- Home
- Hex Editors
- Q22
Q22
What it is
Q22 is a free, open-source binary file editor for Linux and Windows, succeeding Catch22 HexEdit for Windows. It opens and edits large binary files with cut, copy, paste, insert, delete, undo and redo. Data can be viewed as hexadecimal, decimal, octal, binary or text, with bytes grouped into 8-, 16-, 32- or 64-bit values. Structure View expands headers, sections, imports, exports and symbols in PE and ELF files, and accepts custom .strata definitions through Strata. The disassembler supports x86 32-bit and 64-bit, ARM, ARM Thumb and AArch64, while detecting PE and ELF entrypoints automatically. Bookmarks and highlights mark positions, and bookmark state is saved. Import, export and clipboard formats include hex, text, raw data, Base64, UUEncode, Intel HEX, Motorola S-records, HTML, C++, C and assembler-style data. Panels provide file properties, checksum calculation and string extraction. Themes, palettes, preferences, docked panels and platform-specific window chrome are configurable. Q22 is GPL-3.0-or-later licensed.
For and against
For
- Edits large binary files
- Supports PE and ELF structure views
- Includes multiple architecture disassemblers
- Offers broad import and export formats
- Saves bookmark state
Against
- Linux plan currently lists Fedora
- Only Linux and Windows platforms are listed
- Release information lists version 3.3.0
The verdict
Q22 combines binary editing, executable structure inspection, disassembly and configurable views in a free GPL-licensed application. Its broad format support is aimed at users working directly with binary data.
Who it suits
Q22 suits developers and analysts editing binary files, inspecting executable structures or disassembling supported architectures. It is available for Linux and Windows users.
Plans and prices
Q22
GPL-3.0-or-later · Linux (Fedora currently) · Windows
Read 5 Oct 2026 · catch22.net
On the record
- Bookmarks
- Users can bookmark and highlight positions in the hex display, and bookmark state is saved for future use.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Q22 offers light, dark and system themes, built-in and custom palettes, configurable preferences, a custom titlebar and docked panels.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Data views
- It displays data as hexadecimal, decimal, octal, binary or text, and groups bytes as 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit or 64-bit values.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Disassembly
- The disassembler supports x86 64-bit, x86 32-bit, ARM, ARM Thumb and AArch64, and detects PE and ELF entrypoints automatically.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Editing
- It can open and edit binary files, including large files, with cut, copy, paste, insert, delete, undo and redo.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- Supported clipboard, import and export formats include hex, ASCII/text, raw data, Base64, UUEncode, Intel HEX, Motorola S-records, HTML, C++, C and assembler-style data.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- License
- Q22 is licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The maker's About page identifies James Brown and says he lives in Hampshire, UK; it does not state a founding date.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Other tools
- The interface includes file properties, checksum calculation and string extraction panels.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Q22 is a cross-platform binary file editor and the successor to Catch22 HexEdit for Windows.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Release
- The GitHub releases page lists q22 3.3.0, dated 2026-09-12.github.com · read 5 Oct 2026
- Structure View
- Structure View supports PE and ELF files, can expand their headers, sections, imports, exports and symbols, and accepts custom .strata definitions in Strata.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
- Window integration
- Its platform-specific window chrome supports Windows, KDE/KWin and GNOME/Mutter.catch22.net · read 5 Oct 2026
