View Source beam_lib (stdlib v6.0)
This module provides an interface to files created by the BEAM Compiler ("BEAM files").
The format used, a variant of "EA IFF 1985" Standard for Interchange Format Files, divides data into chunks.
Chunk data can be returned as binaries or as compound terms. Compound terms are returned when chunks are referenced by names (atoms) rather than identifiers (strings). The recognized names and the corresponding identifiers are as follows:
atoms ("Atom")
attributes ("Attr")
compile_info ("CInf")
debug_info ("Dbgi")
exports ("ExpT")
imports ("ImpT")
indexed_imports ("ImpT")
labeled_exports ("ExpT")
labeled_locals ("LocT")
locals ("LocT")
documentation ("Docs")
Debug Information/Abstract Code
Option debug_info
can be specified to the Compiler (see
compile
) to have debug information, such as
Erlang Abstract Format, stored in the debug_info
chunk.
Tools such as Debugger and Xref require the debug information to be included.
Warning
Source code can be reconstructed from the debug information. To prevent this, use encrypted debug information (see below).
The debug information can also be removed from BEAM files using strip/1
,
strip_files/1
, and/or strip_release/1
.
Reconstruct Source Code
The following example shows how to reconstruct Erlang source code from the debug
information in a BEAM file Beam
:
{ok,{_,[{abstract_code,{_,AC}}]}} = beam_lib:chunks(Beam,[abstract_code]).
io:fwrite("~s~n", [erl_prettypr:format(erl_syntax:form_list(AC))]).
Encrypted Debug Information
The debug information can be encrypted to keep the source code secret, but still be able to use tools such as Debugger or Xref.
To use encrypted debug information, a key must be provided to the compiler and
beam_lib
. The key is specified as a string. It is recommended that the string
contains at least 32 characters and that both upper and lower case letters as
well as digits and special characters are used.
The default type (and currently the only type) of crypto algorithm is
des3_cbc
, three rounds of DES. The key string is scrambled using
erlang:md5/1
to generate the keys used for des3_cbc
.
Note
As far as we know by the time of writing, it is infeasible to break
des3_cbc
encryption without any knowledge of the key. Therefore, as long as the key is kept safe and is unguessable, the encrypted debug information should be safe from intruders.
The key can be provided in the following two ways:
- Use Compiler option
{debug_info_key,Key}
, seecompile
and functioncrypto_key_fun/1
to register a fun that returns the key wheneverbeam_lib
must decrypt the debug information.
If no such fun is registered, beam_lib
instead searches for an .erlang.crypt
file, see the next section.
- Store the key in a text file named
.erlang.crypt
.
In this case, Compiler option encrypt_debug_info
can be used, see
compile
.
.erlang.crypt
beam_lib
searches for .erlang.crypt
in the current directory, then the
user's home directory and then
filename:basedir(user_config, "erlang")
. If the
file is found and contains a key, beam_lib
implicitly creates a crypto key fun
and registers it.
File .erlang.crypt
is to contain a single list of tuples:
{debug_info, Mode, Module, Key}
Mode
is the type of crypto algorithm; currently, the only allowed value is
des3_cbc
. Module
is either an atom, in which case Key
is only used for the
module Module
, or []
, in which case Key
is used for all modules. Key
is
the non-empty key string.
Key
in the first tuple where both Mode
and Module
match is used.
The following is an example of an .erlang.crypt
file that returns the same key
for all modules:
[{debug_info, des3_cbc, [], "%>7}|pc/DM6Cga*68$Mw]L#&_Gejr]G^"}].
The following is a slightly more complicated example of an .erlang.crypt
providing one key for module t
and another key for all other modules:
[{debug_info, des3_cbc, t, "My KEY"},
{debug_info, des3_cbc, [], "%>7}|pc/DM6Cga*68$Mw]L#&_Gejr]G^"}].
Note
Do not use any of the keys in these examples. Use your own keys.
Summary
Types
It is not checked that the forms conform to the abstract format indicated by
AbstVersion
. no_abstract_code
means that chunk "Abst"
is present, but
empty.
Each of the functions described below accept either the filename (as a string) or a binary containing the BEAM module.
The list of attributes is sorted on Attribute
(in attrib_entry/0
) and each
attribute name occurs once in the list. The attribute values occur in the same
order as in the file. The lists of functions are also sorted.
"Attr" | "CInf" | "Dbgi" | "ExpT" | "ImpT" | "LocT" | "AtU8" | "Docs"
The format stored in the debug_info
chunk.
Functions
Reads chunk data for all chunks.
