DHEX is a terminal-based hex editor built around ncurses. It is designed for examining and modifying binary files while retaining a compact keyboard-driven interface that works well in local terminals and remote shell sessions.
The normal editing view presents file offsets, hexadecimal byte values and their ASCII representation side by side. The amount of data shown on each line adapts to the width of the terminal.
A notable part of DHEX is its integrated binary comparison mode. Opening two files together presents them for visual comparison, with correlation tools available to help align related data when corresponding regions do not start at the same offsets. This makes DHEX useful not only for ordinary byte editing but also for examining successive versions of binaries, memory dumps and other low-level data.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- View and edit individual bytes in binary files from an ncurses interface.
- Display file offsets, hexadecimal values and ASCII representations alongside each other.
- Adapt the number of displayed bytes to the available terminal width.
- Open two files simultaneously in a dedicated visual diff mode.
- Highlight differences between corresponding regions of the compared files.
- Correlate two files to determine a useful relative offset before comparison.
- Offer best-match, longest-match and minimum-difference correlation methods.
- Jump directly to a specified file address without scrolling through intervening data.
- Assign base addresses to files, which is useful when working with partial memory dumps.
- Use separate base addresses and offsets for each file while operating in diff mode.
- Provide bookmarks for returning quickly to significant locations.
- Search for hexadecimal byte sequences and ASCII strings.
- Accept searches from the command line for automated or repeatable inspection.
- Read and write search logs, allowing search results to be reused when examining different iterations of a file.
- Include HexCal, a 64-bit calculator supporting arithmetic, modulo, logical and bit-shift operations.
- Use configurable themes for adapting colours to different terminals and preferences.
- Load configuration settings from a user-specified configuration file.
Website: www.dettus.net/dhex
Support:
Developer: Thomas Dettbarn
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
DHEX is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Console-Based Hex Editors | |
|---|---|
| hexyl | Colored command-line hex viewer |
| hyx | Minimalistic hex editor |
| hexedit | View and edit hexadecimal files |
| hexer | Multi-buffer editor for binary files |
| dz6 | Terminal hex editor with Vim-inspired key bindings |
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| HexPatch | Interactive TUI for viewing, editing and patching binary files |
| hexhog | Configurable hex viewer and editor |
| DHEX | ncurses-based hex editor with diff mode |
| fileobj | ncurses based hex editor |
| vbl | Terminal-based hexadecimal viewer and editor for binary files |
| HexMe | Written in C++ that uses the Curses library |
| hexcurse-ng | Written in C |
| ddhx | Simple multi-platform modal text UI hex editor |
| bvi | Based on the vi text editor |
| XVI | Hex editor using ncurses |
| Hexit | Minimalistic hex editor |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Alternatives to hexdump | |
|---|---|
| hexyl | Colored command-line hex viewer |
| DHEX | ncurses-based hex editor with diff mode |
| hexedit | View and edit hexadecimal files |
| hyx | Minimalistic but powerful hex editor |
| hexer | Multi-buffer editor for binary files |
| xxd | Make a hexdump or do the reverse |
| hx | Hex editor using plain C and POSIX libs |
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