How can we get source from filename.a file and appname.ipa file in iphone.?

Question

Possible Duplicate:
Is it possible to reverse-engineer my iPhone application?
How can I get the source code from the .ipa file?

Is there any way to fetch out the source code from compiled (.a) file and .ipa file in iphone. In android we can get source code from .apk file then why could we not able to get the source code from .ipa file. There should be any way to fetch out the source code from a compiled file in iphone. I have also get trapped in the situation when any of the api for iphone has got then it contains .a file that is compiled and I would not be able to modify its code. So if any founds the way to find out the source code from compiled file in iphone then please answer this question....! I will very thankful to you.

I have also mention .a file not only .ipa file so it is not duplicate — Prince Kumar Sharma, May 14 '12 at 05:06
Decompiling and reverse engineering is legally actionable in many countries (i.e. you can be sued). I hope you are not asking because you want to steal other peoples' code, because that is what is sounds like. — borrrden, May 14 '12 at 06:12

Maulik · Answer 1 · 2012-05-14T06:00:45.087

2

No You can't fetch code from ipa ...

.a file is a static library. A static library is a set of routines, external functions and variables which are resolved in a caller at compile-time and copied into a target application by a compiler, linker, or binder, producing an object file and a stand-alone executable. More on Wiki

edited May 14 '12 at 06:00

answered May 14 '12 at 04:52

Maulik

19,348
14
82
137

There must be any way. If we don't try then really we can't find any solution..// – Prince Kumar Sharma May 14 '12 at 04:55
@Prince it just doesn't work. IPA's are signed and sealed binaries, so only their header files and bundled items are accessible. Any attempts to extract methods will be met with ASM code or Hex. – CodaFi May 14 '12 at 05:00
We can not get source code even from .a file? – Prince Kumar Sharma May 14 '12 at 05:08
@Princekumar : .a file is static library...check updated answer – Maulik May 14 '12 at 06:01

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered May 14 '12 at 05:51

Isn't the basic objective of creating a .a file is to hide the source code?

However I have "heard" people disassembling signed binaries, using some specialized tools. IDA is one of them.

I can't help you more on operating the tool, as I myself haven't used it ;)

How can we get source from filename.a file and appname.ipa file in iphone.?

2 Answers2