Cubified / vex

A terminal-based hex editor with vi-like keybinds.

vex

A terminal-based hex editor with vi-like keybinds.

I wrote this because I was dissatisfied with all the available terminal-based hex editors I could find, namely because they all lacked in one (or more) of these:

• Speed: Read/write multi-gigabyte files without chugging (and with color)
• Navigation: Move around a file quickly and painlessly (with both mouse and keyboard)
• Interface: Work with me (not against me) to edit files

Screenshot and Demo

Compiling

vex has no dependencies.

 $ make

Will compile, and

 $ ./vex [file]

Will open [file] for editing.

Usage

vex supports the basics of any vi-like editor, namely:

• i: Enter insert mode
• hjkl or arrow keys: Navigate through file
• :: Enter commands
  • :w: Write file
  • :q: Quit editor
  • :wq: Write file, then quit
  • :q!: Quit editor without saving
  • :89ab: Go to offset 0x89ab in the file
• Escape: Exit insert mode/command entry, return to normal mode

As well as some other useful ones, such as:

• Mouse: Click and scroll to navigate around file
• Page Up/Page Down: Navigate vertically through file
• Home and End keys: Navigate horizontally along the current line

To-Do

• More robust end-of-file checks on user input
• Wrapping when in insert mode