Side by side
dnSpyEx vs pyOCD
Both stand on debuggers. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxWindows
dnSpyEx combines debugging, decompilation, editing, and assembly analysis at no cost. Its dynamic-method limitation and Wine-based Linux use are important constraints.
Visit dnSpyEx Free plan APILinuxMac+2
pyOCD combines GDB debugging, flash programming, and Python-based device control for Arm Cortex targets. Check the memory-map and device-security limitations for your setup before relying on those features.
Visit pyOCDThe facts
| dnSpyEx | pyOCD | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | pyocd.io |
| On debuggers | #6 of 27 | #10 of 27 |
dnSpyEx: what it does well
- Debugs .NET Framework, .NET, and Unity assemblies
- Edits C#, Visual Basic, and low-level IL
- Includes decompilers, disassembly, and assembly analysis
- Free and GPLv3-licensed
What to know first
- Dynamic methods cannot be debugged
- Linux use is through Wine, not native support
- Unity game debugging also requires the Unity Mono repository
pyOCD: what it does well
- GDB server supports command-line and IDE debugging.
- Programs internal or external flash and loads RAM images.
- Built-in support for more than 70 Cortex-M devices.
- Python API can support CI and custom debug tools.
What to know first
- Requires Python 3.9 or later.
- Remote probe connections are disabled by default.
- Unlocking a locked device can erase all chip data.
- CMSIS-Pack support uses one system memory map for all CPUs.
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