One of the most common format on Windows systems is the EXE. Objects of this type are programs or applications (whatever you want to call it). Actually, to say that the system has some kind of file that opens EXE-files, in terms of posing the main question is a completely incorrect statement. And all because objects of this type are themselves executable applets.
Files with the .exe extension: what is it?
To begin, let's turn to understanding what such objects are. In fact, their appearance in Windows-systems is associated with earlier DOS. Files of this type themselves are the type of objects that themselves are capable of opening any other software add-ons.
They are compiled applications created using sometimes completely different programming languages. Use at least Delphi, at least C ++, in the end, do not feel any difference, because after converting the program code to the EXE format created using different languages, this will not play a role. Get the executable anyway.
How to open an exe file in the usual way?
Now a few words about launching applications of this type. In any Windows-system, just a double click is enough. That's just, if you follow the security policy, not all operating systems of this type can be opened in this way.
In other words, the file that opens the EXE files is absent in the system as such (the kernel of the system, whose file is not executable, is responsible for this). In versions of the operating system from the seventh and higher programs can be launched in two ways. In the first case, the usual double-click is enough. In the second, you may need to run as administrator. When the TrustedInstaller service is enabled or user account control is enhanced, the UAC system may additionally issue a confirmation message.
On the other hand, the file that opens the EXE files, strangely enough, may refer to the 7Zip executable applet with the same extension. Here are just the textual contents of the file, as well as using the same Notepad, launched at least a hundred times on behalf of the administrator, you still will not see. The only problem is that the source code is processed by the compiler.
It’s better to use the tools of Visual Studio.
Principles of Opening Application Files
Nevertheless, there is one universal option for viewing content, which few ordinary users can guess about (and by and large, they don’t know at all).
At one time, an original application called Disassembler was released, which, however, was originally developed as a decompiler for program files created exclusively using the Assembler programming language, but over time it underwent dramatic changes, and with its help it became possible to open EXE files outside depending on the original programming method. Thus, a file that opens EXE files in terms of using this particular program can be called a universal tool for viewing the structure.
Launch Issues
But with the launch itself, it is not so simple. Conditionally, EXE-files of programs can be divided into two main types. Some are presented in the form of a single executable file and are called portable applications, others are entire software systems that require loading dynamic libraries into RAM.
In other words, the presence of only one executable component and its launch does not allow activating the full-fledged work of the program. In addition, many packages also contain so-called XML files, which can store initial (preliminary) or user-set parameters and settings. Such objects for viewing information can be opened even in editors like Word or Excel.
Sometimes, for older versions of operating systems, it may be necessary to edit the properties of an object with the launch set in compatibility mode with previous systems. In most cases, this solution fixes the problem.
Creating EXE Files
As for the question about how to create an EXE file, there are several solutions. To simplify the work, you can use specialized platforms that support programming using a graphical interface, when knowledge of commands is not particularly required. This is somewhat similar to creating HTML pages in Word or developing mobile applications using Android Studio.
However, if you know at least some programming language, you can create a program file quite simply even in the standard Notepad, since this application is not only a text editor, but also a powerful programming tool that supports the syntax of most well-known languages. What it is? Roughly speaking, the program will give you errors or recommendations on the use of certain commands if incorrect data is found in the input program code.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is not necessary to talk about the presence of any special file that opens EXE files in any operating system , since the files of this type themselves are programs for which the system components of the OS are responsible for starting. However, viewing the textual language part is quite simple. On Windows, you can also use additional utilities to open and edit linked dynamic libraries. But opening files of these types with standard tools of the system like Notepad will only cause the user to see just a meaningless set of characters instead of text with source code. If the need to open EXE files is already overdue, use Disassembler or Visual Studio as a developer tool. Nothing else is left.