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SPECIFICTION
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arcdEx

github.com

Free plan Linux
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Spec score 8.5 #1 of 24 in Game Asset Extractors

What it is

arcdEx is a free Linux tool for listing and extracting files from .arcd archives made by the Defold game engine. It handles compressed files and can decrypt files only when they use Defold's default encryption key. The tool can inspect .texturec resources and extract their contained textures, as well as inspect compiled .luac files and extract Lua source code. To work with an archive, provide the .arcd file; arcdEx guesses paths to the associated .arci index and .dmanifest manifest files. The repository says this version supports manifest version 5, while the README also lists versions 1 through 4. Multiple .arcd files from a Defold web game must be combined before use. The README distinguishes desktop applications, which contain compiled Lua bytecode, from web projects through Defold 1.3.4, which contain Lua source code. It supports command-line and batch extraction, and runs as a Java JAR. The project is licensed under AGPL v3, and its author is credited as Christian Weiske. Archive repacking is not supported.

Spec sheet

Purpose
arcdEx is a tool to work with .arcd files generated by the Defold game engine.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The original README says feature requests and bug reports are intentionally disabled and that patches are welcome.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
The README identifies arcdEx as licensed under AGPL v3.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker
The README credits Christian Weiske as the author.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Archive handling
It can list .arcd archive contents and extract files, including compressed and encrypted files.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Archive inputs
The tool expects the .arcd file and guesses paths for the associated .arci index and .dmanifest files.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Archive support
It can list .arcd archive contents and extract files from archives.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Compression and encryption
Archive extraction supports compressed and encrypted files, but decryption works only with the default Defold encryption key.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Desktop Lua limit
The README says desktop applications contain compiled Lua bytecode, while web projects up to Defold 1.3.4 contain Lua source code.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Distribution
The README shows running the tool as a Java JAR with `java -jar arcdEx.full.jar`.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Encryption limit
Decryption is supported only when the default Defold encryption key is used.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Input files
The tool uses an .arcd archive and guesses the paths to the associated .arci index and .dmanifest manifest files.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Lua features
It can inspect compiled .luac files and extract Lua source code from them.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Lua support
It can inspect compiled .luac files and extract Lua source code from them.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Manifest versions
The repository says this version supports manifest version 5; the README also lists support for versions 1 through 4.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Multi-part web archives
Multiple .arcd files from Defold web games must be combined before use.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Release
The GitHub releases page lists v0.3.0 with the note “Support for manifest v5.”Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Runtime
The usage examples run arcdEx with Java using java -jar arcdEx.full.jar.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Texture features
It can inspect and extract .texturec files and their contained textures.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
Texture support
It can inspect and extract .texturec files and their contained textures.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Version support
The repository says this fork supports manifest version 5, and the original README lists support for versions 1 through 4.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com
Web archive limit
When a Defold web game uses multiple .arcd files, the README says they must be combined before use.Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

arcdEx Free No paid plans or usage limits stated Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every arcdEx plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Lists and extracts .arcd archive contents.
  • Can inspect and extract contained textures.
  • Supports batch extraction and command-line use.
  • Free under the AGPL v3 license.

Limits

  • Decryption works only with Defold's default key.
  • Multiple web-game archives must be combined first.
  • Archive repacking is not supported.
  • Runs as a Java JAR.

Who it suits

arcdEx suits Linux users who need to inspect or extract assets from Defold game archives and related resources. It is most applicable when the archive uses the default encryption key and web archives have been combined as needed.

Verdict

arcdEx covers archive, texture and Lua extraction for Defold projects, with specific constraints around encryption and multi-part web archives. Check the manifest version and project type before relying on its Lua extraction behavior.

Where Specifiction places it

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