arcdEx vs SLADE3

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.

SLADE3 is a free editor for Doom-engine games and source ports, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It handles archives and the resources inside them: users can create, open, save, import, export, order, convert, and revert entries, with several archives open in tabs for copying and pasting between them. Supported archive formats include Doom WAD and ZIP/PK3, Quake PAK and WAD2, Build GRP and ART, Shadowcaster DAT and LIB, and Amulets & Armor RES. Its map editor covers Doom, Hexen, and UDMF maps, with 3D editing and automatic sector generation. The text editor offers syntax highlighting, calltips, autocomplete, auto-indent, and find-and-replace. Graphics can be viewed, converted, palette-remapped, and exported to PNG; Doom composite textures can also be edited. SLADE3 plays several audio formats, including MUS, MIDI, XMI, HMI, and HMP. Stable release 3.2.12 is listed alongside beta 3.3.0 Beta 2, which may have bugs, crashes, or unfinished features.