Decompilation Engine Matrix
REA connects to commercial, open-source, and built-in static analyzers. Use this comparison matrix to select the right engine for your environment.
Engine Comparison Table
| Engine | License & Cost | Supported Platforms | Setup Effort | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghidra | Free / Open-Source (Apache 2.0) | macOS, Windows, Linux | Medium (Requires JDK 21+) | Cross-platform native binary analysis with zero licensing costs. |
| Hopper Disassembler | Commercial (Demo available) | macOS, Linux | Low (Automated install option) | Fast Mach-O analysis on Apple Silicon; seamless UI bridge. |
| IDA Pro / Hex-Rays | Commercial (Proprietary) | macOS, Windows, Linux | High (Bring your own license) | Complex firmware and commercial enterprise-grade decompilation. |
| Built-in JavaScript Analyzer | Free (Included in REA) | Any Node.js host | Zero (No extra engine) | Electron apps, VS Code extensions, Webpack bundles, ASAR archives. |
| WABT (WebAssembly) | Free / Open-Source (Apache 2.0) | Cross-platform | Low (Package manager) | WASM bytecode inspection, section validation, WAT disassembly. |
Recommendation for Mac Users
If you're on macOS inspecting desktop software, Hopper or Ghidra work well. REA's setup wizard can automatically configure Hopper demo mode or register existing Ghidra paths.
Recommendation for Web / Electron
You do not need native binary disassemblers for 90% of modern productivity apps. REA's JavaScript parser extracts AST routes, IPC bindings, and state stores purely through Node.js.