Compilation format: console vs GUI vs DLL?

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Mino

Joined: 14 Jan 2018
Posts: 163

Mino 02 Sep 2018, 21:08

Hello,
I have a little trouble distinguishing the differences between the different possible compilation formats:

Code:

format PE

Code:

format PE DLL

Code:

format PE console

Code:

format PE GUI

Code:

format ...

Both the PE and DLL format, I understand, but why have the choice between CONSOLE and GUI?
The executable stays the same, right?
So what's different between these two formats?

Also, are there other compilation formats (both for PE and ELF)?

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02 Sep 2018, 21:08

revolution
When all else fails, read the source

Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 20300
Location: In your JS exploiting you and your system

revolution 02 Sep 2018, 21:15

Console format will open a console. STDIN, STDOUT and STDERR are directed to within the console window.

GUI format has no console attached.

You can compare FASM.exe and FASMW.exe to see the difference.

Last edited by revolution on 03 Sep 2018, 23:30; edited 2 times in total

02 Sep 2018, 21:15

Furs

Joined: 04 Mar 2016
Posts: 2493

Furs 03 Sep 2018, 14:40

Mino wrote:

Both the PE and DLL format, I understand, but why have the choice between CONSOLE and GUI?
The executable stays the same, right?
So what's different between these two formats?

It just changes the subsystem field in the header.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/debug/pe-format#windows-subsystem

The PE format has headers and such like most file formats, and the "subsystem" is one of the fields in there.

You can also create your own console Window with a "GUI" if you want (in code), this is just a shortcut... Wink

03 Sep 2018, 14:40

Mino

Joined: 14 Jan 2018
Posts: 163

Mino 03 Sep 2018, 16:43

Thanks for your answers Smile

So, if I understand correctly, the format defines what "features" the program will use on the OS.

Furs wrote:

The PE format has headers and such like most file formats, and the "subsystem" is one of the fields in there.
You can also create your own console Window with a "GUI" if you want (in code), this is just a shortcut... Wink

This means that you can create a GUI without manually importing libraries with the PE GUI format?

How do we do that?

03 Sep 2018, 16:43

revolution
When all else fails, read the source

Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 20300
Location: In your JS exploiting you and your system

revolution 03 Sep 2018, 21:28

It doesn't change anything do to do with libraries or imports.

All it does is tell the OS to open a console window, or not to open a console window. Nothing else.

03 Sep 2018, 21:28

Mino

Joined: 14 Jan 2018
Posts: 163

Mino 03 Sep 2018, 23:23

It's clearer, thanks Smile

03 Sep 2018, 23:23

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