decompiler

Trigger Intents

Use this skill when user asks for:

"decompile this function"
pseudocode understanding or AST-level analysis
local variable semantics in decompiled form
decompiler-centric pattern mining (returns/calls/conditions)

Route to:

annotations for persistent comments/renames after interpretation
types for struct/enum/type construction and application
disassembly when decompiler is unavailable or insufficient

Do This First (Warm-Start Sequence)

-- 1) Capability/profile probe
SELECT * FROM pragma_table_list WHERE name IN ('pseudocode', 'ctree', 'ctree_lvars');

-- 2) Pick one concrete function target
SELECT name, printf('0x%X', addr) AS addr, size
FROM funcs
ORDER BY size DESC
LIMIT 10;

-- 3) View decompiled text via primary read surface
SELECT decompile(0x401000);

Interpretation guidance:

decompile(addr) is primary display surface.
pseudocode/ctree* are structured query/edit surfaces.

Global Constraint Reminder (Critical)

Always constrain decompiler tables by function:

WHERE func_addr = 0x...

Without this, decompiler tables may decompile every function and become extremely slow.

Failure and Recovery

No Hex-Rays/decompiler tables unavailable:
- Fall back to disassembly + xrefs workflows.
Empty/partial rows:
- Confirm target func_addr exists and refresh decompile cache (decompile(addr, 1) where supported).
Mutation did not appear:
- Run mandatory mutation loop (read -> edit -> refresh -> verify).

Handoff Patterns

decompiler -> types for local type seeding and richer declarations.
decompiler -> annotations for persistent narrative and naming.
decompiler -> disassembly for opcode-level validation.

Decompiler Tables (Hex-Rays Required)

CRITICAL: Always filter by func_addr. Without constraint, these tables will decompile EVERY function - extremely slow!

pseudocode

The pseudocode table is a structured line-by-line pseudocode with writable comments. Use decompile(addr) to view pseudocode; use this table only for surgical edits (comments) or structured queries.

Column	Type	Writable	Description
`func_addr`	INT	No	Function address
`line_num`	INT	No	Line number
`line`	TEXT	No	Pseudocode text
`addr`	INT	No	Corresponding assembly address (from COLOR_ADDR anchor)
`comment`	TEXT	Yes	Decompiler comment at this addr
`comment_placement`	TEXT	Yes	Comment placement: `semi` (inline, default), `block1` (above line)

Filter behavior:

WHERE func_addr = X: best performance; iterates pseudocode for one function only.
WHERE addr = X: decompiles only the containing function and returns matching lines for that EA.
WHERE line_num = N: scans functions and returns rows at that line index; use only when you need cross-function line alignment.

Comment placements: semi (after ;), block1 (own line above), block2, curly1, curly2, brace1, brace2, colon, case, else, do, asm, try. An unrecognized placement string is silently coerced to semi.

-- VIEWING: Use decompile() function, NOT the pseudocode table
SELECT decompile(0x401000);

-- COMMENTING: Use pseudocode table to add/edit/delete comments
UPDATE pseudocode SET comment_placement = 'semi',
                      comment = 'buffer overflow here'
WHERE func_addr = 0x401000 AND addr = 0x401020;

-- Add block comment (appears on own line above the statement)
UPDATE pseudocode SET comment_placement = 'block1', comment = 'vulnerable call'
WHERE func_addr = 0x401000 AND addr = 0x401020;

-- Delete comments at a resolved unique anchor
UPDATE pseudocode SET comment = NULL
WHERE func_addr = 0x401000 AND addr = 0x401020;

True function comments are not part of pseudocode:

use UPDATE funcs SET comment = ... WHERE addr = ... for the regular function comment
use UPDATE funcs SET rpt_comment = ... WHERE addr = ... for the repeatable function comment

pseudocode_orphan_comments

Persisted Hex-Rays comments that no longer attach to the current decompiled output of a live function. Use it to inspect or delete stale comments.

