Side by side
Crowbar vs w3m
Both stand on game asset extractors. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Windows
Crowbar combines model decompiling with archive and Workshop tools for GoldSource and Source projects. Check the tool requirements first if you need to compile or view models.
Visit Crowbar Free plan Open source Linux
Choose w3m if you want a free, open-source pager that can also browse HTML in text mode, especially on Linux. Its documented build requires the GC library, and the project identifies poor online manuals as a current problem.
Visit w3mThe facts
| Crowbar | w3m | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Windows | Linux |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | steamcommunity.com | github.com |
| On game asset extractors | #6 of 24 | #2 of 24 |
Crowbar: what it does well
- Free plan; no paid plans are stated.
- Unpacks, views, and searches several game archive formats.
- Supports batch extraction and archive repacking.
- Can download and publish Workshop items for several games.
- Windows file associations and drag-and-drop are supported.
What to know first
- Model compiling requires game authoring tools or an SDK.
- Model viewing also requires game authoring tools or an SDK.
- Requires .NET Framework 4.
- Windows XP or later is listed; other systems need a way to run .NET Framework.
w3m: what it does well
- Free and open source, with a listed price of $0.
- Reads HTML and lets users follow links.
- Can open images through an external image viewer.
- Turns URL descriptions in plain text into links.
- Permits use, modification, and redistribution with copyright notices included.
What to know first
- The documentation identifies poor online manuals as a current problem.
- Building on MS-Windows requires Cygwin and development tools.
- The installation process requires the GC library.
- The GitHub releases page has no releases.