arcdEx

The full write-up

arcdEx is a Linux command-line utility for examining and extracting assets from Defold game files. It is best suited to developers, preservation-minded researchers, and server or mod communities working specifically with Defold archives. Its focused format coverage is useful, but key-based decryption and the absence of repacking make it an extraction specialist rather than a general archive editor. Overview The tool works with Defold .arcd archives and their related .arci indexes and .dmanifest manifests. You pass an archive and arcdEx guesses the paths to the associated files, matching Defold's expected layout without requiring a broad project-management interface. That focus keeps command usage direct, although unusual layouts may not fit the automatic path assumptions. arcdEx runs as a Java archive with java -jar arcdEx.full.jar . It supports command-line and batch extraction, making it practical for repeatable asset-processing jobs and community tools. It is not a graphical editor or an archive-building application. The project is released under AGPL v3 and credits Christian Weiske as author. Feature requests and bug reports are disabled, while patches are welcome, so users wanting an issue-driven support channel should consider another project. Key features Archive inspection and extraction arcdEx lists the contents of .arcd files and extracts their files, including compressed content. Encrypted entries are supported only when Defold's default encryption key was used. That is sufficient for compatible builds, but archives protected with a different key cannot be decrypted through this tool. Since repacking is unavailable, the workflow ends with inspection and extraction rather than editing an archive and producing a replacement. Textures and Lua The utility can inspect .texturec resources and extract the textures they contain, including Basis UASTC and .basis formats. It also examines compiled .luac files and extracts Lua source where the file contains recoverable source. Defold's build type matters: desktop applications use compiled Lua bytecode, while web projects through Defold 1.3.4 contain Lua source code. Users should therefore expect different results between desktop and web assets. Manifests and multi-part archives The current fork supports manifest version 5, while the original README covers versions 1 through 4; release v0.3.0 specifically adds version 5 support. Defold web games that produce multiple .arcd files must have those archives combined before arcdEx can process them, adding a preparation step to multi-part web workflows. Pricing The arcdEx plan costs free . It includes archive listing and extraction, texture and Lua handling, command-line operation, and batch extraction. There is no paid tier or trial to evaluate; the free plan is the complete offering. For a user who needs a Defold-focused extractor, that removes licensing cost, while teams requiring repacking, alternate-key decryption, or a supported commercial service will need another tool. Platforms arcdEx targets Linux and runs through Java as a JAR. Its command-line design suits Linux workstations, build scripts, and automated processing environments. No desktop graphical interface or other platform target is provided. Who it's for Choose arcdEx for Defold developers diagnosing packaged assets, researchers examining game resources, and communities that need repeatable extraction of archives, textures, or Lua material. It is also a sensible fit for batch jobs where shell invocation is preferable to manual browsing. Look elsewhere if you need to rebuild archives, decrypt files protected with a non-default key, process uncombined multi-part web archives directly, or work primarily on macOS or Windows. Desktop Lua recovery is also less useful when the build contains bytecode rather than source. Pros and cons Pros: Free to use, Linux command-line and batch support, Defold-specific archive/index/manifest handling, texture extraction, Lua inspection, and support spanning manifest versions 1 through 5. Cons: Decryption works only with Defold's default key; archives cannot be repacked; multi-part web archives must be combined first; Java is required; issue requests and bug reports are disabled. Alternatives Game asset extractors is the broader directory starting point when you want to compare tools beyond Defold's formats. Source 2 Viewer is a better match for Source 2 files and offers free, open-source coverage across Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. SLADE3 suits users who want a free desktop editor for Linux, macOS, or Windows, with beta builds carrying the possibility of bugs and unfinished features. OpenKh is preferable for Kingdom Hearts-focused work on Linux, macOS, or Windows, provided you can install the .NET 8.0 Runtime. Rusted PackFile Manager fits pack-file workflows needing Linux, Windows, API, or self-hosted deployment under an MIT license. QuickBMS is the broader free, open-source multiplatform option when your formats extend beyond Defold. UABEA is an alternative free extractor for Linux and Windows. Crowbar is a Windows-only free option with optional donations. Crowbar Game Asset Extractor is another Windows-only free choice with optional donations. Verdict Pick arcdEx when your job is inspecting or batch-extracting Defold archives on Linux, especially when its texture and Lua handling matches the build you have. Its zero price and focused format support are compelling. Look elsewhere when you need archive repacking, non-default-key decryption, direct handling of multi-part web archives, or a graphical, cross-platform workflow.