in fact the repos contain stuff written in just about every language out there. The kernel and most of the system software is written in C, if I'm not mistaken.

What kind of software are you wanting to study? System stuff, GUI apps, utilities, services?