Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Dependency Walker VS .NET Reflector

Compare Dependency Walker VS .NET Reflector and see what are their differences

Dependency Walker logo Dependency Walker

Dependency Walker is a free utility that extracts a hierarchal tree of dependencies from any 32- or...

.NET Reflector logo .NET Reflector

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  • Dependency Walker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-20
  • .NET Reflector Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-25

Dependency Walker features and specs

  • Comprehensive Analysis
    Dependency Walker provides a detailed view of all the modules that an application depends on, including dynamically loaded modules. This can be useful for diagnosing application start-up issues or determining why a program doesn't run on a particular system.
  • Free to Use
    Dependency Walker is a free tool, making it accessible for anyone to use without the need for a software license or subscription.
  • Compatibility
    It supports various versions of Windows and can analyze applications intended for different processor architectures, including x86 and x64.
  • Time-Stamp and Version Information
    The tool provides time-stamp and version information for DLLs and other files, aiding in detecting outdated or incorrectly versioned dependencies.
  • Static and Dynamic Analysis
    Dependency Walker allows users to perform both static analysis and dynamic runtime profiling, providing insights into how an application behaves under different conditions.

Possible disadvantages of Dependency Walker

  • Limited Support for Modern Features
    Dependency Walker has not been updated for a while, which means it may not support newer features or conventions in modern applications and operating systems.
  • Complexity for New Users
    The tool can be complex and difficult to navigate for those who are not familiar with software dependency structures, potentially leading to confusion.
  • Dynamic Linking Limitations
    While it tracks dynamic links, Dependency Walker may not fully account for all real-time complaints that occur at runtime, particularly with certain APIs and system calls.
  • Limited GUI
    The user interface is somewhat outdated, which can be cumbersome and less intuitive, especially for users accustomed to modern IDEs and development tools.
  • Not Actively Maintained
    Dependency Walker has not received updates in recent years, meaning there is no support or enhancements forthcoming, which could be a concern for long-term usage.

.NET Reflector features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    .NET Reflector provides an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which makes it accessible for both novice and experienced developers.
  • Comprehensive Decompilation
    It offers robust decompilation capabilities for .NET assemblies, allowing developers to view source code in C#, VB.NET, or IL.
  • Integration with Visual Studio
    .NET Reflector can be seamlessly integrated with Visual Studio, providing developers with the ability to debug third-party code within their usual development environment.
  • Plugin Support
    The application supports a wide range of plugins, enhancing its functionality and allowing developers to customize features according to their needs.
  • Code Analysis and Metrics
    .NET Reflector provides tools for analyzing code and assessing metrics, which helps in understanding and improving code quality.
  • Supports All .NET Versions
    The tool is compatible with all versions of the .NET framework, making it a versatile option for developers working with different versions.

Possible disadvantages of .NET Reflector

  • Cost
    .NET Reflector is not a free tool, which may be a disadvantage for developers or smaller companies with limited budgets.
  • Requires .NET Knowledge
    To effectively use .NET Reflector, users must have a good understanding of .NET technologies and assembly language.
  • Limited Obfuscation Support
    The tool can struggle to decompile obfuscated code, which can limit its effectiveness when dealing with heavily protected assemblies.
  • Performance Overheads
    Decompiling large assemblies can be resource-intensive and may slow down the system, which can be inconvenient for users requiring quick turnarounds.
  • Potential Legal Issues
    Using .NET Reflector to reverse-engineer third-party software can lead to intellectual property concerns or legal issues if not done in compliance with licensing agreements.

Dependency Walker videos

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.NET Reflector videos

VC#. Обратная инженерия и .NET Reflector. Урок 9

More videos:

  • Review - Cracking Programs | using .Net Reflector to Crack Crypto Obfuscator
  • Tutorial - How To Crack .Net Reflector

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Dependency Walker and .NET Reflector)
Software Development
53 53%
47% 47
IDE
52 52%
48% 48
Decompiler
53 53%
47% 47
Developer Tools
40 40%
60% 60

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Dependency Walker and .NET Reflector

Dependency Walker Reviews

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.NET Reflector Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review
Debugger for .NET Framework applications. It is quite a robust tool, but sometimes invaluable. It looks a bit like Visual Studio built-in debugger, I'm mentioning it only because it is one of very few debuggers for .NET applications without access to source codes, there are also plugins for .NET Reflector for the purpose of debugging (Deblector plugin).
Source: www.pelock.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Dependency Walker seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Dependency Walker mentions (2)

  • Server 2019 not compatible with some applications like Server 2016
    I wouldn't wish this on anybody - but one could start with: Dependency Walker (depends.exe) Home Page and chase your own tail for a while. Cheers. Source: about 2 years ago
  • C++ Show and Tell - September 2022
    Hi, I'm Marek and I created DependencyViewer a tool for analysing .dll and .exe files. It is very similar to Dependency Walker tool by Microsoft or to Dependencies tool by lucasg. Binary download fox x86 and x64 is available on my drive. Some features of my tool are: Advantages: Written in C++ not C#. Requires only Visual Studio and Process Hacker's headers to build, has no other (build-time or run-time)... Source: over 2 years ago

.NET Reflector mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of .NET Reflector yet. Tracking of .NET Reflector recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Dependency Walker and .NET Reflector, you can also consider the following products

Dependencies - A rewrite of the old legacy software "depends.

ILSpy - ICSharpCode. Decompiler. Console..

Resource Hacker - Resource Hacker has been designed to be the complete resource editing tool.

dotPeek - dotPeek is a free tool based on ReSharper. It can reliably decompile any . NET assembly into C# or IL code. Download dotPeekCommunity. Materials Newsletters, webinars.

PE Explorer - EXE Editor, Resource Editor, Disassembler, Section Editor, Dependency Scanner, Quick Function Syntax Lookup. Analyze win32 executable files, including headers, procedures, and libraries. Edit icon resources and more.

dnSpy - .NET assembly editor, decompiler, and debugger