How do I find out what programming language a specific piece of software is written in?

Whether I’m using a freeware countdown timer, a utorrent client, video player, etc. is there an easy way to find out what programming language it is written in? Especially if it is one of the more mainstream programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Perl, Basic, etc.

I’m familiar with PHP and JavaScript for web use and have no trouble opening and editing those files, but now that I’m looking to pick up a non-web programming language, I would like to increase the scope of my skills a bit. I’m having a bit of difficulty finding out what language the various applications I personally use were written in. I would like to compare languages with real-life examples that I’m familiar with.

2 Answers 2

Examining the list of shared libraries (DLLs in Windows-speak) of a compiled program can give a clue, because typically each language has a specific distinctive library to provide the runtime environment.

For example, on my Linux PC, running the ldd command on an executable produced the following tell-tale output:

The use of libc.so suggests C or C++. The use of libstdc++.so suggests C++. In fact that was a C++ program.

Searching the program executable for human readable strings can also given clues, especially if it has debugging information present.

For example, running the strings command on that same executable revealled (among much other text) the following tell-tale strings:

The first three look like fragments of C++, the last looks like the name of a C++ source code file.

I’d say that nowadays, most common programming languages used for desktop applications would be C++, .Net and Java (don’t know about apps on Macs).

I think the thing to consider is more what you want to achieve and on which plateforms you want it to run. Java will give you all platforms for free, provided the user has a JVM on his computer. .Net will make it easy to develop for Windows but requires tools from Microsoft sometimes having a free but limiting license but usually expensive. C++ will allow you to develop for multiple platforms but involves more effort to make your program portable and to compile it for several OS/processors.

To identify .Net or Java programs, simply read the README file provided with the program. I will state that you need a certain version of the .Net framework or of a Java Virtual Machine to run the program.

Also check if the program is simply a script, if it needs an interpreter (PHP, LUA, Python, . ). That should also be mentionned in the README file.

Harder will be to distinguish between C and C++. Both get compiled to an EXE file and do not require any kind of external virtual machine to run.

What language are most mainstream Windows GUI programs written in? [closed]

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Closed 8 years ago .

I’m curious to find out what most Windows GUI programs are written in — for example, AOL Instant Messenger, Microsoft Word, Notepad, other popular shareware programs, etc.

6 Answers 6

Older programs are typically written in Visual C++, usually on top of a framework like MFC. (Unless the program was written by Microsoft, who practically never use MFC. :)) Visual Basic was also very common for internal or amateur applications, but not for the well-known «mainstream» ones.

Newer programs are usually written on the .NET platform, so in C# or VB.NET.

Depends on the OS, and what the program’s domain is. If it is an version of windows that can support .NET then many of the applications are written in .NET, due to the features that are afforded to the developers. If an application is for an older platform, uses intense graphics, or is build for pure performance, over appearence, more than likely it is in C++.

MFC which basically means C++.

Although I would suspect many windows program with old origins have rolled their own framework on directly on top of win32 or uses it directly and might still be mostly C.

Look at MS visual studio, it comes with a nice interface and is easy to use library for GUI development. There are several popular popular libraries for GUI development. Most of them have bindings for multiple languages, but I would agree with the above C++ is the most used.

10 years ago the answer was C++ far and away and probably Visual Basic in the #2 spot. Today C++ still dominates but C# is getting an increasing market share for new projects. A lot of the big-time apps have been around for a while, though, and they were and continue to be written in C++.

Edit: Another common language/framework that you see around a lot without realizing it is Delphi.

Most modern desktop programs are written in C++.

What languages are Windows, Mac OS X and Linux written in?

I was just wondering who knows what programming languages Windows, Mac OS X and Linux are made up from and what languages are used for each part of the OS (ie: Kernel, plug-in architecture, GUI components, etc).

I assume that there are multiple languages for each and obviously I know the Linux kernel is written in C.

I’m totally guessing here that Mac OS X contains a lot of Objective-C code as it is Apple’s language derived from NeXT.

Windows, I have heard contains C, C++ and Intel Assembly. Do Linux or Mac OS contain any Assembly code?

Also, are there scripting languages like Ruby, Python, etc used by the OS developers for scripting parts of the OS? What parts of the OS would be written in each language?

