Reko — authorized retargetable decompiler

Last updated: · By the BinBench editorial team · Stars and releases checked via the GitHub API
For legal, authorized and educational use only. Only analyze software you own or have written permission to examine.
Quick answer

Reko (uxmal/reko) is a retargetable decompiler. Release version-0.12.5 (2026-09-29 UTC) was the latest non-prerelease on 2026-10-24. License is GPL-2.0. Analyze only binaries you are authorized to examine.

On this page

Snapshot

FieldValue
LicenseGPL-2.0
Latest checkedversion-0.12.5 (2026-09-29 UTC)
JobRetargetable decompilation + binary analysis
Stars (order of magnitude)~2.6k on GitHub (counts change daily)
PeersGhidra, RetDec, Cutter

Allowed framing

  • Recovering readable structure from your builds or lab samples.
  • Comparing decompiler output quality in a classroom.
  • Batch experiments on authorized corpora with pinned Reko versions.

Scope we will not cover

  • No crackme “auto-solve commercial software” framing.
  • No DRM / license-check bypass recipes.
  • No hosting of proprietary binaries on BinBench.

Beginner path (authorized only)

  1. Prefer a disposable lab VM; snapshot before loading unknown samples.
  2. Install from official uxmal/reko Releases (verify checksums when published).
  3. Start with a tiny binary you compiled, then compare against Ghidra/RetDec notes.
  4. Record architecture, loader options and exact Reko version in case notes.
  5. Keep RetDec vs Ghidra handy when choosing a primary suite.
Which to pick
  • Use Reko when you want a dedicated retargetable decompiler.
  • Prefer Ghidra for most interactive RE projects.
  • Stay inside authorized-use framing.

For legal, authorized and educational use only.

FAQ

What is Reko?

Reko is an open-source retargetable decompiler and binary analysis toolkit that lifts machine code toward higher-level representations across multiple CPU architectures documented upstream.

Which version is cited?

version-0.12.5 published 2026-09-29 UTC on uxmal/reko Releases (latest non-prerelease checked 2026-10-24).

What license applies?

Upstream COPYING is GNU GPL v2; GitHub reports GPL-2.0 (checked 2026-10-24).

Ghidra/RetDec or Reko?

Prefer Ghidra for the broadest interactive suite. Prefer RetDec for many headless LLVM-oriented pipelines. Prefer Reko when you want a dedicated retargetable decompiler project with its own GUI/CLI workflows.

Does this teach cracking commercial apps?

No. Decompile only binaries you own or may examine under authorization.

Sources