RetDec
What it is
RetDec is a free machine-code decompiler based on LLVM that reconstructs functions, types, and higher-level constructs as C or a Python-like language. It supports ELF, PE, Mach-O, COFF, AR archives, Intel HEX, and raw machine code, across several 32-bit architectures and 64-bit x86-64 and ARM64. Its analysis tools include static executable analysis, compiler and packer detection, and loading and instruction decoding. RetDec can extract and use DWARF and PDB debugging information, reconstruct C++ class hierarchies from RTTI and vtables, and demangle GCC, MSVC, and Borland symbols. It includes an integrated disassembler and can generate call graphs, control-flow graphs, and statistics. Related repositories offer IDA and Radare2 plugins. The project can be used as a pre-built package, built from source, or run in Docker. It lists Windows 7 or later, Linux, and macOS, with experimental FreeBSD support. Installation needs about 5 to 6 GB of free disk space. RetDec is in limited maintenance mode, and nightly builds may be unreliable or contain regressions.
For and against
For
- Free and licensed under MIT.
- Supports multiple executable formats and architectures.
- Can use DWARF and PDB debugging information.
- Offers an integrated disassembler and graph generation.
Against
- Installation needs about 5 to 6 GB of free disk space.
- FreeBSD support is experimental.
- Project development is very limited.
- Nightly builds may be unreliable.
The verdict
RetDec provides a broad set of decompilation and analysis features across several formats and architectures. Its substantial disk requirement and limited maintenance make project support status important to weigh.
Who it suits
RetDec suits developers and analysts who need to inspect supported machine-code formats and architectures. Its limited maintenance status and installation requirements are worth considering before adopting it.
Plans and prices
RetDec
Open-source software; MIT license
Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Analysis features
- Features include static executable analysis, compiler and packer detection, and loading and instruction decoding.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- C++ analysis
- It detects and reconstructs C++ class hierarchies using RTTI and vtables, and demangles GCC, MSVC, and Borland symbols.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Debug data
- It extracts and uses DWARF and PDB debugging information.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- RetDec can be downloaded as a pre-built package, built from source, or run in a Docker container.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Graphs and disassembly
- It includes an integrated disassembler and can generate call graphs, control-flow graphs, and statistics.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Related repositories provide plugins that embed RetDec into IDA and Radare2.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Intended use of nightly builds
- The project says nightly builds are mainly for developers, contributors, and experimentation, and warns they may not work reliably and may contain regressions.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- License
- The project states that it is licensed under the MIT license and also incorporates a modified PeLib library under the zlib/libpng license for its original sources.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Output
- It reconstructs functions, types, and high-level constructs and outputs C or a Python-like language.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Platforms and storage
- The project lists Windows 7 or later, Linux, macOS, and experimental FreeBSD support, and says an installation needs about 5 to 6 GB of free disk space.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Security
- The repository links to a security policy, but its policy page displayed a loading error when opened.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Support and maintenance
- The repository says the project is in limited maintenance mode: issues may receive responses with delays up to one quarter, and development is very limited.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Supported architectures
- It supports 32-bit Intel x86, ARM, MIPS, PIC32, and PowerPC, plus 64-bit x86-64 and ARM64 (AArch64).github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Supported formats
- It supports ELF, PE, Mach-O, COFF, AR archives, Intel HEX, and raw machine code.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- What it does
- RetDec is a retargetable machine-code decompiler based on LLVM.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
