back-engineering

[/bæk ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪrɪŋ/]
nounpl: back-engineerings
engenharia reversa
1. The process of discovering the principles of a device or system through analysis and experimentation, often to understand how it works or reproduce it
The company used back-engineering to understand how their competitor's product functioned.
A empresa usou engenharia reversa para entender como o produto do concorrente funcionava.
2. In software, the process of extracting source code or design documentation from an existing program or binary
Back-engineering the legacy software helped the developers maintain it more effectively.
A engenharia reversa do software legado ajudou os desenvolvedores a mantê-lo de forma mais eficaz.
3. The analysis of a finished product to understand its design and manufacturing processes
Through back-engineering, they discovered the manufacturing secrets hidden in the device.
Através da engenharia reversa, descobriram os segredos de fabricação escondidos no dispositivo.
Back-engineering is a common practice in both American and Brazilian technology sectors, though it carries legal implications regarding intellectual property and patents. In Brazil, it's frequently discussed in manufacturing industries, especially in automotive and electronics. The term is used professionally in technical documentation and business reports in both countries, but awareness of intellectual property laws is essential before conducting such activities.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
reverse engineeringreverse-engineeringretro-engineeringbackwards engineering
Antonyms / Antônimos
forward engineeringoriginal design

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
engenharia reversa
Standard term used across Brazil in technical and business contexts
São Paulo
engenharia reversa
Commonly used in tech companies and manufacturing sectors
Portugal
engenharia reversa
Same translation used in European Portuguese technical terminology
Technology sector (Brazil)
análise reversa
Alternative used in software development contexts

Related Words

decompilationdisassemblyforensic analysisproduct analysisintellectual propertypatent analysis

Related Idioms & Phrases

taking something apart to see how it works
decoding the secrets of a product
cracking the code
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