Un-Building Blocks: A Model of Reverse Engineering and Applicable Heuristics
Abstract
Reverse engineering is the problem-solving activity that ensues when one takes a human-made system, whole or in part, and attempts through systematic analysis of its physical characteristics and other available evidence to answer one or more of the following questions: What is this for? What does it do? How does it do it? What is inside it? How was it made? A model developed from a synthesis of the technical literature is used to infer modes of failure in the process of reverse engineering and identify and catalog applicable experience-based techniques known as heuristics. The model is then cast in an executable formal language in order to further test its assumptions, and explore its implications. Hands-on, historic, and virtual case studies are used to validate and refine the model. The modes of failure, heuristics, and the model itself in its original and formal language expressions, introduce a new descriptive terminology of reverse engineering and provide a new framework to interpret real world reverse engineering activity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA632187
Entities
People
- Jorge F. Garcia
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School