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https://github.com/krpors/hx

Hex editor for the terminal using plain C99 + POSIX libs.
https://github.com/krpors/hx

c cli hex-editor no-dependencies

Last synced: 11 days ago
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Hex editor for the terminal using plain C99 + POSIX libs.

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# hx



A hex editor using plain C + POSIX libs. The project's code

is somewhat influenced by the [kilo project](https://github.com/antirez/kilo).



For an idea how it looks:



![hx](http://i.imgur.com/5XPbMGW.png)



# Compiling and running



The project does not have a dependency on libraries, not even curses. Like the

kilo editor, it makes use of ANSI escape sequences. The source can be compiled

by simply running `make`, or `make all` to gzip the manpage as well. To install,

simply run `make install` (as root). The files are currently installed under

`/usr/local/bin/` (binary) and `/usr/local/man/man1` (man page). Not really sure yet

if this is portable across distributions, though.



Running `hx`:



	hx filename       # open a file

	hx -h             # for help

	hx -v             # version information

	hx -o 32 filename # open file with 32 octets per line

	hx -g 8 filename  # open file, set octet grouping to 8



Keys which can be used:



	CTRL+Q  : Quit immediately without saving.

	CTRL+S  : Save (in place).

	hjkl    : Vim like cursor movement.

	Arrows  : Also moves the cursor around.

	w       : Skip one group of bytes to the right.

	b       : Skip one group of bytes to the left.

	gg      : Move to start of file.

	G       : Move to end of file.

	x / DEL : Delete byte at cursor position.

	/       : Start search input. "\xYZ" can be used to search for

	          byte value YZ, and '\' must be escaped by another '\'

	          to search for '\'.

	n       : Search for next occurrence.

	N       : Search for previous occurrence.

	u       : Undo the last action.

	CTRL+R  : Redo the last undone action.



	a       : Append mode. Appends a byte after the current cursor position.

	A       : Append mode. Appends the literal typed keys (except ESC).

	i       : Insert mode. Inserts a byte at the current cursor position.

	I       : Insert mode. Inserts the literal typed keys (except ESC).

	r       : Replace mode. Replaces the byte at the current cursor position.

	:       : Command mode. Commands can be typed and executed (see below).

	ESC     : Return to normal mode.



	]       : Increment byte at cursor position with 1.

	[       : Decrement byte at cursor position with 1.



	End     : Move cursor to end of the offset line.

	Home    : Move cursor to the beginning of the offset line.



# Command mode



Being in normal mode (`ESC`) then hitting the colon key `:`, you can enter command

mode where manual commands can be typed. The following commands are recognized currently:



* `:123`      : go to offset 123 (base 10)

* `:0x7a69`   : go to offset 0x7a69 (base 16), 31337 in base 10.

* `:w`        : writes the file.

* `:q`        : quits (will warn if the buffer is dirty).

* `:q!`       : quits promptly without warning.

* `set o=16`  : sets the amount of octets per line.

* `set g=8`   : sets grouping of bytes.



Input is very basic in command mode. Cursor movement is not available (yet?).



# Implementation details



The program uses raw ANSI escape sequences for manipulating colors, cursor

positions and whatnot. The program first initializes the terminal in

so-called raw mode (see `man termios`). Then keypresses are read, processed

and then one function renders the contents, cursor and stuff.



In any case, the source code is pretty heavily commented I guess. For more

details, Use The Source Luke.



# Wishlist and TODOs



1. Perhaps a configuration file to control the colors or some default settings.