Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

VS Code VS PE Explorer

Compare VS Code VS PE Explorer and see what are their differences

VS Code logo VS Code

Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

PE Explorer logo 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.
  • VS Code Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-10-09
  • PE Explorer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-02

PE Explorer is a feature-rich and budget priced set of tools for those whose daily work involves reverse engineering of software and exploiting code, source code reviews, testing and evaluation of vulnerabilities with a very strong emphasis on peeking inside EXE applications and DLL packages.

PE Explorer leaves you with only minimal work to do in order to get an analysis of a piece of software. Once you have selected the file you wish to examine, PE Explorer will analyze the file and display a summary of the PE header information, and all of the resources contained in the PE file. From here, the tool allows you to explore the specific elements within an executable file. Target file structure can be analyzed and optimized, problems diagnosed, changes made, resources repaired, assembly source code reconstructed.

With PE Explorer, software engineers and security specialists can apply a professional approach to research of binary files. PE Explorer utilizes a qualitative algorithm designed to reconstruct the assembly language source code of target binary files (EXE, DLL, OCX) with the highest degree of accuracy possible. The product also allows you to remove both debugging information and the base relocation table from an executable, as well as view and edit the various section headers. PE Explorer includes a host of unique features, including the ability to open problem executable files and edit the hidden data that the other editors simply cannot see, an unparalleled range of supported resource types, automatic UPX unpacking, adding of modern Windows control styles to older applications, support for custom plug-ins, and more.

VS Code

Pricing URL
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$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
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Startup details
Country
United States

VS Code features and specs

  • Cross-platform
    VS Code works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent development experience across different operating systems.
  • Extensibility
    A vast library of extensions allows users to add functionalities like debuggers, linters, and themes, making it highly customizable.
  • Integrated Git
    Built-in Git integration makes it easy to manage version control tasks directly within the editor.
  • Performance
    Lightweight compared to full-fledged IDEs, ensuring good performance even on systems with limited resources.
  • IntelliSense
    Advanced code completion and refactoring tools help improve coding efficiency and reduce errors.
  • Community Support
    A strong and active community provides extensive support, tutorials, and third-party extensions.
  • Debugging
    Robust debugging tools for various languages and frameworks are available out of the box.
  • Free and Open-Source
    VS Code is completely free to use and open-source, which is beneficial for both individual developers and organizations.

Possible disadvantages of VS Code

  • Limited IDE Features
    While extensible, it may lack some advanced features found in dedicated IDEs out of the box.
  • Extension Management
    Managing and configuring a large number of extensions can become cumbersome and sometimes lead to performance issues.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, it has a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its numerous features and customization options.
  • Memory Usage
    Despite being lightweight, it can consume a significant amount of memory when multiple extensions are installed.
  • Update Frequency
    Frequent updates may sometimes introduce bugs or require users to adapt to new changes quickly.
  • Internet Dependency
    Some features and extensions may require an internet connection to function optimally.
  • Telemetry
    By default, VS Code collects usage data, which might be a concern for users sensitive about data privacy. However, this can be disabled.

PE Explorer features and specs

  • Resource Editor
    Allows users to view and edit resources such as strings, bitmaps, and dialogs in executable files without needing the source code.
  • Disassembler
    Includes a disassembler feature that provides insights into the code structure, useful for reverse engineering and debugging.
  • Dependency Scanner
    Can analyze and list all the modules and libraries required by the executable, aiding in troubleshooting and ensuring all dependencies are met.
  • UPX Unpacker
    Supports unpacking files compressed with UPX, allowing for easier analysis of compressed executables.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate graphical user interface, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.

Analysis of VS Code

Overall verdict

  • Yes, VS Code is generally considered a good choice for developers due to its flexibility, efficiency, and strong community support. It is lightweight, fast, and user-friendly, catering to both novice and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

  • VS Code, developed by Microsoft, is a widely popular and versatile code editor. It offers a robust extension ecosystem, which allows developers to customize their workflow and coding environment extensively. Additionally, VS Code supports numerous programming languages right out of the box and provides features like IntelliSense, debugging, Git integration, and a built-in terminal, making it a powerful tool for developers.

Recommended for

  • Web developers looking for a comprehensive yet lightweight coding environment.
  • Software developers who need an editor with extensive language support and customization options.
  • Beginner programmers who would benefit from a feature-rich editor that can grow with their skills.
  • Developers interested in an open-source tool with continuous updates and community-driven enhancements.

Analysis of PE Explorer

Overall verdict

  • Overall, PE Explorer is highly regarded for its robust and versatile functionality, making it suitable for both professional and personal use in software development, reverse engineering, and malware analysis. However, its utility depends on the user's specific needs and technical proficiency.