Column	Type	Writable	Description
`func_addr`	INT	No	Function address
`func_name`	TEXT	No	Current function name for triage
`addr`	INT	No	Stored orphan comment EA
`comment_placement`	TEXT	No	Stored `treeloc_t.itp` placement
`orphan_comment`	TEXT	Delete-only	Stored orphan comment text

Rules:

UPDATE ... SET orphan_comment = NULL or '' deletes that orphan comment.
Any non-empty write is rejected.

pseudocode_v_orphan_comment_groups

Grouped, read-only orphan triage surface. One row per function with orphan comments.

Columns: func_addr, func_name, orphan_count, orphan_comments_json

Comment Anchor Resolution (Critical)

Use this recipe before writing heading-style decompiler notes.

Rules:

Do not assume addr == func_addr.
The first displayed pseudocode row often has addr = 0 and is not the right write target.
One addr can map to multiple rows ({, statement, }); prefer a unique non-brace anchor.
For true function comments, update funcs.comment / funcs.rpt_comment instead of pseudocode.

-- Resolve the first attachable non-brace row near function start
SELECT line_num, addr, line
FROM pseudocode
WHERE func_addr = 0x401000
  AND addr != 0
  AND TRIM(line) NOT IN ('{', '}')
  AND addr IN (
    SELECT addr
    FROM pseudocode
    WHERE func_addr = 0x401000 AND addr != 0
    GROUP BY addr
    HAVING COUNT(*) = 1
  )
ORDER BY line_num
LIMIT 1;

-- Write a heading-style summary using the resolved addr
UPDATE pseudocode
SET comment_placement = 'block1',
    comment = 'One-paragraph summary of the function.'
WHERE func_addr = 0x401000
  AND addr = (
    SELECT addr
    FROM pseudocode
    WHERE func_addr = 0x401000
      AND addr != 0
      AND TRIM(line) NOT IN ('{', '}')
      AND addr IN (
        SELECT addr
        FROM pseudocode
        WHERE func_addr = 0x401000 AND addr != 0
        GROUP BY addr
        HAVING COUNT(*) = 1
      )
    ORDER BY line_num
    LIMIT 1
  );

ctree

Full Abstract Syntax Tree of decompiled code.

Column	Type	Description
`func_addr`	INT	Function address
`item_id`	INT	Unique node ID
`is_expr`	INT	1=expression, 0=statement
`op`	INT	Raw numeric op code
`op_name`	TEXT	Node type (`cot_call`, `cit_if`, etc.)
`addr`	INT	Address in binary
`parent_id`	INT	Parent node ID
`depth`	INT	Tree depth
`x_id`, `y_id`, `z_id`	INT	Child node IDs
`cond_id`	INT	Condition child ID (if/while/for)
`then_id`	INT	Then-branch child ID (if)
`else_id`	INT	Else-branch child ID (if)
`body_id`	INT	Body child ID (loops)
`init_id`	INT	Init child ID (for)
`step_id`	INT	Step child ID (for)
`var_idx`	INT	Local variable index
`obj_addr`	INT	Target address
`num_value`	INT	Numeric literal
`str_value`	TEXT	String literal
`helper_name`	TEXT	Helper function name (`cot_helper`)
`member_offset`	INT	Member offset (`cot_memptr`/`cot_memref`)
`var_name`	TEXT	Variable name
`var_is_stk`	INT	1=variable is a stack variable
`var_is_reg`	INT	1=variable is a register variable
`var_is_arg`	INT	1=variable is a function argument
`obj_name`	TEXT	Symbol name
`label_num`	INT	Label number when node defines a label
`goto_label_num`	INT	Target label number for `cit_goto` nodes

ctree_lvars

Local variables from decompilation.

Column	Type	Description
`func_addr`	INT	Function address
`idx`	INT	Variable index
`name`	TEXT	Variable name
`type`	TEXT	Type string
`comment`	TEXT	Local-variable comment shown next to declaration
`size`	INT	Size in bytes
`is_arg`	INT	1=function argument
`is_result`	INT	1=holds the function result
`is_stk_var`	INT	1=stack variable
`is_reg_var`	INT	1=register variable
`stkoff`	INT	Stack offset
`mreg`	INT	Microcode register number (register variables)

Mutation guidance:

Prefer idx-based updates for deterministic writes.
type accepts scalars, pointers, and array types — e.g. SET type = 'WCHAR[6]' or '_BYTE[392]' for wide stack strings / fixed buffers (the type must fit the local's stack slot).
comment updates map to Hex-Rays local-variable comments (lv.cmt) and appear in decompile(...) output.

ctree_labels

Decompiler control-flow labels. Supports UPDATE (name) and mirrors label facilities on cfunc_t.

