Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ghidra VS Data Display Debugger

Compare Ghidra VS Data Display Debugger and see what are their differences

Ghidra logo Ghidra

Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) Framework

Data Display Debugger logo Data Display Debugger

Data Display Debugger as the name suggests is a display software for debugs that acts as a graphical interface for other debugging platforms such as DBX, JDB, XDB, GDB, ladebug, bashdb, and the perl debugger among others.
  • Ghidra Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-25
  • Data Display Debugger Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-02

Ghidra features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Ghidra is free to use and its source code is publicly available, allowing users to modify and enhance the tool to suit their needs.
  • Multi-platform Support
    Ghidra is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their operating system.
  • Powerful Disassembly
    It comes with a powerful disassembly engine that supports multiple architectures, enabling in-depth analysis of binary code.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tool features a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies navigation and enhances user experience, especially for those who may not be comfortable with command-line tools.
  • Collaboration Features
    Ghidra allows multiple users to collaborate on the same project in real-time, facilitating team efforts in reverse engineering tasks.
  • Scripting Support
    It supports scripting in both Python and Java, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks and extend the functionality of the tool.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Ghidra has comprehensive documentation and an active community, providing users with resources and support to get started and troubleshoot issues.

Possible disadvantages of Ghidra

  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and capabilities, there can be a steep learning curve for new users, requiring time and practice to master.
  • Performance
    Some users have reported performance issues, such as slow loading times and lag, particularly when working with large binaries.
  • Limited Debugging Features
    Ghidra’s debugging features are not as comprehensive as those offered by some other reverse engineering tools, potentially limiting its utility for certain tasks.
  • Java Dependency
    Ghidra requires a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run, which may be a drawback for users who prefer or require environments that do not support Java.
  • Complex Installation
    The installation and setup process can be complex and may require additional configuration, which can be daunting for beginners.
  • Less Intuitive for Certain Tasks
    While the GUI is user-friendly for many tasks, some users find it less intuitive for specific, advanced reverse engineering functions compared to other specialized tools.

Data Display Debugger features and specs

  • Graphical Interface
    Data Display Debugger (DDD) provides a graphical interface that makes it easier to visualize data structures, such as arrays and linked lists, which can be more difficult to interpret in a text-based debugger.
  • Multiple Debugger Support
    DDD supports multiple back-end debuggers like GDB, DBX, and JDB, thereby offering flexibility for developers working with different programming languages and tools.
  • Ease of Use
    The user-friendly interface allows users to set breakpoints, step through code, and inspect variables with relative ease, reducing the learning curve for beginners.
  • Interactive Data Visualization
    DDD enables interactive graphical displays of data, where users can click on data structures to expand and explore their contents in an intuitive fashion.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, DDD can be freely used, modified, and distributed, fostering community-driven improvements and adaptations.

Possible disadvantages of Data Display Debugger

  • Outdated Interface
    The graphical user interface of DDD is considered outdated by modern standards, which might not appeal to users accustomed to contemporary design aesthetics.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to more modern debuggers, DDD lacks some advanced features and integrations that developers might expect, such as robust remote debugging capabilities.
  • Performance Issues
    Users might experience performance issues when dealing with large-scale applications or complex data structures, as the tool can become slow or unresponsive at times.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Non-traditional Debuggers
    Though it eases debugging for some, users unfamiliar with graphical debugging tools might initially find it challenging to navigate and utilize all its features effectively.
  • Limited Community Support
    Given its age and the emergence of newer tools, the community support around DDD is not as active or extensive, potentially leading to difficulty in finding help or documentation.

Ghidra videos

NSA Ghidra, A game changer ?

More videos:

  • Review - Ghidra Review
  • Tutorial - Ghidra quickstart & tutorial: Solving a simple crackme

Data Display Debugger videos

No Data Display Debugger videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ghidra and Data Display Debugger)
Software Development
81 81%
19% 19
IDE
81 81%
19% 19
Decompiler
93 93%
7% 7
OS & Utilities
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Ghidra and Data Display Debugger. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Ghidra and Data Display Debugger

Ghidra Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review
It may not be entirely up to the functionality of HexRays at the moment (remember that Ghidra is a new project), but tools such as decompilers require a lot of work and it is rare to see a new product that someone offers for free.
Source: www.pelock.com
The 5 Best Reverse Engineering Software for 2022
Ghidra's graphical user interface (GUI) is built on Java's Swing framework with a decompiler written in C++ and plugins written in Python. Besides its reverse engineering capabilities, Ghidra features powerful debugging features for both Windows and Linux.6
Source: online.yu.edu

Data Display Debugger Reviews

We have no reviews of Data Display Debugger yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ghidra seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 67 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.

Ghidra mentions (67)

  • Better Reverse Engineering with Frida and Ghidra
    Install Ghidra: You can download the latest version from the official Ghidra website: https://ghidra-sre.org/. Follow the installation instructions provided on the site. - Source: dev.to / 29 days ago
  • DeepSeek proves the future of LLMs is open-source
    Ghidra (https://ghidra-sre.org/) can fine-tune executables way more easily than your models. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Ask HN: How are you using LLMs for traversing decompiler output?
    I've only played a with this, but it was impressive. https://ghidra-sre.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • I've figured out what 13 of the 16 enemy flags mean in Ultima V. Help me figure out the last three.
    I've got no experience with reverse-engineering executables, but I got a bunch of code-like stuff showing up when I fed ULTIMA.EXE to Ghidra and told it to analyze it with all the flags set. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Modding SH2
    The whole game is written in C++ (game logic intertwined with graphics). Ghidra can help you deconstruct the game binaries, but you need to put in a GREAT great effort to even get a starting point. Cheat Engine has been successful for some purposes, including an AI enabling utility for multiplayer (use with great care!). Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

Data Display Debugger mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Data Display Debugger yet. Tracking of Data Display Debugger recommendations started around Jul 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ghidra and Data Display Debugger, you can also consider the following products

IDA - The best-of-breed binary code analysis tool, an indispensable item in the toolbox of world-class software analysts, reverse engineers, malware analyst and cybersecurity professionals.

OllyDbg - OllyDbg is a 32-bit assembler level analysing debugger.

Binary Ninja - A reverse engineering platform and GUI

X64dbg - X64dbg is a debugging software that can debug x64 and x32 applications.

SoftICE - SoftICE is a debugging software for windows and DOS that analyzes all your programs and repairs them.

Nirsoft Simple Program Debugger - Nirsoft Simple Program Debugger is a debugging software that analyzes and displays all major debugging events across your computer, after connecting to either the running program or starting a new program in the debugging mode.