bbe
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Description:
Sed-like editor for binary files
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 0.2.2@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: binary editor sed cli hex
Install: brew install bbe
About:
bbe (binary block editor) is a command-line utility that operates on binary files similarly to how sed handles text. It allows you to find and replace byte sequences, bit patterns, or specific blocks of data using a stream-oriented approach. This makes it invaluable for editing binaries without needing a hex editor, ideal for patching or data extraction tasks.
Key Features:
  • Stream-based processing for low memory usage
  • Pattern matching for bytes, bits, and strings
  • Support for block-based replacements and insertions
  • Hexadecimal and ASCII input formats
Use Cases:
  • Patching binary executables or firmware images
  • Extracting or modifying specific data blocks from large files
Alternatives:
  • hexedit – Hexedit is an interactive visual hex editor, whereas bbe is non-interactive and scriptable for batch processing.
  • dd – dd is for raw block copying with limited editing capabilities, while bbe offers more flexible pattern-based editing.
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 13, 2025 11:16am 0 VERSION_BUMP 73be1763