10 best Java decompilers for program re-engineering

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10 best java decompilers for program re-engineering

Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Its simplicity, reliability and scalability make it a priority choice for many developers. However, sometimes situations arise when it is necessary to analyze or edit the code of Java applications that are not presented in source format.

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In such cases, decompiling Java code can be a useful technique. Java decompilers allow you to reconstruct the source code of Java programs from compiled files, bringing the program closer to its original state. This can be useful in many cases, from learning code, to fixing bugs in third-party libraries.

In this article, we will take a look at the 10 best Java decompilers to help you when reverse engineering programs and working with Java code.

Best Java decompilers

Java decompilers are an integral part of software re-engineering. They allow you to convert compiled Java code back to source code, making it easier to work with existing applications and explore their architecture and functionality.

In this section, we will look at some of the best Java decompilers that can be useful in software reverse engineering.

1. Fernflower

Fernflower library is one of the most popular Java decompilers. It provides high accuracy of source code recovery and allows you to decompile even complex classes and libraries.

2. JD-GUI

JD-GUI (Java Decompiler) is an open source tool that provides a graphical interface to view the source code of Java classes. It supports decompiling source code from .jar and .class files.

3. Procyon

Procyon is an efficient Java decompiler that provides the ability to decompile compiled Java code into readable source code. It also has support for annotations and templates.

4. CFR

CFR (Class File Reader) is a fast and accurate Java decompiler. It provides high speed source code decompilation and good accuracy in restoring the original class.

5. Jadx

Jadx is a Java decompiler that provides a convenient view of source code extracted from .apk files of Android applications. It supports decompiling not only Java code, but also resources and manifest.

6. Cavaj

Cavaj is a free Java decompiler that provides a simple view of Java classes source code. It has a simple and straightforward interface, making it a good choice for beginners.

7. Krakatau

Krakatau is a Java decompiler that specializes in reverse engineering Java bytecode. It can decompile compiled Java code into understandable Java source code or JVM bytecode.

8. JAD

JAD (Java Decompiler) is an open source tool that provides decompilation of Java code into readable source code. It supports various versions of Java and can handle .class and .jar files.

9. Bytecode Viewer

Bytecode Viewer is a Java decompiler that allows you to view the source code of Java classes and modify it. It also supports disassembling and decompiling .jar files.

10. Luyten

Luyten is an open source tool that provides a graphical interface for viewing the source code of Java classes. It is based on the Fernflower library and provides additional features such as code search and debugging.

Overall, these Java decompilers provide various options for software reverse engineering. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the best choice depends on the specific needs and preferences of the developer.

JD-GUI: a simple and effective tool

JD-GUI is a simple and efficient Java decompiler that allows developers to analyze and recover the source code of Java applications. It is one of the most popular tools for reverse engineering Java programs and is widely used by the developer community.

The main features of JD-GUI include:

  1. Simple Interface: JD-GUI has a simple and straightforward user interface, making it easy to use for developers of all knowledge levels.
  2. Decompilation to source code: JD-GUI allows decompiled Java code to be decompiled back to source code, allowing developers to analyze and make changes to programs.
  3. Support for various Java versions: JD-GUI supports Java code decompilation for various Java versions, including Java 1.4, 5, 6, and 7.
  4. Display source code in a convenient way: JD-GUI displays decompiled source code in a convenient and readable way, which helps developers to easily understand and analyze programs.

JD-GUI also provides the ability to save decompiled source code to a file so that it can be used later. This is especially useful when working with large projects or when you need to reuse code.

Overall, JD-GUI is a powerful and convenient tool for reverse engineering Java programs. It helps developers analyze and recover Java application source code, making it an indispensable tool in the software development and maintenance process.

Procyon: a powerful open source decompiler

Procyon is a powerful decompiler for Java that is open source. It provides the ability to analyze and recover Java source code from compiled bytecodes, while ensuring high accuracy and quality of the result.

The main feature of Procyon is its ability to decompile compiled bytecode while preserving the original structure and semantics of the source code. This allows developers to explore, analyze, and modify programs that have been compiled into bytecode, returning them to the source code.