14 Answers 14

• Windows: C++, kernel is in C
• Mac: Objective C, kernel is in C (IO PnP subsystem is Embedded C++)
• Linux: Most things are in C, many userland apps are in Python, KDE is all C++

All kernels will use some assembly code as well.

Linux: C. Some parts in assembly.

[. ] It’s mostly in C, but most people wouldn’t call what I write C. It uses every conceivable feature of the 386 I could find, as it was also a project to teach me about the 386. As already mentioned, it uses a MMU, for both paging (not to disk yet) and segmentation. It’s the segmentation that makes it REALLY 386 dependent (every task has a 64Mb segment for code & data — max 64 tasks in 4Gb. Anybody who needs more than 64Mb/task — tough cookies). [. ] Some of my «C»-files (specifically mm.c) are almost as much assembler as C. [. ] Unlike minix, I also happen to LIKE interrupts, so interrupts are handled without trying to hide the reason behind them. (Source)

Mac OS X: Cocoa mostly in Objective-C. Kernel written in C, some parts in assembly.

Mac OS X, at the kernel layer, is mostly an older, free operating system called BSD (specifically, it’s Darwin, a sort of hybrid of BSD, Mach, and a few other things). almost entirely C, with a bit of assembler thrown in. (Source)

Much of Cocoa is implemented in Objective-C, an object-oriented language that is compiled to run at incredible speed, yet employes a truly dynamic runtime making it uniquely flexible. Because Objective-C is a superset of C, it is easy to mix C and even C++ into your Cocoa applications. (Source)

Windows: C, C++, C#. Some parts in assembler.

We use almost entirely C, C++, and C# for Windows. Some areas of code are hand tuned/hand written assembly. (Source)

Find Programming Language Used

Whats the easiest way to find out what programming language an application was written in? I would like to know if its vb or c++ or delphi or .net etc from the program exe file.

13 Answers 13

of course if they used a packer, some unpacking will need to be done first 🙂

Start it up and check what run-time DLLs it uses with Process Explorer.

If that doesn’t make it immediately obvious, search the web for references to those DLLs.

Most disassemblers (including Olly I think) can easily show you the text contained in an EXE or DLL, and that can also sometimes give a clue. Delphi types are often prefixed with T as in TMyClass.

If it’s a small executable with no DLL references and no text you might be SOL. At that point you’d need to look for idioms of particular compilers, and it would be mostly guesswork.

There is an art to detecting what language a program was written in. It is possible but there are no hard and fast rules. It takes a lot of experience (and it also leads to the question «Why would you want to. » but here are a few ideas on how to go about it.

What you’re looking for is a «signature». The signature could be a certain string that is included by the compiler, a reference to an API that is quite common in the programming tool being used, or even a style of programing that is common to the tools being used, visible in the strings contained in the application.

In addition, there are styles to how an application is deployed: various configuration files found in the deployment directory, dlls and assemblies and even images, directories or icons.

Java applications wrapped in a self-launching executable will contain references to java libs, and will likely have certain libraries or files included in the same directory that indicate that it’s java.

As indicated in other answers a managed assembly will show certain signs as well: you can open it in Reflector etc. While it is correct that c# and VB are «interchangable» once compiled, it is not true that they are identical. If you use Reflector to disassemble VB code you will quite often see that the assembly references the Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll assembly. You’ll be able to tell the difference between Mono applications because they will most likely contain references to the mono assemblies.

Many compilers assemble and link code in certain ways, and leave footprints behind. For example, examining a window executable using «strings: tab in Process Explorer, you’ll see a lot of strings. Using these you may be able to determine programming styles, methods called, error or trace methods withint the exe.

An example is that compilers use different mechanisms for localization: Microsoft stores localized strings in XML files or resource files. Other compilers will use a different tactic.

Another example is c++ name mangling. The CodeWarrior compiler uses a different algorithm to mangle the names of the member variables and functions of a call than Visual Studio.

I suppose you could write a book on the subject of accurately determining the lineage of any executable. This subject would probably be called «programming archeology».

Computer Programming Languages

April 15, 2021 | Staff Writers

What are Computer Programming Languages?

Computer programming languages allow us to give instructions to a computer in a language the computer understands. Just as many human-based languages exist, there are an array of computer programming languages that programmers can use to communicate with a computer. The portion of the language that a computer can understand is called a “binary.” Translating programming language into binary is known as “compiling.” Each language, from C Language to Python, has its own distinct features, though many times there are commonalities between programming languages.

