I run a flight simulator on Linux called "FlightGear". Normally I have it set to download METAR data so as I fly from one region to another it automatically downloads the METAR data so that I get real weather conditions. Recently the real weather feature stopped working giving the error "Cannot Find METAR Data". As it turns out NOAA.gov changed the URL for the location of the METAR files to a new URL. To make matters worst instead of having the URL in a configuration file the URL is hardcoded into the main executable file as well as an executable that is called from the main executable. Rather than download a new version or, downloading the source code and recompiling I decided to edit the executable binaries directly. I opened the executables in a hex editor, located the URL and changed it in the executable to the new URL, saved the edited binary files and replaced them in the run directory. The result...viola',my real weather is working perfectly again. Thank God for hex editors...they saved the day.

Incidentally the hex editor I used is called "GHex" a GNOME hex editor but it works just as well under KDE.

Of course the real question is why flightgear developers chose to hard code the URL into the executable binary files.It would make life easier if they set it up to be read from a config file. Particularly since it is not uncommon for URL's to change from time to time. Well, in any event it worked and I have my real weather back again.