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Rea overview and supported analysis
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<div align="center">
**English** · [简体中文](docs/readme/README_zh.md) · [繁體中文](docs/readme/README_zh-TW.md) · [日本語](docs/readme/README_ja.md) · [한국어](docs/readme/README_ko.md) · [Türkçe](docs/readme/README_tr.md) · [Русский](docs/readme/README_ru.md) · [Tiếng Việt](docs/readme/README_vi.md) · [ไทย](docs/readme/README_th.md) · [Deutsch](docs/readme/README_de.md) · [Español](docs/readme/README_es.md) · [Français](docs/readme/README_fr.md) · [Українська](docs/readme/README_uk.md) · [Polski](docs/readme/README_pl.md) · [Português (Brasil)](docs/readme/README_pt-BR.md) · [العربية](docs/readme/README_ar.md) · [فارسی](docs/readme/README_fa.md) · [Bahasa Indonesia](docs/readme/README_id.md) · [Italiano](docs/readme/README_it.md)
· [Ελληνικά](docs/readme/README_el.md)
# REA: Reverse Engineer Anything
### One MCP for reverse engineering across binaries, applications, and runtime behavior.
**See a feature you like. Understand how it works, down to the binary level.**
[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/rea-agents)
[](docs/mcp-contracts.md#generated-catalog)
[](#what-you-can-analyze)
[](https://skills.sh/morluto/rea/reverse-engineer-anything)
[](LICENSE)
[](https://discord.gg/GkcryMnJDM)
<a href="https://trendshift.io/repositories/82054?utm_source=repository-badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=badge-repository-82054" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://trendshift.io/api/badge/repositories/82054" alt="morluto%2Frea | Trendshift" width="250" height="55"/></a>
**[Website](https://rea.tools/) · [Guides](https://rea.tools/guides/) · [Showcases](https://rea.tools/showcase/)**
[Quick start](#quick-start) · [How REA works](#how-rea-works) · [What you can analyze](#what-you-can-analyze) · [Showcases](#showcases) · [FAQ](#faq) · [Documentation](#documentation)
<code>npx rea-agents setup</code>
</div>
> [!IMPORTANT]
> Get REA from [morluto/rea](https://github.com/morluto/rea),
> [rea.tools](https://rea.tools/), or the [rea-agents npm package](https://www.npmjs.com/package/rea-agents).
> Follow the installation and release links from these official sources. A similar
> repository name or copied README does not establish that a download is official.
<div align="center">
<br />
<img src="docs/assets/rea-hopper-analysis.png" alt="REA launching its analysis bridge inside Hopper while inspecting a native binary" width="1200" />
<br /><br />
<table aria-label="REA community">
<tr>
<td align="center" width="360">
<a href="https://discord.gg/GkcryMnJDM">
<img src="docs/assets/discord.svg" height="42" alt="Discord" /><br />
<strong>Join the Reverse Engineering Community</strong>
</a><br />
<sub>Discord · Q&A · Show and Tell</sub>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br />
</div>
---
See a feature in an app that you want in your own product? Ask your agent to investigate it with REA. It can inspect the app without its source code, explain how the feature works, show the evidence, and build a version for your project.
REA connects your agent to tools for inspecting native binaries, JavaScript and Electron apps, .NET assemblies, and websites. You can also use the same tools from your terminal. Analysis runs locally, and results include the evidence and limitations behind each conclusion.
Setup registers REA with your agent and installs matching workflow instructions. Native analysis can use an existing Hopper, Ghidra, or IDA installation; setup can optionally install Hopper with approval. Static JavaScript analysis needs no native analysis engine.
> **[Visit the REA website](https://rea.tools/)** for setup instructions, illustrated guides, and real case studies.
## Quick start
On Linux, Ghidra, JADX, firmware tool launches and static JavaScript/Electron
analysis require a procps-compatible `ps` on REA's `PATH` for process ownership
checks. Recovery steps are in `docs/installation.md` under
"Linux owned-process prerequisite".
### Set up your agent
With Node.js and npm installed, run:
```bash
npx rea-agents setup
```
Choose your agents, review the proposed changes, and approve them. Setup adds
REA's MCP server and matching workflow instructions, with backups of existing
configuration. Restart your agent afterward.
