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Given the following C# program outputting False, inject a 'malicious' line of code such that the program outputs True.

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        System.Console.Write("False");
        ;
    }
}

Your answer should consist of a string that replaces the second semicolon, and causes the program to output True, the whole True and nothing but True (not even a newline). It must do this if stdout is printed to the console, and if stdout is redirected to a file.

The shortest answer wins.

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7
  • \$\begingroup\$ What's your objective winning criterion? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:14
  • \$\begingroup\$ @JB Do puzzles need a winning criterion? Will edit. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:15
  • \$\begingroup\$ I'm mostly reacting to the code-golf remark, but the point stands: which will be the accepted answer? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ @JB Shortest answer is best answer. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ Well it is code-golf, then, isn't it? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 14:18

6 Answers 6

Reset to default
18
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52 characters

}static Program(){System.Console.Write(0<1);for(;;);

so the whole thing becomes:

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        System.Console.Write( "False" );
    }
    static Program()
    {
        System.Console.Write( 0 < 1 ); 
        for ( ; ; ) ;
    }
}
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5
  • \$\begingroup\$ Sorry for editing the question in the middle of your answer. Newlines are no longer allowed, you'll have to use Write. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 15:16
  • \$\begingroup\$ Ok, I've changed WriteLine to Write \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 15:18
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ You could probably save some bytes by replacing your exit with for(;;);, nothing I've seen requires that the program terminates...? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 16:19
  • \$\begingroup\$ @JoachimIsaksson Yes, that meets the requirements as specified. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 16:28
  • 5
    \$\begingroup\$ }static Program(){System.Console.Write(0<1);for(;;); could always become }static Program(){for(System.Console.Write(0<1);;); \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 18, 2014 at 5:33
7
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C#, 51 characters

Console.Write("\b\b\b\b\b");Console.Write("True ");

Will only work on standard output

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5
  • \$\begingroup\$ First thing I tried, unfortunately it won't work because of the initial WriteLine. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 15:09
  • 3
    \$\begingroup\$ Now it is Write :/ I don't get how we would manage to solve this if it keeps changing... \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 15:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Vereos I wanted to remove the ambiguity of 'newline or no newline'. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 15:13
  • 4
    \$\begingroup\$ You don't need 2 instances of Console.Write, and you could use \r instead of 5 \bs. Console.Write("\rTrue "); \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jan 3, 2014 at 21:10
  • \$\begingroup\$ I don't think it meets the criteria. It actually outputs False first, which is then overwtitten by True later. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 4, 2014 at 7:44
2
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You can generalize RamonBoza's answer to still work if stdout is redirected to a file.

Assuming the program runs under Mono on Linux, with the assembly Mono.Posix.dll loaded:

if(Mono.Unix.Native.Syscall.isatty(1))
{
    Console.Write("\rTrue ");
}
else
{
    // Truncate the output file first
    Console.OpenStandardOutput().SetLength(0);
    Console.Write("True");
}

I doubt this works on Windows, but there's probably an equivalent to isatty().

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1
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83... WIP

I was hoping this'd work, but apparently "False" isn't being interned as I'd hoped in my compiler

//}unsafe static Program(){fixed(char*f="False"){*(long*)f=0x65007500720054;*(f+4)=' ';}
}unsafe static Program(){fixed(char*f="False")for(int i=5;i-->0;)*(f+i)="True "[i];

ungolfed

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.Write("False");
    }

    unsafe static Program()
    {
        fixed (char* f = "False") for (int i = 5; i-- > 0; ) *(f + i) = "True "[i];
    }
}
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1
\$\begingroup\$ 
class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        System.Console.Write("False");

        System.Console.Clear(); System.Console.Write("True");

        Console.ReadLine();
    }
}
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1
  • \$\begingroup\$ This won't work if stdout is redirected. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 19, 2014 at 13:03
0
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Not sure if this is accepted.
The question doesn't say anything about compiler options so I assume I can change the entry point of the app.
55 characters ,3 more than the accepted answer

}class P{static void Main(){System.Console.Write(1>0);}

Full

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        System.Console.Write("False");
    }
    class P
    {
        static void Main() { System.Console.Write(1 > 0); }
    }
}
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2
  • \$\begingroup\$ Welcome to the community! \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 22, 2016 at 9:48
  • \$\begingroup\$ @EʀɪᴋᴛʜᴇGᴏʟғᴇʀ Thanks. This is a fantastic site!!! \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 22, 2016 at 9:49

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