Abstract: Debugging without reliance on source code includes obtaining a disassembly of a portion of an executable code. The disassembly includes a sequence of assembly instructions including an instruction Y at which an exception or other event of interest occurred and at least five assembly instructions that precede Y. An assembly instruction X is located for which a mapping is known between a storage location accessed in instruction X and a symbolic name SYM_X for that storage location, where data flow and/or control flow leads from instruction X to instruction Y. A symbolic name SYM_Y that pertains to instruction Y is built from SYM_X while interpreting the assembly instructions between X and Y, and SYM_Y is reported to the user. Some variations include tools and techniques for locating the instruction X, and tools and techniques for determining a flow relationship between instruction X and instruction Y.