Setup supports Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Grok Build and
[other agents](docs/installation.md#supported-agents). See
[installation and setup](docs/installation.md) for provider configuration and
manual MCP registration.
### Ask your agent
```text
Understand how search works in the Notes app, show me the evidence, and build a
similar feature for my project.
```
Replace Notes with your target app and the feature you want to understand.
### Use the terminal
Inspect an extracted JavaScript/Electron app directory or ASAR:
```bash
npx -y rea-agents@latest analyze-javascript-application /absolute/path/to/app --json
```
The result includes modules, imports, Electron boundaries and their evidence.
Replace the path with your target, such as `"D:/apps/example"` on Windows.
To install the `rea` command for regular use:
```bash
npm install --global rea-agents
rea --help
```
For native analysis, configure a provider first. See the
[CLI and Evidence guide](docs/cli.md) for native commands, provider selection,
snapshots and scripting.
### Update REA
REA changes quickly, and new releases include frequent bug fixes. Keep your
installation up to date.
For a CLI installed with `npm install --global` or `bun add --global`:
```bash
rea update
```
Bun global updates require Bun 1.2.17 or later. With an older Bun release,
upgrade Bun manually before running `rea update`.
To refresh your agent registrations and skill, run the setup command printed
by the update.
If you use `npx`, update your agent setup with:
```bash
npx rea-agents@latest setup
```
Review the setup changes and restart your agent. For one-off CLI commands,
use `npx rea-agents@latest` followed by the command. With Bun, use
`bunx rea-agents@latest` in place of `npx rea-agents@latest`.
## How REA works
Your agent calls REA through MCP to inspect the target and trace relevant code.
REA returns findings with their evidence. The agent uses them to ask follow-up
questions, explain the behavior, or write and test an implementation.
CLI commands use the same workflows.
[Open the full-size figure](website/public/assets/figures/rea-investigation-flow.svg).
<a id="current-status"></a>
## What you can analyze
REA requires Node.js 22.x (>=22.19), 24.x (>=24.11), or 26+, plus npm.
Additional tools and host support depend on the target:
| Target | What REA returns | Requirements and guide |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Native binaries | Pseudocode, assembly, strings, symbols, calls and references | Hopper, Ghidra or IDA; [native analysis](docs/native-investigation.md) |
| Offline ELF layout | Sections, segments, original symbols/relocations and static mitigation candidates | Caller-supplied pwntools on Linux x64; [binary diagnostics](docs/binary-diagnostics.md) |
| Go binaries | Embedded compiler version, modules, replacements and build settings | Built-in static ELF/PE/thin Mach-O inspection; no Go installation required |
| Rust binaries | Embedded cargo-auditable crate names, versions, sources and dependency edges | Built-in static ELF/PE/thin Mach-O inspection; [Rust binaries](docs/rust-binaries.md) |
| WASM artifact | Validation, sections, exact import/export WAT forms and decoded WAT | Caller-supplied WABT 1.0.42; `inspect_wasm_artifact` |
| EVM bytecode | Dispatch selectors, byte offsets, inferred arguments and mutability | Local raw/hex carrier on Linux x64; [offline EVM guide](docs/evm-bytecode.md) |
| SQLite databases | Tables, columns, indexes, views, triggers and selected ordinary-table rows | Local database/WAL snapshot; Node.js 24.x >=24.15 or 26+ with native SQLite limits |
| Recorded Linux crashes | Raw notes, every recorded thread's registers/signals and optional mapping candidates | Caller-supplied pwntools on Linux x64; optional GDB/pwndbg; [recorded crashes](docs/recorded-crashes.md) |
| JavaScript / Electron | Modules, imports, source maps, routes, IPC and native add-on relationships | Node.js and npm; Linux: procps-compatible `ps`; [application analysis](docs/javascript-application-workflows.md) |
| Websites | Page structure, scripts, network observations and requested screenshots | A Chrome-family browser; [browser analysis](docs/browser-observation.md) |
| Saved network captures | Requests, responses, exposed payloads and source locations | HAR or Fiddler Everywhere SAZ; mitmdump on Linux for native mitmproxy; [capture guide](docs/web-network-captures.md) |
