{
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  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "@id": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/hex-fiend/#software",
  "name": "Hex Fiend",
  "description": "Fast and clever open source hex editor.",
  "url": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/hex-fiend/",
  "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/hex-fiend/",
  "operatingSystem": "macOS",
  "applicationCategory": "DeveloperApplication",
  "publisher": {
    "name": "Peter Ammon"
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  "sameAs": [
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    "https://apps.apple.com/app/hex-fiend/id1342896380?platform=mac",
    "https://github.com/ridiculousfish/HexFiend/"
  ],
  "softwareVersion": "2.18.1",
  "license": "BSD-2-Clause",
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "0",
    "priceCurrency": "USD"
  },
  "nuanyue:record": {
    "schemaVersion": 1,
    "id": "software:hex-fiend",
    "slug": "hex-fiend",
    "name": "Hex Fiend",
    "type": "SoftwareApplication",
    "entityType": "hex editor",
    "description": "Fast and clever open source hex editor.",
    "shortDescription": "Fast and clever open source hex editor.",
    "answer": "Hex Fiend is an open-source hex editor for macOS under the BSD-2-Clause licence. Its stated distinction is how it handles size: it does not read files into memory, so it opens a file as large as you can create — the project reports testing on one of 118 GB — and scrolling, copying and searching stay instant. Unlike editors that only allow in-place edits, it supports insertions and deletions, and writing back touches only the byte ranges that actually changed. It also ships a data inspector with endianness control, scriptable binary templates, and a two-file diff. It runs on macOS 10.11 and later.",
    "page": "https://www.nuanyue.com/software/hex-fiend/",
    "dataUrl": "https://www.nuanyue.com/data/software/hex-fiend.json",
    "categories": [
      "developer-tools"
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    "tags": [],
    "platform": [
      "macOS"
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    "minOsVersion": "macOS 10.11",
    "architecture": [],
    "featured": false,
    "pricing": "open-source",
    "license": "BSD-2-Clause",
    "currentVersion": "2.18.1",
    "releaseDate": "2025-03-16",
    "openSource": true,
    "website": "https://ridiculousfish.com/hexfiend/",
    "github": "https://github.com/ridiculousfish/HexFiend/",
    "appStore": "https://apps.apple.com/app/hex-fiend/id1342896380?platform=mac",
    "download": "https://github.com/hexfiend/HexFiend/releases/download/v2.18.1/Hex_Fiend_2.18.1.dmg",
    "developer": {
      "name": "Peter Ammon"
    },
    "icon": "/apps/hex-fiend.png",
    "features": [
      "Insert, delete, rearrange. Hex Fiend does not limit you to in-place changes like some hex editors",
      "Work with huge files. Hex Fiend can handle as big a file as you’re able to create. It’s been tested on files as large as 118 GB",
      "Small footprint. Hex Fiend does not keep your files in memory. You won’t dread launching or working with Hex Fiend even on low-RAM machines",
      "Fast. Open a huge file, scroll around, copy and paste, all instantly. Find what you’re looking for with fast searching",
      "Smart saving. Hex Fiend knows not to waste time overwriting the parts of your files that haven’t changed, and never needs temporary disk space",
      "Data inspector. Interpret data as integer or floating point, signed or unsigned, big or little endian"
    ],
    "useCases": [
      "Inspecting or patching the raw bytes of a binary file",
      "Comparing two versions of a file byte by byte",
      "Reading selected bytes as integers or floats with control over endianness"
    ],
    "formats": [],
    "integrations": [],
    "pros": [
      {
        "text": "Does not keep files in memory, so it opens a file as large as you can create; the project reports testing on a 118 GB file.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Supports insertions and deletions rather than only in-place changes, which it notes some hex editors limit you to.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Writing back overwrites only the byte ranges that changed, and the project states it never needs temporary disk space.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "The project states its hex and data views can be embedded in another app through the Hex Fiend framework under a permissive licence.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "cons": [
      {
        "text": "It is a byte-level tool: reading a file's structure means writing a binary template or interpreting raw offsets, and the data inspector only helps if you know how to read endianness.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "Because it writes only the changed ranges back, there is no backup copy — the file you open is the file you edit.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "text": "The release tracked here is 2.18.1, dated 2025-03-16, so the feature set has not moved since.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "whoIsItFor": [
      "Developers who need to look at or patch raw bytes in a file",
      "Anyone debugging a binary format who wants a data inspector and binary templates",
      "App developers who want to embed a hex view in their own application"
    ],
    "notFor": [
      "Anyone who wants to read or edit prose — a text editor is the right tool for that",
      "Users who want a guided, point-and-click interface rather than byte offsets"
    ],
    "limitations": [],
    "updates": [],
    "faq": [
      {
        "question": "How large a file can Hex Fiend open?",
        "answer": "The project reports testing on files as large as 118 GB and states that it does not keep files in memory.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Can Hex Fiend insert or delete bytes?",
        "answer": "Yes. It supports insertions, deletions and rearranging rather than only overwriting bytes in place.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Is Hex Fiend free and open source?",
