Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Resource Hacker VS Notepad++

Compare Resource Hacker VS Notepad++ and see what are their differences

Resource Hacker logo Resource Hacker

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

Notepad++ logo Notepad++

A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.
  • Resource Hacker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-08
  • Notepad++ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07

Resource Hacker features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Resource Hacker features an intuitive and straightforward interface, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users to navigate and use the tool efficiently for modifying resources in executable files.
  • Comprehensive Resource Editing
    The tool allows users to view, modify, add, and delete resources within Windows executables, making it versatile for a variety of resource management tasks.
  • Support for Multiple File Types
    Resource Hacker supports a wide range of file types, including .EXE, .DLL, .CPL, .OCX, and more, providing flexibility in resource editing across different Windows components.
  • Script Capabilities
    It can automate tasks through scripts, allowing for efficient batch processing and modifications, which is advantageous for repetitive tasks.
  • Free to Use
    Resource Hacker is available for free, offering extensive features without any cost, making it an attractive option for users looking for budget-friendly software.

Possible disadvantages of Resource Hacker

  • Windows-Only
    Resource Hacker is limited to Windows platforms, which restricts its usage for developers or users operating on macOS or Linux systems without additional support like emulators.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Complex Tasks
    While the interface is user-friendly, more complex editing tasks may require a deeper understanding of Windows resources and file structures, posing a learning challenge for newcomers.
  • Potential for Unstable Modifications
    Improper use of Resource Hacker can lead to unstable applications or system behavior, as modifying executable resources can affect how programs run.
  • Legal and Ethical Limitations
    Modifying executable files may breach software licenses or terms of use, leading to legal and ethical concerns. Users must ensure compliance with software agreements.

Notepad++ features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Notepad++ is completely free to download and use, and its source code is open for anyone to review, modify, and contribute to.
  • Lightweight and Fast
    Notepad++ is lightweight, meaning it uses fewer system resources compared to more complex IDEs, allowing for quick loading times and responsiveness.
  • Syntax Highlighting
    Supports syntax highlighting for over 80 programming languages, making it easier to read and write code.
  • Plugin Support
    Offers a wide range of plugins to extend its functionality, including customization options, code analyzers, and more.
  • Tabbed Interface
    Allows multiple documents to be opened in the same window through a tabbed interface, which greatly improves productivity.
  • Regular Updates
    Frequently receives updates and patches, improving its features and fixing bugs.

Possible disadvantages of Notepad++

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Lacks some of the advanced features and integrations of full-fledged IDEs, which might be necessary for professional software development.
  • Windows Only
    Natively available only on Windows, although it can be run on other systems using compatibility layers like Wine, which might affect performance.
  • Manual Plugin Management
    Managing plugins can be cumbersome, as users often need to download and install them manually.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Although generally stable, users sometimes encounter crashes or bugs, particularly when using many plugins.

Analysis of Resource Hacker

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Resource Hacker is a good tool for editing and modifying executable files.

Why this product is good

  • Resource Hacker is praised for its robustness and ease of use, allowing users to view, modify, and extract resources from executable files. It supports a wide range of resource formats and provides a user-friendly interface for both beginners and advanced users.

Recommended for

  • Software developers needing to edit application resources.
  • Software localizers who need to extract or modify resources for translations.
  • Tech-savvy users interested in customizing software applications.

Analysis of Notepad++

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Notepad++ is considered a good editor for both programmers and general users who need a reliable and feature-rich text editing tool.

Why this product is good

  • Notepad++ is a popular text and code editor due to its lightweight design, wide array of features, and support for numerous programming languages. It offers syntax highlighting, macro recording, customizable interfaces, and plugin support, making it highly versatile for various coding and text editing tasks. Its open-source nature allows for community-driven improvements, and it runs efficiently on Windows systems without consuming significant resources.

Recommended for

    Notepad++ is recommended for programmers, developers, and writers who need a robust text editor with advanced features. It's ideal for anyone using Windows who wants a free, efficient, and customizable editing solution capable of handling a wide range of file types and coding languages.

Resource Hacker videos

How To Make a .DLL Containing Icons Using Resource Hacker (BEST METHOD)

More videos:

  • Review - Extract Icons with Resource Hacker

Notepad++ videos

Notepad++ Review

More videos:

  • Review - Notepad++ Review
  • Review - Notepad++ Text Editor: Intro for Beginners

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Resource Hacker and Notepad++)
IDE
14 14%
86% 86
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
Software Development
16 16%
84% 84
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Resource Hacker and Notepad++

Resource Hacker Reviews

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Notepad++ Reviews

  1. the best assistant at work

    I've been using it for a long time, I can say that it has become my main tool in my work. First, you need to get used to using it and look at all the functionality. Overall, it's useful for me!


Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
Notepad++ provides a tabbed interface, allowing you to work on multiple files simultaneously. Its intuitive user interface makes it easy to navigate and edit your code efficiently. With features like syntax highlighting, code folding, and auto-completion, Notepad++ helps you write clean and error-free code.
Source: convesio.com
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
If you’re a beginner who needs a text editor, Notepad++ is far easier to understand than some of the other options on this list. Not only that, but you’ll enjoy the ability to locate words and replace them all, while also revealing certain bits of code with highlighting. As for advanced users, Notepad++ also does the trick, with its syntax highlighting for HTML, PHP, and...
Source: kinsta.com
Top 10 Free CSV Readers in 2023!
Notepad++: A popular text editor for Windows that has a CSV plugin for viewing and editing CSV files.
Source: www.retable.io
Top 10 Notepad++ Alternatives for Mac in 2022
First, you can get a better version of Notepad++ Mac. For instance, Setapp caters to your own Notepad++ Mac. You can also Notepad++ Mac using an emulator. Typically, the emulator is a form of creating a layer of compatibility where you can run the Notepad++ Mac on your operating system. Another thing you can do t enjoy Notepad++ Mac is by using Wine. This can help you have e...
Source: www.imymac.com
The Top 7 Notepad++ Alternatives for You
I have provided you with mainly free Notepad++ alternatives here. This is not that surprising because Notepad++ is free also. When choosing a Notepad++ alternative you need to consider what you are going to use it for and your level of programming experience.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notepad++ seems to be a lot more popular than Resource Hacker. While we know about 176 links to Notepad++, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Resource Hacker. 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.

Resource Hacker mentions (5)

  • Windows Tips, Tricks, and Tweaks
    "Resource Hacker"[1] should be enough to edit some strings, you just need to find the right file. [1] http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Where can one find the default Foobar2000 playback icons?
    Btw there are a couple of small programs to extract icons from exe/dll -s I tried with (ResourceHacker)[http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/] and (BeCyIconGrabber)[https://jarlpenguin.github.io/BeCyIconGrabberPortable/] but neither could find other icons than the main icon AH I had the idea to maybe check the component dll-s and actually foo_ui_std.dll has the icons. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I made custom tiles in Windows 10 for my Steam games. So aesthetic
    I do too but I’ve been using resource hacker for over a year or two now to quickly get the icon. Very rarely have I had to look elsewhere. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How do you sell AHK scripts?
    Right click into any script, then the resulting executable open it with Resource Hacker and you'll see what I'm talking about: the script is just as a resource of the .exe. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Is it possible to change a program icon _everywhere_ it appears?
    You'll also need a program called Resource Hacker. Find it here: http://angusj.com/resourcehacker/. Source: almost 4 years ago

Notepad++ mentions (176)

  • Microsoft dumps AI into Notepad as 'Copilot all the things' mania takes hold
    I would like to recommend notepad++. It does the job and I especially like it for multi-document and the other feautures like regex replace and plugins, etc... https://notepad-plus-plus.org. - Source: Hacker News / 6 days ago
  • How to Run Windows Applications on Linux Using Bottles: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Are you transitioning from Windows to Linux but struggling to replace tools like Notepad++ or WinMerge? Thanks to Wine and Bottles, you can now run Windows-only applications natively on Linux. This guide will show you how to install Windows apps on Linux effortlessly, perfect for .NET developers or anyone needing Windows tools in a Linux environment. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Currency converter in Rust + WebAssembly
    Then we need to modify Cargo.toml file located in your folder that you created with the above command, right click and edit I use notepad++ (to download notepad++ use this link (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/) so you will get the option to edit file directly. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • What I learned from my NodeJS course (part 1)
    Always working in the js-fundamentals.js file Open the file with any text editor. For now, use Notepad++. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • 6 free Markdown (.md) WYSIWYG desktop Editors – Part3
    Where to get it: Https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Plugin: inside Plugin Admin. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Resource Hacker and Notepad++, you can also consider the following products

Universal Extractor 2 - Universal Extractor 2 is an unofficial updated and extended version of the original UniExtract by...

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

Resource Tuner - Resource Editor: modify EXE file's resources, change Icons inside EXE, DLL, MUN. View, search, extract, replace, edit, add and delete the embedded resources of executable program files.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

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.

Vim - Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing