Boomerang vs JEB

Boomerang is an open-source decompiler that translates supported machine-code binaries into C source code. It supports x86 (IA-32 only), PPC, and ST20 architectures, and accepts ELF, PE, DOS MZ, DOS/4GW LE, and Mach-O files. Users can run it as a command-line tool or a GUI application. The project describes its license as BSD, and the software is free. Build instructions cover Linux, macOS, and Windows, but compiling requires a 64-bit operating system and a C++17 compiler; 32-bit systems are not supported. Documented prerequisites include CMake, Qt5, Capstone, GNU bison, and GNU flex. Precompiled packages are available for release versions, although the project recommends building the development branch from source. Unit and regression tests are provided, but the README says the regression test suite cannot be built on Windows. The maker describes the release as intended for developers and experimenters and warns that large-binary decompilation may disappoint. Decompiled output does not recreate the original source file and may differ from it. The project directs users to its GitHub issue tracker for bug reports.

JEB is a reverse-engineering platform for disassembly, decompilation, debugging, and analysis of code and document files. Its Android tools support static and dynamic app analysis, including multi-dex decompilation, resource reconstruction, and debugging of Dalvik and native code. Other modules address Intel x86 and x86-64, ARM, MIPS, RISC-V, WebAssembly, Ethereum contracts, Siemens S7 PLC programs, and PDF documents. Python or Java scripts and plugins can automate analysis, including through headless front ends. The GUI runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS for x64 and arm64 systems and requires JDK 21 or above. JEB Community Edition is free and described as suitable for researchers, students, hobbyists, and nonprofit reverse engineers; its listed plan covers x86 and x86-64 decompilation. The separate demo restricts decompilation, disables project saving and loading and clipboard use, limits session time, and requires an internet connection. Paid plans include Android modules from $140 per user per month and JEB Pro from $2,000 per user per year. PNF Software was founded in 2013 and is based in Silicon Valley, California.