Builds a BEAM module (as a binary) from a list of chunks.
Reads chunk data for selected chunks references. The order of the returned list of chunk data is determined by the order of the list of chunks references.
Reads chunk data for selected chunks references. The order of the returned list of chunk data is determined by the order of the list of chunks references.
Unregisters the crypto key fun and terminates the process holding it, started by
crypto_key_fun/1
.
Compares the contents of two BEAM files.
Compares the BEAM files in two directories.
Registers an unary fun that is called if beam_lib
must read an debug_info
chunk that has been encrypted. The fun is held in a process that is started by
the function.
Compares the BEAM files in two directories as cmp_dirs/2
, but the names of
files that exist in only one directory or are different are presented on
standard output.
For a specified error returned by any function in this module, this function
returns a descriptive string of the error in English. For file errors, function
file:format_error(Posix)
is to be called.
Returns a list containing some information about a BEAM file as tuples
{Item, Info}
Calculates an MD5 redundancy check for the code of the module (compilation date and other attributes are not included).
Removes all chunks from a BEAM file except those used by the loader.
Removes all chunks from a BEAM file except those used by the loader or mentioned
in AdditionalChunks
.
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader from Files
.
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader or mentioned in
AdditionalChunks
from Files
.
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader from the BEAM files of a release.
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader or mentioned in
AdditionalChunks
.
Returns the module version or versions. A version is defined by module attribute
-vsn(Vsn)
.
Types
It is not checked that the forms conform to the abstract format indicated by
AbstVersion
. no_abstract_code
means that chunk "Abst"
is present, but
empty.
For modules compiled with OTP 20 onwards, the abst_code
chunk is automatically
computed from the debug_info
chunk.
-type beam() :: file:filename() | binary().
Each of the functions described below accept either the filename (as a string) or a binary containing the BEAM module.
-type chnk_rsn() :: {unknown_chunk, file:filename(), atom()} | {key_missing_or_invalid, file:filename(), abstract_code | debug_info} | {missing_backend, file:filename(), module()} | info_rsn().
-type chunkdata() :: {chunkid(), dataB()} | {abstract_code, abst_code()} | {debug_info, debug_info()} | {attributes, [attrib_entry()]} | {compile_info, [compinfo_entry()]} | {exports, [{atom(), arity()}]} | {labeled_exports, [labeled_entry()]} | {imports, [mfa()]} | {indexed_imports, [{index(), module(), Function :: atom(), arity()}]} | {locals, [{atom(), arity()}]} | {labeled_locals, [labeled_entry()]} | {atoms, [{integer(), atom()}]} | {documentation, docs()}.
The list of attributes is sorted on Attribute
(in attrib_entry/0
) and each
attribute name occurs once in the list. The attribute values occur in the same
order as in the file. The lists of functions are also sorted.
-type chunkid() :: nonempty_string().
"Attr" | "CInf" | "Dbgi" | "ExpT" | "ImpT" | "LocT" | "AtU8" | "Docs"
-type chunkname() ::
abstract_code | debug_info | attributes | compile_info | exports | labeled_exports | imports |
indexed_imports | locals | labeled_locals | atoms | documentation.
-type crypto_fun() :: fun((crypto_fun_arg()) -> term()).
-type crypto_fun_arg() :: init | clear | {debug_info, mode(), module(), file:filename()}.
-type dataB() :: binary().
The format stored in the debug_info
chunk.
To retrieve particular code representation from the backend,
Backend:debug_info(Format, Module, Data, Opts)
must be invoked. Format
is an
atom, such as erlang_v1
for the Erlang Abstract Format or core_v1
for Core
Erlang. Module
is the module represented by the beam file and Data
is the
value stored in the debug info chunk. Opts
is any list of values supported by
the Backend
. Backend:debug_info/4
must return {ok, Code}
or
{error, Term}
.
Developers must always invoke the debug_info/4
function and never rely on the
Data
stored in the debug_info
chunk, as it is opaque and may change at any
moment. no_debug_info
means that chunk "Dbgi"
is present, but empty.
-type forms() :: [erl_parse:abstract_form() | erl_parse:form_info()].
-type index() :: non_neg_integer().
-type info_rsn() :: {chunk_too_big, file:filename(), chunkid(), ChunkSize :: non_neg_integer(), FileSize :: non_neg_integer()} | {invalid_beam_file, file:filename(), Position :: non_neg_integer()} | {invalid_chunk, file:filename(), chunkid()} | {missing_chunk, file:filename(), chunkid()} | {not_a_beam_file, file:filename()} | {file_error, file:filename(), file:posix()}.