        "answer": "Yes. It is published under the BSD-2-Clause licence.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "question": "Can I embed Hex Fiend in my own application?",
        "answer": "The project states that its hex and data views can be incorporated into another app using the Hex Fiend framework, under a permissive licence.",
        "status": "verified",
        "source": "repository",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "relationships": [
      {
        "target": "imhex",
        "type": "alternative",
        "reason": "Both are hex editors for developers. ImHex describes itself as being for reverse engineers and programmers; Hex Fiend's stated distinction is handling files too large to hold in memory.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "target": "plain-text-editor",
        "type": "similar",
        "reason": "Both edit files at macOS's file level, but Plain Text Editor shows readable text while Hex Fiend operates on bytes.",
        "verifiedAt": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ],
    "sources": [
      {
        "id": "hex-fiend:app-store",
        "type": "app_store",
        "url": "https://apps.apple.com/app/hex-fiend/id1342896380?platform=mac",
        "title": "Hex Fiend on the Mac App Store",
        "trustLevel": "A",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "hex-fiend:official",
        "type": "official_website",
        "url": "https://ridiculousfish.com/hexfiend/",
        "title": "Hex Fiend — official website",
        "trustLevel": "B",
        "accessedAt": null
      },
      {
        "id": "hex-fiend:repository",
        "type": "github",
        "url": "https://github.com/ridiculousfish/HexFiend/",
        "title": "Hex Fiend — source repository",
        "trustLevel": "D",
        "accessedAt": null
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "id": "software:hex-fiend.isA",
        "subject": "software:hex-fiend",
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        "value": "hex editor",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
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        "id": "software:hex-fiend.pricingModel",
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        "value": "Open source",
        "status": "developer-stated",
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        "id": "software:hex-fiend.developedBy",
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      {
        "id": "software:hex-fiend.ownership",
        "subject": "software:hex-fiend",
        "predicate": "ownership",
        "value": "Third-party product — not published by Nuanyue",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
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        "id": "software:hex-fiend.isOpenSource",
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        "id": "software:hex-fiend.currentVersion",
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          "Insert, delete, rearrange. Hex Fiend does not limit you to in-place changes like some hex editors",
          "Work with huge files. Hex Fiend can handle as big a file as you’re able to create. It’s been tested on files as large as 118 GB",
          "Small footprint. Hex Fiend does not keep your files in memory. You won’t dread launching or working with Hex Fiend even on low-RAM machines",
          "Fast. Open a huge file, scroll around, copy and paste, all instantly. Find what you’re looking for with fast searching",
          "Smart saving. Hex Fiend knows not to waste time overwriting the parts of your files that haven’t changed, and never needs temporary disk space",
          "Data inspector. Interpret data as integer or floating point, signed or unsigned, big or little endian"
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        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
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          "Developers who need to look at or patch raw bytes in a file",
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        ],
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      {
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        "status": "verified",
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        "status": "verified",
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        "lastVerified": "2026-10-16"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:hex-fiend.advantage.2",
        "subject": "software:hex-fiend",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "Writing back overwrites only the byte ranges that changed, and the project states it never needs temporary disk space.",
        "status": "verified",
        "sourceIds": [
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        "lastVerified": "2026-10-16"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:hex-fiend.advantage.3",
        "subject": "software:hex-fiend",
        "predicate": "advantage",
        "value": "The project states its hex and data views can be embedded in another app through the Hex Fiend framework under a permissive licence.",
        "status": "verified",
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        "lastVerified": "2026-10-16"
      },
      {
        "id": "software:hex-fiend.drawback.0",
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        "value": "It is a byte-level tool: reading a file's structure means writing a binary template or interpreting raw offsets, and the data inspector only helps if you know how to read endianness.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
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        "value": "Because it writes only the changed ranges back, there is no backup copy — the file you open is the file you edit.",
        "status": "editorially-reviewed",
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      },
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    "lastUpdated": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z",
    "lastReviewedAt": null
  }
}