A Comprehensive Guide to Python Binary Decompilation

Learn how to decompile Python bytecode using the uncompyle6 tool with a hands-on example.

Step 1: Install uncompyle6

Begin by installing the uncompyle6 tool, a popular choice for decompiling Python bytecode. Open your terminal or command prompt and run:

pip install uncompyle6

Step 2: Create a Python Script

Write a simple Python script named example_script.py. You can use a text editor of your choice for this. Here's an example script:

# example_script.py
def greet(name):
return f"Hello, {name}!"

if __name__ == "__main__":
user_name = input("Enter your name: ")
greeting = greet(user_name)
print(greeting)

Step 3: Run the Python Script

Save the script and run it using the Python interpreter:

python example_script.py

Enter your name when prompted, and the script will generate a personalized greeting.

Step 4: Locate the .pyc File

After running the script, a .pyc file will be generated in the same directory. It will have the same name as your script with a .pyc extension (e.g., example_script.pyc).

Step 5: Decompilation

Now, decompile the .pyc file using the uncompyle6 tool:

uncompyle6 -o . example_script.pyc

Replace example_script.pyc with the actual name of your .pyc file. This command will create one or more .py files in the current directory, representing the decompiled Python code.

Step 6: Examine the Decompiled Code

Open the decompiled .py file using a text editor or an integrated development environment (IDE) to examine the generated Python code. Compare it with the original script to observe the similarities and differences between the decompiled code and the source code.