Why this product is good

  • PE Explorer is considered a good tool for those who need to inspect and modify Windows executable files. It offers a wide range of features such as viewing and editing resources, disassembling, and analyzing the structure of executables. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and comprehensive analysis capabilities, making it a popular choice for developers and reverse engineers.

Recommended for

  • Software developers looking to explore and modify executable files
  • Reverse engineers who need detailed insights into application internals
  • Security professionals analyzing potential malware or security vulnerabilities
  • Tech-savvy users interested in learning more about executable file structures

VS Code videos

My New Favorite Text Editor - Visual Studio Code

More videos:

  • Review - 7 reasons why I switched to Visual Studio Code from Sublime Text

PE Explorer videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VS Code and PE Explorer)
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0
IDE
98 98%
2% 2
Software Development
96 96%
4% 4
Developer Tools
98 98%
2% 2

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing VS Code and PE Explorer.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

PE Explorer's answer:

  • Microsoft
  • Apple
  • Adobe
  • Symantec

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

PE Explorer's answer:

  • Security professionals
  • Reverse engineers
  • Developers
  • Antivirus and forensic specialists

What makes your product unique?

PE Explorer's answer:

PE Explorer includes a host of unique features, including the ability to open problem executable files and edit the hidden data that the other editors simply cannot see.

User comments

Share your experience with using VS Code and PE Explorer. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare VS Code and PE Explorer

VS Code Reviews

  1. dksinden
    ยท Working at SpeechKit ยท

Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
Visual Studio Code, commonly known as VS Code, is a powerful and extensible code editor developed by Microsoft. With its rich ecosystem of extensions and features like IntelliSense, debugging, and Git integration, VS Code enhances your coding productivity.
Source: convesio.com
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
Finally, the Visual Studio Code website has numerous tabs for you to learn about the software. The documentation page walks you through steps like the setup and working with different languages. Youโ€™re also able to check out some tips and tricks and learn all of the Visual Studio Code keyboard shortcuts. Along with a blog, updates page, extensions library and API...
Source: kinsta.com
Jupyter Notebook & 10 Alternatives: Data Notebook Review [2023]
Previously, VS Code was more suited to developers or engineers due to its lack of data analysis capabilities, but since 2020, the VS Code team has collaborated with the Jupyter team to create an integrated notebook within VS Code. The end result is a fantastic IDE workbook for data analysis.
Source: lakefs.io
The Best IDEs for Java Development: A Comparative Analysis
Overview: Although not a traditional IDE, VS Code has gained popularity as a lightweight code editor.
Source: dev.to
20 Best Diff Tools to Compare File Contents on Linux
Visual studio code is a code editor made by Microsoft. It supports several development operations like debugging, task running, and version control. It works on Linux, macOS and Windows operating systems.
Source: linuxopsys.com

PE Explorer Reviews

We have no reviews of PE Explorer yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, VS Code seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1214 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.

VS Code mentions (1214)

  • How to Get Your First Tool Online
    The step up from there is an editor with a built-in agent like Cursor, Google Antigravity, Windsurf, or VS Code with a coding extension. These are code editors with an AI agent living inside them, and the difference is the responsible party for getting things from place to place. Instead of the software creator shuttling code between windows, the AI agent edits the project files directly and runs the GitHub and... - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • Agentic Engineering: What Does AI Coding Really Cost?
    For IDE-heavy teams, BYOK (bring your own key) can be interesting, no matter whether you live in WebStorm or VS Code. On the JetBrains side, the JetBrains AI plans and Junie BYOK docs allow it, and most VS Code AI extensions offer the same idea: keep the IDE, connect provider keys, pay the provider. - Source: dev.to / 28 days ago
  • Best Markdown Editors for Developers
    Option 1: Raw editing in IDE. You open the .md file in VS Code or whatever you use. Syntax highlighting shows you the structure. Maybe you toggle a preview pane. This works for quick edits but becomes painful for anything involving tables, diagrams, or complex formatting. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Document Generation for Developers: Security, Compliance, and Build-vs-Buy Decisions for the Template-Plus-Data Pipeline
    You'll need Python 3.8+ and pip for the quickstart, with venv recommended for isolation. Install the requests library for HTTP calls. VS Code with the Python extension works well as an editor, though PyCharm or Sublime Text work equally well. You'll also need a free Foxit developer account. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Notes + Local AI: Simpler Than You Think
    For viewing and navigating, Obsidian handles large markdown libraries well: graph view, tag search, template plugins. VSCode works too if you'd rather stay in your dev environment. Both read the same folder with no conversion needed. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
View more

PE Explorer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PE Explorer yet. Tracking of PE Explorer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing VS Code and PE Explorer, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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

Node.js - Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications

HxD - HxD is a carefully designed and fast hex editor which, additionally to raw disk editing and...