-type label() :: integer().
-type mode() :: des3_cbc.
Functions
Reads chunk data for all chunks.
-spec build_module(Chunks) -> {ok, Binary} when Chunks :: [{chunkid(), dataB()}], Binary :: binary().
Builds a BEAM module (as a binary) from a list of chunks.
-spec chunks(Beam, ChunkRefs) -> {ok, {module(), [chunkdata()]}} | {error, beam_lib, chnk_rsn()} when Beam :: beam(), ChunkRefs :: [chunkref()].
Reads chunk data for selected chunks references. The order of the returned list of chunk data is determined by the order of the list of chunks references.
-spec chunks(Beam, ChunkRefs, Options) -> {ok, {module(), [ChunkResult]}} | {error, beam_lib, chnk_rsn()} when Beam :: beam(), ChunkRefs :: [chunkref()], Options :: [allow_missing_chunks], ChunkResult :: chunkdata() | {ChunkRef :: chunkref(), missing_chunk}.
Reads chunk data for selected chunks references. The order of the returned list of chunk data is determined by the order of the list of chunks references.
By default, if any requested chunk is missing in Beam
, an error
tuple is
returned. However, if option allow_missing_chunks
is specified, a result is
returned even if chunks are missing. In the result list, any missing chunks are
represented as {ChunkRef,missing_chunk}
. Notice however that if chunk "Atom"
is missing, that is considered a fatal error and the return value is an error
tuple.
-spec clear_crypto_key_fun() -> undefined | {ok, Result} when Result :: undefined | term().
Unregisters the crypto key fun and terminates the process holding it, started by
crypto_key_fun/1
.
Returns either {ok, undefined}
if no crypto key fun is registered, or
{ok, Term}
, where Term
is the return value from CryptoKeyFun(clear)
, see
crypto_key_fun/1
.
Compares the contents of two BEAM files.
If the module names are the same, and all chunks except for chunk "CInf"
(the chunk containing the compilation information that is returned by
Module:module_info(compile)
) have the same contents in both files, ok
is
returned. Otherwise an error message is returned.
-spec cmp_dirs(Dir1, Dir2) -> {Only1, Only2, Different} | {error, beam_lib, Reason} when Dir1 :: atom() | file:filename(), Dir2 :: atom() | file:filename(), Only1 :: [file:filename()], Only2 :: [file:filename()], Different :: [{Filename1 :: file:filename(), Filename2 :: file:filename()}], Reason :: {not_a_directory, term()} | info_rsn().
Compares the BEAM files in two directories.
Only files with extension ".beam"
are compared. BEAM files that exist only in
directory Dir1
(Dir2
) are returned in Only1
(Only2
). BEAM files that
exist in both directories but are considered different by cmp/2
are
returned as pairs {Filename1
, Filename2
}, where Filename1
(Filename2
)
exists in directory Dir1
(Dir2
).
-spec crypto_key_fun(CryptoKeyFun) -> ok | {error, Reason} when CryptoKeyFun :: crypto_fun(), Reason :: badfun | exists | term().
Registers an unary fun that is called if beam_lib
must read an debug_info
chunk that has been encrypted. The fun is held in a process that is started by
the function.
If a fun is already registered when attempting to register a fun,
{error, exists}
is returned.
The fun must handle the following arguments:
CryptoKeyFun(init) -> ok | {ok, NewCryptoKeyFun} | {error, Term}
Called when the fun is registered, in the process that holds the fun. Here the
crypto key fun can do any necessary initializations. If {ok, NewCryptoKeyFun}
is returned, NewCryptoKeyFun
is registered instead of CryptoKeyFun
. If
{error, Term}
is returned, the registration is aborted and
crypto_key_fun/1
also returns {error, Term}
.
CryptoKeyFun({debug_info, Mode, Module, Filename}) -> Key
Called when the key is needed for module Module
in the file named Filename
.
Mode
is the type of crypto algorithm; currently, the only possible value is
des3_cbc
. The call is to fail (raise an exception) if no key is available.
CryptoKeyFun(clear) -> term()
Called before the fun is unregistered. Here any cleaning up can be done. The
return value is not important, but is passed back to the caller of
clear_crypto_key_fun/0
as part of its return value.
-spec diff_dirs(Dir1, Dir2) -> ok | {error, beam_lib, Reason} when Dir1 :: atom() | file:filename(), Dir2 :: atom() | file:filename(), Reason :: {not_a_directory, term()} | info_rsn().
