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How exactly is source code recovered? See below for a brief answer,
or download a longer, in-depth explanation of the technology, in:
Word (.doc) format or
Acrobat (.pdf) format,
by Fred Brandes.

What are the benefits of source code recovery?

How does recovery compare with other options?

Are there other uses for source code recovery?

How can source code be missing?

Can the source code recovery process be used for programs outside the IBM mainframe environment?

Q. How exactly is source code recovered?

A. Before the ReSource™ technology was developed, many programmers and analysts thought it was impossible to recover missing source code. Briefly, here's how the seemingly impossible is accomplished. For a more in-depth description, you may download a full description in: Word (.doc) format or Acrobat (.pdf) format,

ReSource™ looks into a load module (binary) and breaks it apart into the original modules (CSECTS). It then resolves these binary modules into psuedo-Assembler statements so that it can work directly with the machine instructions.

Next, the instructions are matched against known sets of instructions created from COBOL statements.

The resulting pattern-matched source code contains all of the appropriate COBOL statements.

Additional analysis recovers data items in File Descriptions, Working Storage and Linkage sections.

Once the new source code has been created, it is compiled using the same version of compiler and compile options as was the original executable module. The resulting object code is compared to the original to assure an exact match.

Any supporting information such as file layouts, copybook source, and related programs along with JCL, documentation, and program and application specifications can help in recovering a program. This type of information can also enable ESTC consultants to attach meaningful data and paragraph names that are either the original names or are similar in style.

ESTC guarantees the recovered source code be functionally equivalent to the original executable source code.

The ReSource™ technology regenerates COBOL and Assembler source code for IBM MVS mainframe environment. It can handle a variety of COBOL dialects including: COBOL II, OS/VS COBOL, IBM ANS COBOL, and CA/OPTIMIZER (Capex) COBOL. In addition, ReSource™ can recover source code from BMS Maps, CICS, DLI, IMS, DB2, SQL and Report Writer.

The source code recovered from executable code can be run on an IBM mainframe or equivalent using the IBM 360/370/390 instruction set. We assume that the object code delivered to ESTC has resulted from a clean compile and is executable.

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Q. What are the benefits of source code recovery?

A. Compared with other options, ReSource/Recovery™ provides better results in less time.

Recovering the source code for a program:

• Saves time. Recovery takes a fraction of the time of other options.
  
• Saves staff time. No programmers need be diverted to rebuilding the application.
• Saves money. Recovery costs a fraction of the cost of rewriting code. NO MATTER HOW COMPLEX THE PROGRAMS!!! With no Lines of Code charges, the average COBOL noopt program can be recovered from between $500 and $1000.
• Reduces risk. 100% functionality is guaranteed.
• Preserves investment in the application software.
• Preserves the logic of the original source code.

Q. How does recovery compare with other options?

A. Organizations that are missing source code have three main options:

1. Scrapping or replacing the application.
   
2. Rewriting the code.
   
3. Recovering the code.
   

Scrapping or replacing the application.
Scrapping an entire application because a few source programs are missing is a very costly. If the application is replaced with an off-the-shelf system, extensive retrofitting is needed. If a replacement is created in-house, it will tie up programmers when they are needed to address other issues. And if a replacement is truly needed anyway, a complete, working system will provide a much better basis for it.

Rewriting code.
Rewriting code is costly and time consuming. Code specification and design are especially complicated, because the new code must fit the missing modules. Add the time needed for development, testing and integration, and you'll understand why the cost for rewriting COBOL ranges from $10 to $60 a line CANNOT COMPARE WITH $500 to $1000 PER PROGRAM TO RECOVER.

Recovering code.
Source code recovery costs less than other options, takes less time, preserves the original logic of the program and offers many other benefits.

ReSource™ has been used commercially since 1991 to help some of the world's largest corporations and government agencies.

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Q. Are there other uses for source code recovery?

A. There are many uses for the source code recovery process. ESTC sees itself as being in the asset management business - a company's source code portfolio is among its most important assets, and those assets need to be protected. The source code recovery process can be used for any programming task using COBOL; Assembler; CICS, DB2 or IMS.

Examples include:
• Fixing audit violations
  
• Migration or conversion of applications or systems
  
• Currency conversions
  
• Metric conversions
  
• Zip code and area code conversions
  

Q. How can source code be missing?

A. There are many reasons why companies and agencies lose their source code.

Here are just a few:

• A company merges with, or is acquired by, another company
  
• A consultant is brought in on a special project;
  
• An archival tape is discarded too early;
  
• A backup is never saved;
  
• A key employee leaves without documenting a program;
  
• A project is reassigned and libraries are not completely transferred.
  
• HDA Crash
  

Q. Can the source code recovery process be used for programs outside the IBM mainframe environment?

A. ReSource™ is currently limited to supporting the IBM System 360/370/390 instruction set. Because of time and financial limitations, we have not developed our technology for other environments (yet).

While we believe the ReSource™ technology can be used to recover source code in virtually any environment, we have chosen to invest our resources in recovering source code in the IBM mainframe environment because it covers most business applications worldwide.

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