Writing a Patcher?

[SP534]

Hey guys, I've recently been trying to get into app cracking, and have been wondering how to write my own patcher. I have some programming experience in vb, and C++, among others, so I'd like some help in c++ preferably...

I've tried so many different techniques, downloaded source code, basically everything I can, but I just can't get it right!
I have, until now been using programs to create patches, such as dUP2, and CodeFusion, but I'd simply like to actually make my own

Hopefully someone out there can help, thanks!

[BhaaL]

Most simple patching is replacing code 1:1.
Commonly used, replacing a JNE with a JE/JMP (*hint* serial checks *hint*) does not change the filesize or moves offsets, because both are the same size. For that, open the file in binary mode, seek to the position, and simply overwrite the byte you need to change. Practically you'd open the file, open a copy, and write from one to the other, replacing stuff (or reading into a buffer, replacing in-memory, and writing the whole buffer to a new file).

It could be a bit harder tho, when your patched code does not match the size of the original code fragment. For that matter, you have to come up with your own solution that keeps offsets and such from breaking.
One way is parsing the PE header and following references, plus rewriting them after patching (the long way round, basically requires you to write somewhat a PE parser/interpreter), while another way scans the executable for unused space and writes the patch to that location, replacing the original location with a JMP/CALL.

I guess that should be enough to get you started.

[SP534]

Thanks for the help! I'll see what I can do