# sharkdp/binocle

a graphical tool to visualize binary data

Repository: https://github.com/sharkdp/binocle
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/binocle
Language: Rust
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Topics: reverse-engineering, binary-data, visualization
Last push: 2025-01-21T21:16:05+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 24/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 2, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 1815, "days_push": 589, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1317, forks 42 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:20.994978+00:00)

## What it is
Binocle is a graphical tool that visualizes binary data by colorizing bytes according to configurable rules and rendering them as pixels in a rectangular grid. It helps users identify interesting regions in large files, such as embedded images, code sections, or data structures.

## Use cases
- visualize binary data of a large file
- find embedded images inside a binary
- analyze a memory dump visually
- inspect ELF binary structure graphically
- explore file offsets and byte patterns with adjustable stride and width
- reverse engineer unknown file formats

## When to choose
- you need a quick visual overview of a binary file's structure
- you are doing reverse engineering and want to spot image-like or structured regions
- you want a lightweight GUI alternative to hex editors for pattern discovery

## When to avoid
- you need to edit or patch binary bytes rather than just visualize them
- you require scripted or automated binary analysis instead of interactive exploration
- you need full disassembly or decompilation features

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: stable
- function: graphics, data-visualization, reverse-engineering
- domain: reverse-engineering, data-visualization, security, developer-tools
- platform: windows, cross-platform
- tags: binary-analysis, hex-visualization, gui, rust, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- sharkdp/binocle (main) score 24

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:20.994978+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 2026-08-30T04:48:14.516942+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/sharkdp/binocle (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:20.994978+00:00, sha e8042ec22e0f)
  - registry_crates: https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/binocle (fetched 2026-08-29T12:06:43.705369+00:00, sha 03e705feaba3)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.