010 Editor vs CombineZP

010 Editor is a text and hex editor for working with text files and binary data on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its Binary Templates represent files as hierarchical data structures, with variables connected to bytes that can be edited. The maker says templates can parse and edit more than 300 formats, including ZIP, BMP, and WAV. The text editor handles files larger than 50 GB and includes syntax highlighting, column mode, and unlimited undo. Tree-sitter provides real-time parsing for more than 45 syntaxes, including C/C++, Python, Rust, JavaScript, and JSON. Analysis tools include binary comparison, search and replace, data visualization, checksums and hashes, a histogram, and disassembly. C-like scripts can automate edits, run from the command line without a user interface, and use an integrated debugger. An online repository lets users download, install, and submit templates and scripts. The maker describes uses in digital forensics, malware analysis, memory and process analysis, and data recovery. Process editing is available only on Windows. A free 30-day trial and 60-day money-back guarantee are offered. New-user perpetual licenses cost $59.95 as a one-time purchase for home or academic use and $149.95, paid once for commercial use; each is for one user and includes one year of free support and upgrades.

CombineZP is a Windows focus-stacking program that combines focused regions from multiple photographs into an image with greater depth of field. Its documented methods include Do Stack and Pyramid Maximum Contrast. It provides quick and thorough image alignment, with rotation correction in thorough alignment. Batch processing can stack images, and users can adjust memory use for image sets that demand more from the computer. Macro parameters are editable for additional control over close-up stacking. JPEG is the documented output format. The program is free and the repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0. The repository preserves code originally created by Alan Hadley and shared under the GPL; it contains CombineZ5 and combineZP directories, a README, a license file, and an installer. The README refers to a compiled Windows x86 version 1.0, updated January 27, 2012, in a file named combinezp.msi. The repository says it is kept for posterity, lists no published releases, and a microscopy tools page describes the software as not maintained. Windows is the listed platform; a third-party microscopy tools page also says it works with Wine on Linux.