HexBrowser.NET vs Other .NET Hex Editors: A Comparison

Building a Binary Inspector with HexBrowser.NETBinary inspection—the ability to view, analyze, and manipulate raw bytes—is a crucial skill for developers working with low-level file formats, forensic analysis, reverse engineering, and performance-sensitive applications. HexBrowser.NET is a .NET-friendly hex editing and binary-inspection component that makes it straightforward to build powerful, extensible binary inspectors for desktop and cross-platform applications. This article walks through designing and implementing a full-featured binary inspector using HexBrowser.NET, including architecture, key features, UI design, parsing strategies, performance tips, and extensibility.

Why build a binary inspector?

A dedicated binary inspector allows you to:

Quickly view raw bytes and their interpretations (ASCII, UTF-8/UTF-16, integers, floats, timestamps).
Parse and visualize structured data (headers, tables, sections).
Edit values safely with undo/redo and validation.
Search and filter data by patterns, signatures, or value ranges.
Script or plugin custom parsers for proprietary formats.

HexBrowser.NET provides a solid base — a performant byte-grid UI, selection and editing primitives, and events/hooks for custom rendering and parsing. Using it lets you focus on higher-level features: smart parsing, annotations, and tooling.

Architecture overview

A clean modular architecture separates concerns and makes the inspector maintainable:

Core byte model: an immutable or versioned representation of the underlying data (file, memory dump, stream).
UI layer: Hex view (HexBrowser.NET control), data inspector panes, tree of parsed structures, and search/results panels.
Parser layer: pluggable parsers that map ranges of bytes to semantic structures (fields, arrays, nested records).
Annotation & overlay system: visual highlights, comments, and bookmarks tied to byte ranges.
Command & undo system: marshals edits from UI to model and supports undo/redo.
Storage & sessions: save annotated state, parser configurations, and bookmarks.

This separation makes it easier to add features like collaborative sessions, scripting, or format libraries later.

Core byte model

At the heart is a byte model responsible for:

Loading data from files, streams, or memory.
Exposing read/write operations, with bounds checks.
Emitting events on changes for UI and parsers.
Supporting snapshots or an edit stack for undo/redo.

Design choices:

Use a gap buffer or chunked buffer for large files to keep edits efficient.
Keep metadata (annotations, parser results) separate from raw bytes — store as ranges referencing offsets so they survive edits where appropriate.
Provide both synchronous and asynchronous read APIs; large files should be accessed asynchronously.

Example interface sketch (C#):

public interface IByteModel : IDisposable {     long Length { get; }     Task<int> ReadAsync(long offset, byte[] buffer, int index, int count, CancellationToken ct);     Task WriteAsync(long offset, byte[] data, CancellationToken ct);     event EventHandler<ByteRangeChangedEventArgs> BytesChanged;     IUndoManager UndoManager { get; } }

Integrating HexBrowser.NET in the UI

HexBrowser.NET supplies the hex grid and editing primitives. Key integration points:

Data binding: connect IByteModel to HexBrowser.NET’s data source API.
Custom renderers: hook into cell rendering to display colored overlays for parsed fields or annotations.
Selection & context menus: provide right-click options that act on selected ranges (interpret as int/float, create annotation, jump to structure).
Synchronized views: keep the hex view, decoded view (interpreted fields), and structure tree in sync.

UI layout suggestion:

Left: structure tree (parsed fields and nested records).
Center: HexBrowser.NET hex grid (bytes and ASCII/UTF columns).
Right: detailed field inspector and value converters (endianness toggle, integer/float interpreters).
Bottom: search results and a timeline/undo history.

Parsing strategies

Parsers transform raw bytes into meaningful structures. Design them to be:

Pluggable: load parsers from assemblies or scripts.
Declarative when possible: use a schema language or JSON descriptors to express common formats.
Streaming-friendly: allow parsers to operate on partial data for large files.
Resilient: handle missing bytes or malformed data and surface errors without crashing.

Two parser styles:

Declarative schema parsers
- Define fields with offsets, types, and lengths.
- Good for stable, documented formats.
- Example descriptor (pseudo-JSON): { “fields”: [ {“name”:“magic”,“offset”:0,“type”:“bytes”,“length”:4}, {“name”:“version”,“offset”:4,“type”:“uint16”,“endian”:“little”}, {“name”:“flags”,“offset”:6,“type”:“bitfield”,“bits”:[…]} ] }
Programmatic parsers
- Written in C# or a scripting language (Lua, Python) to handle complex or conditional layouts.
- Expose helper functions: ReadUInt32(offset), TryFindPattern(pattern), MapArray(offset, count, elementParser).

Parser execution model:

Initial pass: quick scan for top-level headers and table offsets.
Lazy parsing: parse nested structures when the user expands them in the tree or hovers over a region.
Background parsing: long-running parse jobs run on background threads and update UI incrementally.

Visualizing parsed data

Good visualization converts opaque bytes into actionable insights.

Structure tree: hierarchical nodes representing parsed objects. Clicking a node selects and highlights its byte range in the hex view.
Inline overlays: colorize byte ranges directly in the hex grid. Use distinct but accessible colors for types (header, table, string).
Field inspector: shows name, offset, raw bytes, interpreted value(s), possible enum names, and editable controls if writable.
Cross-references: hyperlinks from fields to other offsets (pointers, table indices). Clicking navigates the hex view.
Repr modes: let users toggle how a value is displayed — decimal, hex, signed/unsigned, float, timestamp (with timezone), or string encoding.

