ILSpy VS IDA

Compare ILSpy VS IDA and see what are their differences

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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.

Landing page //
2023-04-02

Landing page //
2018-11-11

A powerful disassembler and a versatile debugger IDA Pro as a disassembler is capable of creating maps of their execution to show the binary instructions that are actually executed by the processor in a symbolic representation (assembly language). Advanced techniques have been implemented into IDA Pro so that it can generate assembly language source code from machine-executable code and make this complex code more human-readable.

The debugging feature augmented IDA with the dynamic analysis. It supports multiple debugging targets and can handle remote applications. Its cross-platform debugging capability enables instant debugging, easy connection to both local and remote processes and support for 64-bit systems and new connection possibilities.

ILSpy

Website: wiki.sharpdevelop.net
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Platforms: -
Release Date: -

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IDA

Website: hex-rays.com
$ Details: -
Platforms: Windows Linux Mac OSX
Release Date: 1991 May

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ILSpy features and specs

Open Source
ILSpy is open source, allowing developers to contribute to its development and customize it according to their needs.
User Friendly
The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, which makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers.
Active Community
There is an active community of users and contributors who provide support, plugins, and updates.
Supports Multiple Versions
ILSpy can decompile assemblies generated with various versions of .NET, making it versatile for different projects.
Continuous Updates
Regular updates ensure compatibility with the latest .NET versions and introduce new features and improvements.

Possible disadvantages of ILSpy

Limited Debugging
ILSpy primarily focuses on decompilation and lacks comprehensive debugging features found in some other tools.
Performance Issues
When dealing with large assemblies, ILSpy may experience slowdowns or performance issues during decompilation.
Complex Assemblies
For very complex or obfuscated assemblies, the decompiled code might not be very readable or accurate.
No Direct Editing
ILSpy does not support editing the decompiled code directly, which means developers need to use additional tools for modifications.

IDA features and specs

Powerful Disassembler
IDA Pro is renowned for its powerful disassembly capabilities, which can reverse-engineer complex binaries for various architectures.
Interactive Graphical Interface
The tool provides an intuitive and interactive GUI, complete with various graph views, that helps users visualize control flow and analyze code more efficiently.
Plugin Ecosystem
IDA Pro supports an extensive range of plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality and tailor it to specific needs.
Scriptable
It supports multiple scripting languages, such as IDC, Python, and others, enabling automation of repetitive tasks and custom analysis routines.
Cross-Platform Support
IDA Pro is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for different operating environments.
Extensive Documentation
IDA Pro comes with comprehensive documentation and active community support, helping users in learning and troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages of IDA

High Cost
IDA Pro is known for its high price, which might be prohibitive for small businesses, hobbyists, or independent security researchers.
Steep Learning Curve
The tool is highly complex and may require significant time and effort to master, especially for beginners in reverse engineering.
Resource Intensive
IDA Pro can be resource-intensive, requiring robust system specifications to function smoothly, particularly when dealing with large binaries.
Licensing Restrictions
The licensing terms can be restrictive, limiting the ability to transfer licenses between different users or systems easily.
Limited Dynamic Analysis
While IDA Pro is excellent for static analysis, its capabilities for dynamic analysis are somewhat limited compared to specialized dynamic analysis tools.
Comparison with Free Tools
There are free alternatives available, such as Ghidra and Radare2, which offer comparable capabilities without the high cost.

ILSpy videos

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How to decompile (read source code of) .NET Framework assemblies using ILSpy

IDA videos

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Mark Kermode reviews Ida

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ILSpy and IDA)

ILSpy

IDA

IDE

18 18%

IDE

82% 82

Decompiler

27 27%

Decompiler

73% 73

Software Development

15 15%

Software Development

85% 85

Developer Tools

100 100%

Developer Tools

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using ILSpy and IDA. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ILSpy and IDA

ILSpy Reviews

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IDA Reviews

Reverse engineering tools review

IDA that is Interactive DisAssembler in an undpisupted king among tools used in reverse engineering. IDA is a disassembler and debugger with built-in code analysis for over 60 types of processors. It has its own script language, large base of signatures of the most popular programming libraries as well as support for plug-ins that additionally enhance functionality e.g. by...

Source: www.pelock.com

The 5 Best Reverse Engineering Software for 2022

The interactive nature of the IDA Pro disassembler means you can change elements of the displayed data in real-time, including functions, variables, names, and library functions. It's written in C++ and runs on Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux. The IDA Pro platform benefits from several plugins, the most notable of which is the Hex-Rays decompiler. With this tool, software...

Source: online.yu.edu

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, IDA seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 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.

ILSpy mentions (0)

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

IDA mentions (13)

How to Extract Rocket League Data in Real Time: Reverse Engineering in Unreal Engine Games
It is interesting for the reader to try to find them on their own, but I will show how I found them using a disassembler called IDA64 for static analysis and a structure dissector called ReClass.net to validate if it is correct or not. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
Ida Pro 9 Beta Leak (Including Linux)
If you, like me( had no clue what the hex Ida Pro is: https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
XZ backdoor story – Initial analysis
The tool used in those white screenshots is called IDA pro, a decompiler. https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
how do i make mynown cracks for my steam games?
Learn assembly and then fuck around with https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. Gonna take you a week max. Source: over 1 year ago
Disabling a pointless hardware check in an old DOS EXE
To RE the executable IDA Pro can be very useful: Https://hex-rays.com/ida-pro/. Source: about 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ILSpy and IDA, you can also consider the following products

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.

Ghidra - Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) Framework

dnSpy - .NET assembly editor, decompiler, and debugger

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

Java Decompiler - Yet another fast Java decompiler

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