These languages allow computers to quickly and efficiently process large and complex swaths of information. For example, if a person is given a list of randomized numbers ranging from one to ten thousand and is asked to place them in ascending order, chances are that it will take a sizable amount of time and include some errors.

There are dozens of programming languages used in the industry today. We’ve compiled overviews of the 12 most important, relevant and in-demand of these languages below.

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Python

Python is an advanced programming language that is interpreted, object-oriented and built on flexible and robust semantics.

Who uses it?

Professions and Industries:

What makes learning it important?

Python lets you work quickly to integrate systems as a scripting or glue language. It’s also suited for Rapid Application Develop (RAD).

• The game Civilization 4 has all its inner logic, including AI, implemented in Python.
• NASA uses Python in its Integrated Planning System as a standard scripting language.
• Features:
  • Simple to learn and easily read
  • Associated web frameworks for developing web-based applications
  • Free interpreter and standard library available in source or binary on major platforms

Where did it start?

Python was developed in the late 1980s at CWI in the Netherlands and first released to the public in 1991.

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Java is a general-purpose, object-oriented, high-level programming language with several features that make it ideal for web-based development.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • Software engineers, Java developers
  • Used by employers in communications, education, finance, health sciences, hospitality, retail and utilities
• Major Organizations: V2COM, Eclipse Information Technologies, eBay, Eurotech
• Specializations and Industries: Internet of Things (IoT), Enterprise Architecture, Cloud Computing

What makes learning it important?

Java is used to develop enterprise-level applications for video games and mobile apps, as well as to create web-based applications with JSP (Java Server Pages). When used online, Java allows applets to be downloaded and used through a browser, which can then perform a function not normally available.

• Programs that use or are written in Java include Adobe Creative Suite, Eclipse, Lotus Notes, Minecraft and OpenOffice.
• Java is the core foundation for developing Android apps.
• Features:
  • Application portability
  • Robust and interpreted language
  • Extensive network library

Where did it start?

Originally known as Oak, Java was developed in 1990 at Sun Microsystems to add capabilities to the C++ language. Java was developed according to the principle of WORA (Write Once Run Anywhere). The language was introduced to the public in 1995 and is now owned by Oracle.

Ruby/Ruby on Rails

Ruby is an open-sourced, object-oriented scripting language that can be used independently or as part of the Ruby on Rails web framework.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • Ruby on Rails developers, software engineers, data science engineers
  • Used by employers in technology, engineering, professional services, design, science and quality control
• Major Organizations: Github, Scribd, Groupon, NASA Langley Research Center, Blue Sequence (part of Toyota Motor Manufacturing), Motorola, Google (SketchUp)
• Specializations and Industries: Web App Development, Robotics, Networking, System Administration and Security

What makes learning it important?

Ruby is used for simulations, 3D modeling, and to manage and track information.

• Basecamp, Amazon, Twitter and Groupon were all created using Ruby on Rails.
• NASA uses Ruby to conduct simulations.
• Features:
  • Free to use, copy, modify and distribute
  • Intuitive and flexible language
  • Completely object-oriented (ability to use method chaining)

Where did it start?

Designed in 1995, Ruby’s creator described it as “simple in appearance, but it is very complex inside, just like our human body.”

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HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

HTML is the standard markup language used to create web pages; it ensures proper formatting of text and images (using tags) so that Internet browsers can display them in the ways they were intended to look.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • Web developers, technical editors, email designers, software engineers
  • Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional Services, Management, Marketing, Customer Services and Sales
• Major Organizations: Apple, CyberCoders, Apex Systems, CareerBuilder
• Specializations and Industries Where HTML is Used Most: Web Development, Email Programming

What makes learning it important?

HTML is used to create electronic documents (pages) displayed online. Visit any page and you will see an example of HTML in action.

• The diversity and complexity in the structure and appearance of today’s sites is made possible with HTML.
• Features:
  • Easy to use and learn the basics of HTML
  • Free and accessible
  • Multiple versions available

Where did it start?

HTML was created by physicist Tim Berners-Lee in 1990 to allow scientists to share documents online. Before then, all communication was sent using plain text. HTML made “rich” text possible (i.e. text formatting and visual images).