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Benefits of using Procyon include:

  • Open source code: due to the openness of the source code, users can explore and modify the decompiler to suit their needs.
  • High decompilation accuracy: Procyon strives to preserve all information of the original code during the decompilation process.
  • Support for the latest Java versions: Procyon supports decompilation of bytecodes compiled for the latest versions of the Java language. This allows you to analyze and modify the code of new applications.
  • User-friendly and intuitive interface: Procyon provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to easily manage the decompilation process and analyze the result.

Procyon also provides the ability to view and edit decompiled code in a convenient text format. This allows developers to easily examine, analyze and modify decompiled code for their software re-engineering purposes.

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In conclusion, Procyon is a powerful and user-friendly Java decompiler that allows you to extract and analyze source code from compiled bytecodes. Its open source nature and high decompilation accuracy make it an indispensable tool for developers re-engineering Java programs.

FernFlower: a high-performance reverse-engineering tool

FernFlower is a powerful tool for decompiling Java code. It allows you to convert compiled Java classes back to source code, making it useful for reverse-engineering programs. FernFlower extracts all class, method, variable and attribute structures from compiled code to create readable source code.

One of the main advantages of FernFlower is its high performance. It can handle large projects with high complexity and provide high decompilation speed. This is especially useful when working with large applications and libraries where execution speed is a critical factor.

FernFlower offers a wide range of options and settings that allow you to customize the decompilation process to your needs. It can preserve type information, recover variable and class names, and generate additional comments in the source code to help you better understand the operation of the decompiled program.

It is important to note that FernFlower is a free and open source tool. It is actively developed and maintained by the developer community, which guarantees its stability, reliability and future updates.

If you need a Java code decompilation tool with high performance and flexible settings, FernFlower can be a great choice. It can help you recover source code from a compiled Java application or library and explore its structure and functionality.

CFR: an intelligent decompiler with code optimization

CFR (Code Analyzer and Java Decompiler) is an intelligent decompiler with code optimization capabilities. It is one of the most popular tools for re-engineering Java programs and allows you to get source code from compiled classes.

CFR is designed to be easy to use, but with high decompilation performance and accuracy. The tool is capable of handling complex Java constructs and supports decompilation of classes, interfaces, anonymous classes and lambda expressions.

One of the features of CFR is its ability to optimize decompiled code. The tool offers various optimization options that can lead to better performance or more readable code. For example, CFR can simplify expressions and remove unnecessary instructions.

CFR also has some additional features, such as displaying the Control Flow Graph and analyzing variable usage. These features can be useful when examining existing code or performing additional analysis.

CFR is available as a standalone GUI application or as a library that you can use in your projects. The tool is compatible with various Java versions and supports such features as decompiling single classes or decompiling an entire JAR file.

CFR is a cross-platform tool and supports Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Overall, CFR is a powerful and handy tool for decompiling and optimizing Java code. It can be useful for programmers, security researchers and other professionals working with Java applications.

FAQ:

This article presents the top 10 Java decompilers that are recommended for re-engineering programs. They are JD-GUI, Java Decompiler, CFR, Procyon, Fernflower, Krakatau, JAD, JODE, JD-Eclipse and Cavaj.

What is the main difference between JD-GUI and Java Decompiler?

The main difference between JD-GUI and Java Decompiler is that JD-GUI has a graphical user interface that allows you to view the source code of Java programs in a convenient way, while Java Decompiler provides a command line to handle the decompilation of Java code.

Which decompiler from the list is best for decompiling large projects?

CFR and Procyon decompilers are recommended for decompiling large projects. They have high performance and efficiently cope with decompiling large amounts of Java code.

Which decompilers from the list support working with Java bytecode?

Krakatau and Fernflower decompilers support working with Java bytecode. They allow you to decompile Java code from compiled class files, which is useful when analyzing and restoring the source code of a program.

Can Java decompilers be used in conjunction with various integrated development environments (IDEs)?

Yes, most of the Java decompilers listed can be used in conjunction with various integrated development environments such as Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, and NetBeans. This usually requires installing a plugin or integration with the respective IDE.

What are some Java decompilers?

There are many Java decompilers that can be used to reverse engineer software. Some of them include JD-GUI, Procyon, CFR, and FernFlower.

What is the best Java decompiler for software reverse engineering?

The best Java decompiler for software re-engineering can depend on your specific needs and preferences. Some popular choices include JD-GUI, which provides a simple interface and supports most versions of Java, and Procyon, which allows you to decompile class files into Java source code. CFR and FernFlower are also popular choices.

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