What are EXE files made of?

Almost everyone has opened an EXE file in a text editor and been mystified by the apparent nonsense. How does a computer make sense of it? Let’s uncover the illusion.


My links:

AMD64 programmer’s manual:
8086 and 8088 datasheets:
What I wore during the Tandy1000 filming (should have used black gloves too):

That’s numberwang!

The flying numbers animation is from AllDesignCreative, by V. Sudharsan.

#numbers #assembler #hacking

[sebto]

If the instructions of the .EXE files are for the processor, why there are differences with the unix/linux executable files? Or there isn't? Windows/DOS filters those instructions? Or there is a kind of instructions for OS, and others for CPU?

[seanjackson]

I loved that you showed off those computer sounds btw.

[FredM]

I really like how you show that same numbers can be a text, a sound, a bitmap, depending of its interpretation !

[Rand]

Before the Tandy 1000 appeared I was thinking, "Only Bisqwit could explain Windows, on Linux" ❤️

[marioskoutras]

When you enable subtitles : [Tandy1000: bukiikiikiikii kiikiikii].. Gold!

[JimLeonard]

A little disappointed the MZ EXE header/structure wasn't touched on, as that is what I thought the video was about, but it's still an entertaining look at what x86 code actually is.

[mariobrother]

Clever use of the Papers, Please sound effects when comparing the Tandy disassembly code to the datasheet, it fits quite well!

[pienasty]

Great simple explanation of a somewhat scary thing, I love it! Glad to see more videos from you!

[ILightWas]

4:30 "Good afternoon this is your captain speaking, welcome onboard Flight 4B7 with service from San Francisco to New York.
We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time.
We ask that you please fasten your seat-belts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments.
We also ask that ... "

[core]

This is the stuff I am subscribed for. Actually, this is the stuff why I use youtube at all. I am glad you exist and I love your content 👍

[onlyposting]

Hey ! Nice to see you back. Hope you're doing well...

[Koettnylle]

I think including the sounds is GOOD for channel growth

[jlmg]

today I learned something new! Thanks Bisqwit. Also the editing was really nice. God bless you!

[RemnantCult]

Your editing skills have improved. That really helps with greenhorn programmers just learning about low-level stuff. Keep it up!

[ugandanknuckles]

That was highly informative for a laymen such as myself who only deals in environments. Looking at numbers makes my head spin.
ASCII looks daunting, the 8008 chip really does simplify what is today a maze of a processing instruction.
It's amazing anyone could make a program let alone multiplayer servers etc with tons of stuff happening both inside and outside.
Just all looks so daunting...

[vegardertilbake]

My brain increases just a bit for every Bisqwit video I watch. Thanks!

[crunchyduck]

I've been working on a small game and that section with the old PC perfectly fit the vibe I wanted to go for in it, and ever since I've been down a rabbit hole of foley work, digging up videos of the music of FDDs. thank you greatly.

[vnceigz]

8:41 - For those wondering, this bit of code is just parsing the command-line arguments. 😉

[InakaGames]

Jumping in here, just to let you know that I love this content, and that the work you put into Simon's Quest is absolutely transformative in making a definitive edition of the game. Thank you sir!

[TheBackyardChemist]

I fear an Unicode video would need to be 1 hour long :D
I think the other parts of the .exe file could be just as interesting, think self extracting archives, etc.