# APKLab/APKLab

Android Reverse-Engineering Workbench for VS Code

Repository: https://github.com/APKLab/APKLab
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/apklab
Homepage: https://apklab.surendrajat.xyz
Language: TypeScript
License: AGPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: apktool, apk-decompiler, apk-editor, smali, dalvik, smalidea, apksigner, apk-studio, android, jadx, reverse-engineering, bytecode, mitm, malware-analysis, app-analyzer, malware-detection, uber-apk-signer, https-inspection
Last push: 2026-07-16T06:15:21+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 74/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-02T17:46:02.011165+00:00)
- activity 92, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2307, "days_push": 48, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 3952, forks 335 (observed 2026-08-28T04:08:30.425162+00:00)

## What it is
APKLab is a VS Code extension that turns the editor into an Android reverse-engineering workbench by integrating Apktool, Jadx, uber-apk-signer, apk-mitm, smali-lsp, and Quark-Engine. It lets users decode, disassemble, decompile, modify, rebuild, sign, and install APKs without leaving the IDE.

## Use cases
- decompile an APK to Java source and Smali
- edit and rebuild an Android APK after modifying smali code
- analyze an APK for malware behavior
- bypass certificate pinning to inspect HTTPS traffic with mitmproxy
- generate Frida hooks for smali methods
- sign and install a rebuilt APK over ADB
- navigate smali code with go-to-definition and references

## When to choose
- you want a full Android RE workflow inside VS Code instead of juggling separate CLI tools
- you need smali editing with IDE features like syntax highlighting and call hierarchy
- you want one-click APK rebuild, signing, and installation
- you need integrated malware analysis reports via Quark-Engine

## When to avoid
- you only need quick APK inspection without editing - standalone jadx may suffice
- you are not a VS Code user
- you need fully automated large-scale APK analysis pipelines rather than interactive work

## Facets
- artifact type: plugin
- maturity: active
- function: reverse-engineering, security, developer-tools, editor, parser
- domain: reverse-engineering, security, android-tools, developer-tools
- platform: editor-plugin, cross-platform
- tags: android, apk, smali, apktool, jadx, frida, malware-analysis, vscode-extension, decompiler, mitm, desktop

## Member repositories
- APKLab/APKLab (main) score 74

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:30.425162+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T18:24:31.137076+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/APKLab/APKLab (fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:30.425162+00:00, sha 3805dab7e8cb)
  - homepage: https://apklab.surendrajat.xyz (fetched 2026-08-29T09:18:24.585152+00:00, sha 9f9ae645b056)
  - site_page: https://apklab.surendrajat.xyz/docs/main/intro (fetched 2026-08-29T09:18:24.617640+00:00, sha 066aa2286c8a)
  - site_page: https://apklab.surendrajat.xyz/docs/user-guide/getting-started (fetched 2026-08-29T09:18:24.653709+00:00, sha d6a11f449d01)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.