# Quick Reference — Task Index

Symptom / question → first-read pages.

## Extraction tasks

| Goal | Read |
|---|---|
| Pull `.gmd` from a 5.3a `.exe` | [15-extraction-pipeline](15-extraction-pipeline.md) |
| Have access to dev's hard drive | [14-gb1-backups](14-gb1-backups.md) (Rank 1) |
| Untrusted binary, want safe extraction | [10-tool-gm-decompiler-v21](10-tool-gm-decompiler-v21.md) (Rank 2) |
| Static decomp failed (UPX-packed?) | [09-tool-gmd-recovery](09-tool-gmd-recovery.md) (Rank 3) |
| Binary too corrupt for structural decode | [15 §Rank 4](15-extraction-pipeline.md) raw carving |

## Parsing tasks

| Goal | Read |
|---|---|
| Write a `.gmd` parser from scratch | [03-gmd-format](03-gmd-format.md) → [11-tool-lateralgm](11-tool-lateralgm.md) (`LibReader.java`) |
| Decode Object event DnD nodes | [04-dnd-serialization](04-dnd-serialization.md) |
| Validate extracted `.gmd` | open in [LateralGM](11-tool-lateralgm.md) |
| Convert to VCS-friendly tree | [12-tool-gmksplitter](12-tool-gmksplitter.md) |

## GML / language tasks

| Goal | Read |
|---|---|
| Re-inject GML into 5.3a runner | [06-gml-syntax-5x](06-gml-syntax-5x.md) |
| Identify what an extracted function does | [07-gml-core-functions](07-gml-core-functions.md) |
| Understand perf hotspots in extracted code | [05-gml-vm](05-gml-vm.md) |

## Network / multiplayer tasks

| Goal | Read |
|---|---|
| Game has sockets — what library? | [08-39dll-networking](08-39dll-networking.md) (always 39dll) |
| Reconstruct packet wire format | [08 §"structure = call order"](08-39dll-networking.md) |
| Build server emulator | [08-39dll-networking](08-39dll-networking.md) |

## Project-specific

| Goal | Read |
|---|---|
| Reverse `.bno` / `.bnb` files | [16-bno-bnb-notes](16-bno-bnb-notes.md) |

## Diagnostics

| Symptom | Read |
|---|---|
| "FORM header not found" / UTMT fails | [13-modern-tool-incompat](13-modern-tool-incompat.md) |
| Re-injected GML throws compile errors | [06-gml-syntax-5x](06-gml-syntax-5x.md) |
| `.gb1` opens as 0 bytes | [14-gb1-backups](14-gb1-backups.md) (unrecoverable — sector loss) |
| Decompiler can't find XOR key | [02-encryption](02-encryption.md) → switch to dynamic ([09](09-tool-gmd-recovery.md)) |

## Conceptual orientation

| Question | Read |
|---|---|
| What even is GameMaker 5.3a? | [00-overview](00-overview.md) |
| How is the `.exe` built? | [01-runner-architecture](01-runner-architecture.md) |
| Why is encryption breakable? | [02-encryption](02-encryption.md) |
| Term lookup | [glossary](glossary.md) |

## See also

- [README](README.md)