| .NET assemblies | Metadata, CIL instructions, declared native dependencies and build comparisons | None (static only); [managed-code guide](docs/managed-code-analysis.md) |
| Android APKs | Manifest declarations, classes, decompiled methods and references | Headless JADX and a full JDK on Linux/macOS/Windows x64; [Android guide](docs/android-analysis.md) |
| Android devices | Devices, packages, processes, logs, dumps, screen captures, and APK/file transfers | Caller-supplied adb (emulator or hardware); [ADB guide](docs/adb-device-analysis.md) |
| JEB projects | Engine-backed project units, artifact digests and type/method pseudo-code | A caller-started JEB client serving MCP, selected with REA_JEB_MCP_URL; [JEB guide](docs/jeb-analysis.md) |
| Android resources | Decoded manifest, string tables, locales and version facts | Caller-supplied Apktool launcher; [resource guide](docs/apktool-resource-analysis.md) |
| Flutter apps | Dart snapshot hash, per-ABI library digests and engine build provenance | None (static APK parsing); [Flutter guide](docs/flutter-analysis.md) |
| Firmware | Regions, extraction results and native-analysis handoffs | Binwalk / Unblob on Linux; [firmware guide](docs/firmware-analysis.md) |
| Recorded packets | Selected fields, repeated values, filters and decode-as rules | Linux: TShark 4.x + prlimit; [capture guide](docs/packet-captures.md) |
| Packet summaries | Endpoints, DNS, TLS SNI, protocol distribution and HTTP requests | Caller-supplied tshark and capinfos (Linux-verified); [pcap guide](docs/pcap-analysis.md) |
| Recorded logic signals | Decoder annotations, sample ranges and diagnostics | Linux: sigrok-cli 0.7.2 + prlimit; [signal recordings](docs/signal-recordings.md) |
| Packages and resources | File inventories, digests, plists, Apple bundle anatomy and extracted resources | [Artifact and JavaScript guide](docs/javascript-artifact-reconstruction.md), [Apple applications](docs/apple-application-analysis.md) |
| Process behavior | Terminal output, interactions, exit and filesystem observations, and run comparisons | Linux/macOS with a native PTY; [process capture](docs/process-capture.md) |
Static JavaScript and .NET inspection read the supplied files without running
the application. Runtime capture runs or interacts with the selected target
using your user permissions; each runtime guide describes its effects.
For offline native-binary inspection, REA also supports caller-supplied GNU
objdump and Rizin. See the [reverse-engineering tools guide](docs/reverse-engineering-tools.md)
for provider setup, CLI commands, and Evidence limitations. REA does not install
or update either provider.
<a id="choosing-a-deep-analysis-provider"></a>
Native formats and host support vary by provider. See
[Hopper and Ghidra setup](docs/installation.md#hopper), the
[IDA guide](docs/ida-provider.md) (including an optional native MCP bridge), the
[Kuna decompiler guide](docs/kuna-provider.md), and
[experimental Windows Ghidra support](docs/windows-ghidra-p0.md).
Ghidra also supports [16-bit DOS analysis](docs/ghidra-dos.md).
For large binaries, raise the provider's startup deadline with
`REA_GHIDRA_STARTUP_TIMEOUT_MS` or `REA_HOPPER_STARTUP_TIMEOUT_MS`.
For provider selection, see the [CLI guide](docs/cli.md#choose-a-provider).
Check [release availability](docs/installation.md#released-package-and-main)
for features added since the latest npm release.
## Showcases
[](https://rea.tools/showcase/)
### DX-Ball: reconstruct a sound-pan calculation
Follow a sound call into its position-to-pan helper, inspect the instructions,
and turn incomplete pseudocode into C. The reconstruction passes 3,205
original-x86 cases and reproduces all 63 compiled function bytes.
[Read the case study](https://rea.tools/showcase/dx-ball/) ·
[Reconstruction repository](https://github.com/N0zoM1z0/dx-ball)
### Notion: trace the Electron clipboard bridge
Find the renderer's clipboard API, follow it through preload and IPC into the
main process, and inspect the rich clipboard format.
[Read the case study](https://rea.tools/showcase/notion/)
### TH04: recover a DOS bullet-ring calculation
Inspect the original PC-98 game's 16-bit instructions, recover the fixed and
aimed angle calculations, and compare the reconstructed C++ with the
historical compiler output.
[Read the case study](https://rea.tools/showcase/th04/) ·