Column	Type	RW	Description
`func_addr`	INT	R	Function address
`label_num`	INT	R	Label number (`LABEL_<n>`)
`name`	TEXT	RW	Current label name
`item_id`	INT	R	Backing ctree item id for this label
`item_addr`	INT	R	Address of label-bearing ctree item
`is_user_defined`	INT	R	1 if name differs from default `LABEL_<n>`

ctree_call_args

Flattened call arguments for easy querying.

Column	Type	Description
`func_addr`	INT	Function address
`call_item_id`	INT	Call node ID
`call_addr`	INT	Call-site EA
`call_obj_name`	TEXT	Callee object name
`call_helper_name`	TEXT	Callee helper name
`arg_idx`	INT	Argument index (0-based)
`arg_item_id`	INT	Argument expression item ID
`arg_op`	TEXT	Argument type
`arg_var_idx`	INT	Local variable index when the argument is a variable
`arg_var_name`	TEXT	Variable name if applicable
`arg_var_is_stk`	INT	1=argument variable is a stack variable
`arg_var_is_arg`	INT	1=argument variable is itself a function argument
`arg_obj_addr`	INT	Object address when the argument is a global object
`arg_obj_name`	TEXT	Object name when the argument is a global object
`arg_num_value`	INT	Numeric value
`arg_str_value`	TEXT	String value

Decompiler Views

Pre-built views for common patterns (always filter by func_addr):

View	Purpose
`ctree_v_calls`	Function calls with callee info
`ctree_v_indirect_calls`	Indirect/dynamic call sites for call-site typing
`ctree_v_loops`	for/while/do loops
`ctree_v_ifs`	if statements
`ctree_v_comparisons`	Comparisons with operands
`ctree_v_signed_ops`	Signed comparison/arithmetic operations
`ctree_v_assignments`	Assignments with operands
`ctree_v_derefs`	Pointer dereferences
`ctree_v_returns`	Return statements with value details
`ctree_v_calls_in_loops`	Calls inside loops (recursive)
`ctree_v_calls_in_ifs`	Calls inside if branches (recursive)
`ctree_v_leaf_funcs`	Functions with no outgoing calls
`ctree_v_call_chains`	Call chain paths up to depth 10

Type Tables and Views

For types, types_members, types_enum_values, types_func_args schemas, type views, and type CRUD examples, see types skill.

SQL Functions — Decompilation

When to use decompile() vs pseudocode table:

Read/show pseudocode -> always start with SELECT decompile(addr). Returns full function as one text block with per-line prefixes.
Local declaration hints -> declaration lines include compact local-variable index hints ([lv:N]) so rename operations can target UPDATE ctree_lvars ... WHERE func_addr = ... AND idx = N safely.
Need fresh output after edits -> use SELECT decompile(addr, 1) to force re-decompilation.
Need structured line access or comment CRUD -> query/update the pseudocode table.

