N> The process of aNalysiNg aN existiNg system to ideNtify its compoNeNts aNd their iNterrelatioNships aNd create represeNtatioNs of the system iN aNother form or at a higher level of abstractioN. Reverse eNgiNeeriNg is usually uNdertakeN iN order to redesigN the system for better maiNtaiNability or to produce a copy of a system without access to the desigN from which it was origiNally produced. For example, oNe might take the executable code of a computer program, ruN it to study how it behaved with differeNt iNput aNd theN attempt to write a program oNeself which behaved ideNtically (or better). AN {iNtegrated circuit} might also be reverse eNgiNeered by aN uNscrupulous compaNy wishiNg to make uNliceNsed copies of a popular chip. (1995-10-06)
