Smali/Baksmali
Smali/Baksmali is a free developer tool for assembling and disassembling the dex format used by Dalvik, Android's Java VM implementation.
What Smali/Baksmali is
Smali/Baksmali is a free developer tool for assembling and disassembling the dex format used by Dalvik, Android's Java VM implementation. The project supports the full dex format, including annotations, debug information, and line information, and its syntax draws loosely on Jasmin and dedexer. Built in Java, it sets source and target compatibility to Java 8 and publishes smali, baksmali, dexlib2, and util as Maven projects. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with downloads directed to a Bitbucket page. The project wiki identifies v2.5.2 as released on March 2, 2021. Notes for v2.5.0 describe support for Android 11's test-api hidden restriction flag and disassembly of dex identifiers containing spaces. The project uses the BSD 3-Clause license. Its README directs bug reports and feature requests to the GitHub issue tracker and mentions a Freenode channel for questions, without promising an immediate reply. The repository was archived on June 19, 2026 and is read-only. It is a static analysis tool, not a decompiler.
Good
- Supports the full dex format.
- Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Provides smali, baksmali, dexlib2, and util Maven projects.
- Licensed under BSD 3-Clause.
Watch out
- Repository is archived and read-only.
- Latest listed release is dated March 2, 2021.
- Not a decompiler.
Who it suits
It suits developers who need to assemble or disassemble dex files on Linux, macOS, or Windows. Its archived, read-only status is important for anyone considering it for ongoing work.
Verdict
Smali/Baksmali covers dex assembly and disassembly across the listed platforms, with support for annotations and debug information. Its archived status and dated release are key considerations for current projects.
Plans and prices
From Smali/Baksmali's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| smali/baksmali | Free | No paid plans listed |
The facts
Each one read from Smali/Baksmali's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Android support
- The v2.5.0 release notes describe support for Android 11's test-api hidden restriction flag and disassembly of dex identifiers containing spaces.checked 5 Oct 2026
What it does
- Dex functionality
- The project says it supports the full dex format, including annotations, debug information, and line information.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The README directs users to the project's Bitbucket downloads page.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project is built in Java and provides smali, baksmali, dexlib2, and util as Maven publication projects.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Java
- The project build config sets Java source and target compatibility to Java 8.checked 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The build configuration identifies the project license as BSD 3-Clause.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Maintenance status
- GitHub says the repository was archived on June 19, 2026, and is read-only.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- smali/baksmali assembles and disassembles the dex format used by Dalvik, Android's Java VM implementation.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Release
- The project wiki identifies v2.5.2 as released on March 2, 2021.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- The repository page displays zero security and quality alerts.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README directs bug reports, issues, and feature requests to the GitHub issue tracker and mentions the #smali Freenode channel for questions, with no expectation of an instant response.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Syntax
- Its syntax is loosely based on Jasmin's and dedexer's syntax.checked 5 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The GitHub profile identifies the account as Ben Gruver, with the username JesusFreke.checked 5 Oct 2026
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