Hex reader in OSX?

[retrotron]

I don't really understand what I'm asking about, but it has something to do with a hex reader I think....if I want to look at a compiled program...I can use a hex reader and view the binary format (in hex values?)...is that right? I have no idea if I'm even asking the question right. Is there a hex reader like this in/for OSX?

 

[brianleahy]

BBEdit has a "Hex Dump" feature that will dump any program in hexadecimal.

http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/index.shtml

If, however, you want to view assembly language mnemonics, better to use Apple's developer tools.

 

[naodx]

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/12195

This should do what you want.

 

[retrotron]

Great! Thanks!

So let me make sure I understand this. The file is just binary stuff. A hex editor takes that binary stuff and creates a representation of it (in hex). That's what I see on the screen? And then when I edit those hex values and save the file, those values are converted back into binary in the original stuff? Is that how it works, or am I way off here?

 

[rhg]

Yes, that's how it works

 

[Captain Code]

But unless you REALLY know what you're doing then the program would probably not work at all after changing stuff

 

[retrotron]

Cool stuff!

 

[gumse]

In terminal:
hexdump filename