Compares the BEAM files in two directories as cmp_dirs/2
, but the names of
files that exist in only one directory or are different are presented on
standard output.
-spec format_error(Reason) -> io_lib:chars() when Reason :: term().
For a specified error returned by any function in this module, this function
returns a descriptive string of the error in English. For file errors, function
file:format_error(Posix)
is to be called.
-spec info(Beam) -> [InfoPair] | {error, beam_lib, info_rsn()} when Beam :: beam(), InfoPair :: {file, Filename :: file:filename()} | {binary, Binary :: binary()} | {module, Module :: module()} | {chunks, [{ChunkId :: chunkid(), Pos :: non_neg_integer(), Size :: non_neg_integer()}]}.
Returns a list containing some information about a BEAM file as tuples
{Item, Info}
:
{file, Filename} | {binary, Binary}
- The name (string) of the BEAM file, or the binary from which the information was extracted.{module, Module}
- The name (atom) of the module.{chunks, [{ChunkId, Pos, Size}]}
- For each chunk, the identifier (string) and the position and size of the chunk data, in bytes.
-spec md5(Beam) -> {ok, {module(), MD5}} | {error, beam_lib, chnk_rsn()} when Beam :: beam(), MD5 :: binary().
Calculates an MD5 redundancy check for the code of the module (compilation date and other attributes are not included).
-spec strip(Beam1) -> {ok, {module(), Beam2}} | {error, beam_lib, info_rsn()} when Beam1 :: beam(), Beam2 :: beam().
Removes all chunks from a BEAM file except those used by the loader.
In particular, the debug information (chunk debug_info
and abstract_code
) is
removed.
-spec strip(Beam1, AdditionalChunks) -> {ok, {module(), Beam2}} | {error, beam_lib, info_rsn()} when Beam1 :: beam(), AdditionalChunks :: [chunkid()], Beam2 :: beam().
Removes all chunks from a BEAM file except those used by the loader or mentioned
in AdditionalChunks
.
In particular, the debug information (chunk debug_info
and abstract_code
) is removed.
-spec strip_files(Files) -> {ok, [{module(), Beam}]} | {error, beam_lib, info_rsn()} when Files :: [beam()], Beam :: beam().
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader from Files
.
In particular, the debug information (chunk debug_info
and abstract_code
) is
removed. The returned list contains one element for each specified filename, in
the same order as in Files
.
-spec strip_files(Files, AdditionalChunks) -> {ok, [{module(), Beam}]} | {error, beam_lib, info_rsn()} when Files :: [beam()], AdditionalChunks :: [chunkid()], Beam :: beam().
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader or mentioned in
AdditionalChunks
from Files
.
In particular, the debug information (chunk debug_info
and abstract_code
) is
removed. The returned list contains one element for each specified filename,
in the same order as in Files
.
-spec strip_release(Dir) -> {ok, [{module(), file:filename()}]} | {error, beam_lib, Reason} when Dir :: atom() | file:filename(), Reason :: {not_a_directory, term()} | info_rsn().
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader from the BEAM files of a release.
Dir
is to be the installation root directory. For example, the current OTP
release can be stripped with the call beam_lib:strip_release(code:root_dir())
.
-spec strip_release(Dir, AdditionalChunks) -> {ok, [{module(), file:filename()}]} | {error, beam_lib, Reason} when Dir :: atom() | file:filename(), AdditionalChunks :: [chunkid()], Reason :: {not_a_directory, term()} | info_rsn().
Removes all chunks except those used by the loader or mentioned in
AdditionalChunks
.
Dir
is to be the installation root directory. For example, the current OTP
release can be stripped with the call beam_lib:strip_release(code:root_dir(),[documentation])
.
-spec version(Beam) -> {ok, {module(), [Version :: term()]}} | {error, beam_lib, chnk_rsn()} when Beam :: beam().
Returns the module version or versions. A version is defined by module attribute
-vsn(Vsn)
.
If this attribute is not specified, the version defaults to the
checksum of the module. Notice that if version Vsn
is not a list, it is made
into one, that is {ok,{Module,[Vsn]}}
is returned. If there are many -vsn
module attributes, the result is the concatenated list of versions.
Examples:
1> beam_lib:version(a). % -vsn(1).
{ok,{a,[1]}}
2> beam_lib:version(b). % -vsn([1]).
{ok,{b,[1]}}
3> beam_lib:version(c). % -vsn([1]). -vsn(2).
{ok,{c,[1,2]}}
4> beam_lib:version(d). % no -vsn attribute
{ok,{d,[275613208176997377698094100858909383631]}}