The Idea#

Alicorn was born from a simple question: what if I could take native x64 binaries and translate them directly into C# code that runs fast? Not interpretation. Not emulation. Real transpilation.

The name comes from the mythical winged unicorn — something rare, powerful, and a bit magical. Because that’s what this project feels like.

How It Works#

At its core, Alicorn:

1. Parses x64 machine code using the Iced disassembler
2. Constructs a control flow graph to understand program structure
3. Generates equivalent C# code that preserves the original semantics
4. Compiles with .NET 10 for native-like performance

The goal is practical translation: good enough to run real code, fast enough to be useful.

Current Status#

Alicorn is early. The basic blocks are in place:

• ✅ x64 instruction decoding
• ✅ Control flow analysis
• 🚧 C# code generation
• ❌ Full calling convention support
• ❌ Standard library mapping

Alicorn is not open source yet. I’m doing a larger refactor and cleanup before I publish the code, with a target of the end of 2026 if time allows.

Why I’m Building This#

I’ve always been fascinated by the boundary between languages. Compilation, transpilation, interpretation — these are all just different ways of saying “translate this into something the machine understands.”

Alicorn is my way of exploring that boundary. It’s ambitious, probably too ambitious. But that’s the point.