Function	Description
`decompile(addr)`	PREFERRED -- Full pseudocode with line prefixes
`decompile(addr, 1)`	Same output but forces re-decompilation
`call_arg_addrs(call_addr)`	Read persisted argument-loader addresses as JSON
`set_union_selection(func_addr, addr, path)`	Set/clear union selection path at EA
`set_union_selection_item(func_addr, item_id, path)`	Set/clear union selection path by `ctree.item_id`
`set_union_selection_addr_arg(func_addr, addr, arg_idx, path[, callee])`	PREFERRED call-arg targeting helper
`call_arg_item(func_addr, addr, arg_idx[, callee])`	Resolve call-arg coordinate to explicit `arg_item_id`
`ctree_item_at(func_addr, addr[, op_name[, nth]])`	Resolve generic expression coordinate to explicit `ctree.item_id`
`set_union_selection_addr_expr(func_addr, addr, path[, op_name[, nth]])`	Set/clear union selection via generic expression coordinate
`get_union_selection(func_addr, addr)`	Read union selection path JSON at EA
`get_union_selection_item(func_addr, item_id)`	Read union selection path JSON by `ctree.item_id`
`get_union_selection_addr_arg(func_addr, addr, arg_idx[, callee])`	Read union selection JSON via call-arg coordinate
`get_union_selection_addr_expr(func_addr, addr[, op_name[, nth]])`	Read union selection JSON via generic expression coordinate
`set_numform(func_addr, addr, opnum, spec)`	Set/clear numform directly by EA + operand index
`get_numform(func_addr, addr, opnum)`	Read numform JSON directly by EA + operand index
`set_numform_item(func_addr, item_id, opnum, spec)`	Set/clear numform by explicit ctree item id
`get_numform_item(func_addr, item_id, opnum)`	Read numform JSON by explicit ctree item id
`set_numform_addr_arg(func_addr, addr, arg_idx, opnum, spec[, callee])`	Set/clear numform via call-arg coordinate
`get_numform_addr_arg(func_addr, addr, arg_idx, opnum[, callee])`	Read numform JSON via call-arg coordinate
`set_numform_addr_expr(func_addr, addr, opnum, spec[, op_name[, nth]])`	Set/clear numform via generic expression coordinate
`get_numform_addr_expr(func_addr, addr, opnum[, op_name[, nth]])`	Read numform JSON via generic expression coordinate

Targeting guidance:

Use *_addr_arg helpers for repeated callees and call-site arguments.
Use ctree_item_at(..., op_name, nth) plus *_addr_expr helpers for non-call expressions and assignment-side struct/union population stores.

SQL Functions — Modification

For applied_types, parse_decls(), and name writes via names/funcs, see types skill.

Preferred SQL write surface for function metadata:

UPDATE funcs SET name = '...', prototype = '...', comment = '...', rpt_comment = '...' WHERE addr = ...
prototype maps to applied_types behavior and invalidates decompiler cache.
comment / rpt_comment map to get_func_cmt() / set_func_cmt().

Performance Rules

Table	Architecture	Key Constraint	Notes
`pseudocode`	Cached	`func_addr`	Lazy per-function cache, freed after query
`pseudocode_orphan_comments`	Cached	`func_addr`	Query-scoped orphan rows; writable delete-only
`pseudocode_v_orphan_comment_groups`	Cached	`func_addr`	Query-scoped grouped orphan triage; start broad with `LIMIT`
`ctree`	Generator	`func_addr`	Lazy streaming, never materializes full result, respects LIMIT
`ctree_lvars`	Cached	`func_addr`	Lazy per-function cache, freed after query
`ctree_call_args`	Generator	`func_addr`	Lazy streaming, respects LIMIT

Critical rules:

ALL decompiler tables require func_addr constraint. Without it, every function is decompiled.
Generator tables (ctree, ctree_call_args) stream rows lazily and stop at LIMIT.
Decompiler views (ctree_v_calls, ctree_v_indirect_calls, ctree_v_loops, etc.) inherit the func_addr constraint -- always filter.
Hex-Rays cfunc cache: decompile(addr) is internally cached. decompile(addr, 1) forces a full re-decompilation -- only use when you need to see effects of a mutation.

Cost model:

decompile(addr)          -> ~50-200ms first call, ~0ms cached
decompile(addr, 1)       -> ~50-200ms always (forces re-decompile)
ctree WHERE func_addr=X  -> one decompilation + streaming rows
ctree (no constraint)    -> one decompilation per row in funcs

Additional Resources

For detailed workflows (capability probing, mutation loop, call-site typing, local type seeding, fallback patterns, full worked examples): references/decompiler-workflows.md
For detailed view schemas (ctree_v_indirect_calls, ctree_v_returns): references/decompiler-views.md
For ctree node types, manipulation patterns, and advanced CTEs: references/ctree-manipulation.md

About this skill