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JavaScript

JavaScript is a client-side programming language that runs inside a client browser and processes commands on a computer rather than a server. It is commonly placed into an HTML or ASP file. Despite its name, JavaScript is not related to Java.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • JavaScript developers, Web developers, software engineers
  • Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Marketing, Finance and Healthcare
• Major Organizations: WordPress, Soundcloud, Khan Academy, Linkedin, Groupon, Yahoo and many others
• Specializations and Industries Where JavaScript is Used Most: Front End Website Development, Gaming Development

What makes learning it important?

JavaScript is used primarily in Web development to manipulate various page elements and make them more dynamic, including scrolling abilities, printing the time and date, creating a calendar and other tasks not possible through plain HTML. It can also be used to create games and APIs.

• The agency Cyber-Duck in Britain uses public APIs, created with JavaScript, to pull in data about crime and enables users to review a local area.
• Tweetmap, created by Pete Smart and Rob Hawkes using JavaScript, represents a world map that is proportionally sized according to the number of tweets.
• Features:
  • Basic features are easy to learn
  • Multiple frameworks
  • Users can reference JQuery, a comprehensive Javascript library

Where did it start?

JavaScript was designed by Netscape and originally known as LiveScript, before becoming JavaScript in 1995.

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C Language

C Language is a structure-oriented, middle-level programming language mostly used to develop low-level applications.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • Software developers, computer engineers, business and systems analysts, IT and Web content administrators, embedded software engineers
  • Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Management, Healthcare and Professional Services
• Major Organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Cisco, Raytheon
• Specializations and Industries Where C Language is Used Most: Embedded Systems, Systems Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Automation, Computer Graphics, Space Research, Image Processing and Game Programming

What makes learning it important?

C Language is used to develop systems applications that are integrated into operating systems such as Windows, UNIX and Linux, as well as embedded softwares. Applications include graphics packages, word processors, spreadsheets, operating system development, database systems, compilers and assemblers, network drivers and interpreters.

• Facebook’s TAO systems is programmed mostly using C language.
• Most device drivers are still developed using C Language.
• Features:
  • Simple to learn; there are only 32 keywords to master
  • Easy to write systems programs such as compilers and interpreters
  • Foundational language for beginners

Where did it start?

The C Language was developed in 1972 at Bell Labs specifically for implementing the UNIX system. It eventually gave rise to many advanced programming languages, including C++, Java C#, JavaScript and Pearl.

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C++ is a general purpose, object-oriented, middle-level programming language and is an extension of C language, which makes it possible to code C++ in a “C style”. In some situations, coding can be done in either format, making C++ an example of a hybrid language.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • C++ software engineers, C++ software developers, embedded engineers, programmer analysts
  • Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Professional Services, Design, Quality Control and Management
• Major Company and Organization Users: Google, Mozilla, Firefox, Winamp, Adobe Software, Amazon, Lockheed Martin
• Specializations: System/Application Software, Drivers, Client-Server Applications, Embedded Firmware

What makes learning it important?

The C++ language is used to create computer programs and packaged software, such as games, office applications, graphics and video editors and operating systems.

• The Blackberry OS is developed using C++.
• The newest Microsoft Office suite was developed using C++.
• Features:
  • Often the first programming language taught at college level
  • Quick processing and compilation mechanism
  • Robust standard library (STL)

Where did it start?

Released in 1983 and often considered an object-oriented version of C language, C++ was created to compile lean, efficient code, while providing high-level abstractions to better manage large development projects.

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Pronounced C-sharp (not C-hashtag), C# is a multi-paradigm programming language that features strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented and component-oriented disciplines.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • C# developers, automation test engineers, software engineers, senior .net Web developers
  • Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional Services, Management and Quality Control
• Major Organizations: Microsoft Intel, Hewlett Packard
• Specializations: Windows-based platforms

What makes learning it important?

C# helps developers create XML web services and Microsoft .NET-connected applications for Windows operating systems and the internet.

• Used to develop a wide range of software applications that accompany Visual Studio IDE.
• The only language used by the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
• Features:
  • Similar to Java in capabilities
  • Ideal for beginners
  • The go-to for working on Microsoft apps

Where did it start?

