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The decompile-apk tool consists of scripts and various tools. It can provide automated decompilation to produce Java source code and resources from Android APK files that are displayed on a GUI.

Run decompile-apk.sh, pick jadx from the menu, and browse the decompiled source of the WheelView sample app.

jd-gui	jadx
classyshark	bytecode-viewer

Tools

The tools are no longer bundled in this repository. On first use, each script downloads the tool it needs from the official GitHub release and verifies its SHA-256 checksum (see setup.sh).

• Apktool : v3.0.3
• dex2jar : v2.4.38 (the actively maintained fork of pxb1988/dex2jar)
• jd-gui : v1.6.6 (no new release since 2019)
• jadx : v1.5.6
• android-classyshark : v8.2 (archived by Google, no longer maintained)
• bytecode-viewer : v2.13.2

Requirements

• Bash, curl, unzip
• JDK 17 or later (tested with JDK 21)

Platforms

• Mac
• Linux / Unix

Download

decompile-apk

Usage

# optional: download all tools in advance (otherwise they are downloaded on first use)
bash setup.sh

# using integrated tools to decompile apk (recommend)
# dex / jar / aar files are opened with jadx directly
bash decompile-apk.sh *.apk

# using apktool/dex2jar/jd-gui to decompile apk
bash jdgui-apk.sh *.apk

# using jadx to decompile apk, dex, jar or aar
bash jadx-apk.sh *.apk
bash jadx-apk.sh classes.dex
bash jadx-apk.sh library.jar
bash jadx-apk.sh library.aar

# using classyshark to decompile apk
bash classyshark-apk.sh *.apk

# using bytecode-viewer to decompile apk
bash bytecode-viewer.sh *.apk

Summary

• Apktool

  • advantage
    • complete resource files
    • source code in detail
  • disadvantage
    • using more complex, need for a combination of multiple tools
    • cannot better view the APK architecture logic

• classyshark

  • advantage
    • easy to use, just a command line
    • source directory structure is clear, view the entire APK architecture graphically
  • disadvantage
    • source code too simple
    • cannot get resource files

• jadx

  • advantage
    • convenient and quick
    • more perfect GUI interface, with more practical functions
    • decompile code readability is high
  • disadvantage
    • resource files partially missing

• bytecode-viewer

  • advantage
    • support apk, dex, jar, and so on
    • better visual feedback
  • disadvantage
    • analyse file slower

About

venshine.cn@gmail.com

License

Apache 2.0