Example: interpreting a 4-byte field as both uint32 (size) and as a little-endian pointer to another structure; the inspector shows both values with a clickable link for the pointer.

Search, pattern matching, and signatures

Search features are essential:

Exact byte search (hex patterns, wildcards).
Text search (ASCII/UTF-8/UTF-16).
Regular expressions on interpreted fields (search for numeric ranges or timestamps).
Signature database (magic numbers): auto-detect file types or known container formats.
Entropy-based region detection to find compressed or encrypted regions.

Performance tips:

Use fast algorithms (Boyer–Moore–Horspool) for byte pattern searches.
For very large files, create an index or use a sliding-window approach rather than loading all bytes into memory.
Allow the user to limit search ranges or running searches in the background.

Editing and safety

Editing raw bytes requires safeguards:

Undo/redo: every write goes through a command system that records inverse operations.
Validation: when editing interpreted values (like changing a length field), optionally validate dependent fields or warn about corrupting checksums.
Checkpointing: allow users to save snapshots before risky edits.
Write protection: open files read-only by default and require explicit enable to modify them.

HexBrowser.NET typically provides cell editing and events you can use to hook into a command/validation system.

Annotations, comments, and bookmarks

Annotations transform a hex editor from a passive viewer into an investigative tool.

Attach comments to byte ranges; show short tooltips in the hex grid and full notes in a side pane.
Bookmarks for offsets with tags and colors.
Export/import annotations as JSON so teams can share findings.
Auto-annotations: parsers can add notes like “Invalid checksum” or “Unknown compression detected.”

Extensibility: plugins and scripting

Make your inspector extensible so users can add format support or custom analysis.

Plugin model: load assemblies implementing an IParserPlugin interface. Expose APIs to register parsers, add UI panels, and create context actions.
Scripting: embed a sandboxed scripting engine (Roslyn scripting, Lua or Python) that can read bytes, add annotations, and create UI interactions.
Marketplace: consider a simple plugin repository where users can browse format plugins.

Security considerations:

Run untrusted plugins in restricted AppDomains or use process isolation.
For scripts, restrict file system and network access or require explicit permissions.

Performance and large-file handling

Key techniques to stay responsive:

Memory map files (where supported) or use a chunked loader to avoid copying the entire file into memory.
Virtualized UI: HexBrowser.NET already renders only visible rows; ensure any overlays or parsers also work incrementally.
Background processing: indexing, signature scans, and heavy parses should not block the UI thread.
Throttling: batch model change events to prevent UI thrashing during large edits.

Example implementation steps (high-level)

Create a new .NET application and add HexBrowser.NET control.
Implement IByteModel that wraps file streams with asynchronous read/write and change events.
Bind the byte model to the HexBrowser.NET control.
Implement a basic parser for a simple format (for example, a custom container with a 16-byte header and a table of entries).
Add a structure tree panel that displays parsed nodes; selecting a node highlights the corresponding hex range.
Implement overlays and annotation support using renderer hooks.
Add search panel with hex/text search and background execution.
Implement undo/redo and safe-editing behaviors.
Add plugin loading and a simple scripting console for advanced users.

Example: parsing a simple container (concept)

Assume a file format:

0x00: “CBIN” (4 bytes)
0x04: version (1 byte)
0x05: entryCount (1 byte)
0x06: reserved (2 bytes)
0x08: table — entryCount entries, each 8 bytes: {id:u32, offset:u32}

Parser pseudocode:

if (ReadBytes(0,4) != "CBIN") return; var version = ReadByte(4); var count = ReadByte(5); for (int i=0;i<count;i++) {     var id = ReadUInt32(0x08 + i*8);     var offset = ReadUInt32(0x0C + i*8);     AddNode("Entry "+id, offset, length:/*...*/); }

Each AddNode creates a node in the structure tree and an overlay in the hex view. Expanding a node triggers a lazy parse of the referenced structure at offset.

UX considerations

Keep common tasks one click away: “interpret selection as uint32”, “create bookmark”, “copy bytes as hex”.
Keyboard navigation: go-to-offset, next/previous field, search results navigation.
Accessibility: high-contrast themes, scalable fonts, and screen-reader support for inspectors.
Portable settings: let users export UI layouts, color schemes, and plugin lists.

Testing and validation

Unit tests for parsers using test files and fuzzed inputs.
Integration tests for editing, undo/redo, and annotation persistence.
Performance tests on files ranging from kilobytes to multi-gigabyte memory-mapped files.
Usability testing with users who perform binary analysis or reverse engineering.

Packaging and distribution

Distribute as a standalone desktop app (WinForms/WPF/.NET MAUI) or as a component for other apps.
Provide a CLI tool for batch parsing or signature scanning.
Offer a plugin manager within the app that installs verified plugins.

Summary

Building a binary inspector with HexBrowser.NET is about combining a performant hex grid with robust parsing, visualization, and extensibility. Focus on a modular architecture (byte model, parser layer, UI), background processing for responsiveness, and powerful UX features like annotations, cross-references, and flexible value interpretation. With pluggable parsers and scripting support, your inspector can evolve from a simple viewer into a full analysis platform used by developers, forensic analysts, and reverse engineers alike.