How to Open an SO File?
Although, GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) can theoretically open SO files, they aren’t deliberated to be seen or used in the same way as other file types. Instead, they are simply placed in the appropriate folder, where the dynamic link loader of Linux automatically uses them by other programs. When individuals access it in a text editor on Linux or Windows, they might be able to handle it as a text file, but it is unlikely that text would be presented in a human-readable format.
Converting SO Files
Due to the nature of these files and their functions, it is unlikely that a program exists that can convert SO to DLL to be used with Windows. Converting SO files to other file types, such as JAR or A (a Stat Library file), is also not easy. However, you may be able to convert SO files to JAR files by easily zipping SO files into an archive file such as .ZIP and changing them into the .JAR extension.
Extracting C Source Code from an SO File
The original C source file cannot be recovered because it includes data that is simply unrepresentable in the shared object (.SO) file machine code. However, object code can be broken down into readable, understandable machine code. Therefore, your C code’s logic should not be regarded as a “secret”. Decompilers may be mentioned, but they do not extract the source code; instead, they evaluate the executable and create new source code that ought to have the same functionality as the original.
Conclusion
A file containing Shared library files has SO extension. They contain data which one or more programs may utilize to transfer resources, removing the necessity of the application(s) asking the SO file to supply the file. Extracting C source code from an SO file is generally not possible. Once your code has been compiled, all that is left in the binary is machine code. There are no compiled objects or files that contain the source. It’s necessary to keep this in mind when working with SO files.