C# was developed in 2000 as part of Microsoft’s release of .NET framework; in 2003 it became an ISO standard. C# was based off of C, C++, and Java languages.

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Objective-C

Objective-C is a simple, general-purpose and object-oriented language. It uses a system of message passing borrowed from the language Smalltalk; when an object in Objective-C is sent a message, it can choose to ignore or forward to another object, rather than return a value.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • IT and Web content administrators, iOS and Android mobile developers, software engineers
  • Used by employers in Information Technology, Engineering, Management, Healthcare and Design
• Major Organizations: Apple, CyberCoders
• Specializations: Software development

What makes learning it important?

Objective-C is primarily used by developers to create apps for iOS and OS X.

• From everything to Twitter and Facebook to Wells Fargo and Mint, objective-C is the most commonly used language to write programs for apple products.
• Features
  • Increased flexibility with dynamic typing
  • Often used alongside a framework such as Cocoa or Cocoa Touch
  • Great first language for beginning programmers

Where did it start?

Objective-C was developed at Apple in 1983 to address deficiencies (specifically lack of object-orientation) in C language. It was licensed by NeXT in 1988.

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PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)

PHP is an open-source scripting language designed for creating dynamic web pages that effectively work with databases. It is also used as a general-purpose programming language.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • PHP developers, PHP software engineers
  • Used across industries, to include Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Professional Services, Healthcare, Management and Finance
• Major Organizations: Facebook, Yahoo, CyberCoders, NextGen
• Specializations Where PHP is Used Most: Web Application Development, Server-Side Scripting, Command Line Scripting

What makes learning it important?

PHP is primarily used alongside dynamic data-heavy websites to collect form data. It’s also used in app development to generate dynamic page content.

• PHP is part of the LAMP platform used by Facebook and Yahoo.
• Platforms such as Joomla, WordPress and Drupal use the PHP language.
• Features:
  • Easy to learn (as simple as embedding code inside HTML)
  • Free and opensource
  • Can be used on all major operating systems and web servers

Where did it start?

PHP was released in 1995 as a server-side scripting language, which is processed on a server to become a website in plain HTML.

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SQL (Structured Query Language)

SQL is a database query language (not a development language) that allows for adding, accessing and managing content in a database. It is the language that allows programmers to perform the common acronym CRUD (Create; Read; Update; Delete) within a database.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • SQL server developers, database testers, software developers, database administrators
  • Used across industries like Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Management, Professional Servers, Business and Finance
• Major Organizations: SQL is used by most companies and organizations that gather data. Examples include Robert Half Technology, Nigel Frank, CyberCoders and UnitedHealthCare.
• Specializations Where SQL is Used Most: Data Analysis and Big Data Mining

What makes learning it important?

SQL interacts with the backend database of web application. It is the “de facto standard” database language, always used in conjunction with another programming language. SQL programs are implemented as a way for businesses and organizations to access and manipulate information stored in their databases.

• Relational database management systems that use SQL include MySQL (by Oracle), Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server and others.
• Features:
  • Simple syntax
  • Free and easily accessible

Where did it start?

SQL was developed at the IBM Research Center in 1974 and originally known as SEQUEL. The first commercial version was introduced in 1979 by ORACLE.

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Swift

Swift is Apple’s newest open-source, multi-paradigm programming language for iOS and OS X apps. Swift integrates Objective-C’s named parameters and object-oriented model, while including an advanced compiler, debugger and framework infrastructure.

Who uses it?

• Professions and Industries:
  • Swift Platform Developers, iOS Mobile Application Developers, Software Developers, Senior Programmers, Data Engineers
  • Information Technology, Engineering, Design, Management and Professional Services
• Major Organizations: Apple, Getty Images, Slack, Dow Jones, Playlist Media
• Specializations Where Swift is Used Most: Software development

What makes learning it important?

Swift is primarily used by developers to create apps for iOS and OS X.

• Dow Jones is rewriting sections of its mobile Wall Street Journal app using Swift.
• Getty Images built its consumer-facing app, Stream, using Swift.
• Features:
  • Supports ‘playgrounds,’ a feature that lets programmers experiment and see immediate results
  • Easy to understand syntax
  • Ideal for writing production-ready code

Where did it start?

Swift, which is based off of the Objective-C programming language, was introduced at Apple’s 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The newest version, Swift 2, was released as an open-source language in 2015.