Hecate vs Hextor

Hecate is a free terminal hex editor for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It displays interpretations of byte values beneath their hexadecimal representations, including text, bit patterns, integers, and floating-point values. Users can move the cursor with Vim-like controls, edit data in place, and write changes to disk. The README also lists tabbed browsing, large-file support, full-file searches, and expressions for specifying file offsets. Interpretation options include toggling endianness and signedness, decoding dates, and configuring the date epoch. The project describes byte interpretation as useful for reverse-engineering work. Downloads are linked for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows, and the README provides a Go command for compiling the editor from source. Hecate is licensed under MIT. The releases page lists version 0.0.1 as the latest release; the license states that the software is provided without warranty. The repository includes usage instructions and a help screen command, but does not state a support service.

Hextor is a free Windows hexadecimal editor and toolkit for analyzing binary data. It can present content as text, hexadecimal, integer, or floating-point values, and can interpret or edit data through C-like structure descriptions. Search and replace supports text, hex, Unicode, wildcards, and value searches. Binary comparison detects inserted and deleted data. Hextor can view and edit logical volumes, physical disks, and process memory. Analysis features include bitmap viewing, MD, SHA, and CRC hash calculation, plus a disassembler using the Zydis library. Scripting works through IActiveScript. Version 0.15 adds partial, view-only Intel HEX support and searches involving an unknown half-byte. The Freeware plan costs nothing and allows personal and commercial use. Source code is available only for review. The project advises caution and backups for valuable data, provides no warranty, and disclaims liability for damage from use.