Crowbar vs QuickBMS

Crowbar is a free modding tool for working with GoldSource and Source models and game packages. It can decompile MDL and related files into QC, SMD, and other related files, and can compile models when the game’s authoring tools or SDK and Crowbar’s studiomdl.exe are available. Viewing models likewise requires the game tools or SDK and Crowbar’s hlmv.exe. For archives, Crowbar can unpack, view, and search Valve VPK, Garry’s Mod GMA, Bloodlines VPK, Tactical Intervention FPX, and Fairy Tale Busters APK files. It can pack folders into VPK and GMA packages and supports batch extraction. Workshop functions allow downloading and publishing items for supported games. Game setups can link a game folder to its compiler, viewer, and package tools. On Windows, file associations and drag-and-drop can open VPK, QC, MDL, and folder inputs. The requirements page lists.NET Framework 4 and Windows XP or later, or Linux or Mac OS with a way to run a.NET Framework program. Crowbar is listed at free; donations are optional.

QuickBMS is a free, open-source tool for extracting files from archives and other formats, with options to put modified files back into archives. It is aimed at reverse engineers and power users and runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Its dynamic BMS language handles archives and file formats, while reimport and reimport2 modes support reinserting changed files. The maker lists more than 700 compression algorithms, along with encryption and hashing algorithms. QuickBMS runs from the command line; its Windows executable also opens a minimal graphical interface when double-clicked. For examining formats, verbose mode shows file-format tests, and HTML output colors and labels parsed fields. Other listed capabilities include network sockets, SSL, HTTP and HTTPS, processes, audio, video, and Windows messages. The maker lists Win32, static Ubuntu 32-bit Linux, and MacOSX El Capitan downloads, plus a source archive. The first three sections of its text documentation are intended for general users; later sections are for developers and advanced users. The ZenHAX forum is identified as its official support forum.