dnSpyEx vs RenderDoc
dnSpyEx
github.comRenderDoc
renderdoc.orgSide by side
| Figure | dnSpyEx | RenderDoc |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Debuggers | 7.9 (#11) | 7.5 (#18) |
| Integrations | To debug Unity games, the project says the dnSpyEx Unity Mono repository is also needed. | The README links a community extensions repository and says projects made with third-party engines such as Unreal or Unity are supported. |
| License | The repository states that dnSpy is licensed under GPLv3. | RenderDoc is released under the MIT license. |
| Purpose | dnSpyEx is an unofficial continuation of dnSpy, a debugger and .NET assembly editor for working with assemblies without source code. | RenderDoc is a frame-capture based graphics debugger for graphics development. |
Plans
In their own words
dnSpyEx
dnSpyEx is an unofficial continuation of dnSpy, a debugger and .NET assembly editor for working with assemblies without source code. It can debug .NET Framework, .NET, and Unity game assemblies, with breakpoints, tracepoints, conditional breakpoints, exception breakpoints, and multiple-process debugging. Editing covers metadata and methods or classes in C# and Visual Basic, plus low-level IL method bodies. The project lists C# and Visual Basic decompilers using the ILSpy engine, along with a BAML decompiler and disassembler. Assembly search, class and method usage analysis, caller finding, bookmarks, and project export are also included. A public API supports extensions, and the C# Interactive window can control or script dnSpyEx. The latest stable release listed is v6.6.0, which adds a .NET 10 distribution. It is free under GPLv3. Release notes describe Wine compatibility adjustments for Linux, not native Linux support. Dynamic methods cannot be debugged because of CLR limitations.
RenderDoc
RenderDoc is a frame-capture graphics debugger for graphics development, released under the MIT license and available free. It supports Vulkan, D3D11, D3D12, OpenGL, and OpenGL ES, with HLSL, GLSL, and SPIR-V listed among supported languages. Its listed platforms are Windows, Linux, and Android; Nintendo Switch support is noted for authorized developers using NintendoSDK. The API support table marks OpenGL 1.0–2.0 compatibility as supported, while D3D9/10 and Metal are unavailable. Linux support is limited to 64-bit x86. Windows users can choose 32-bit or 64-bit builds or a portable ZIP, and the 64-bit build can capture 32-bit programs. Stable and nightly binary releases are available; stable builds are recommended for new users because nightlies may be less stable. Documentation is online for the latest stable version and included as a CHM file in builds, with introductory videos also linked. The project lists GitHub issues, email, IRC, and Discord for questions and problems. RenderDoc is intended for debugging programs users created; its public support channels do not allow discussion of capturing programs they did not create.