REA

Looking for the GitHub project REA — Reverse Engineer Anything? The upstream REA project is morluto/rea, linked by rea.tools. Start with that project and a narrow question about software you own or are authorized to inspect.

If you meant understanding an ordinary source-code repository, begin with its source, README, and tests. This guide specifically covers the REA tool, not a claim that every GitHub repository needs reverse engineering.

Open the upstream repository · Prepare a first investigation · Configure Claude Code

Independent guide. Sources checked October 23, 2026. We have not installed REA or reproduced its case studies for this page.

What is REA?

REA connects an agent to inspection tools through MCP and also provides command-line workflows. The project README covers JavaScript/Electron applications, native binaries, and other target types. The required analysis tools depend on the target; it is not a universal source-code recovery service.

The project identifies morluto/rea, rea.tools, and the rea-agents npm package as its distribution sources. A fork with a similar README is not proof that its downloads are official.

For connection steps across clients, use the REA MCP guide. To compare the workflow with RevEng.AI, read AI reverse-engineering tools. These answer setup and selection questions separately from this project overview.

Choose the right first target

Do not begin with “clone everything.” Pick a single behavior and a way to check the answer. That makes an investigation easier to review and less likely to confuse a plausible explanation with a recovered fact.

Set up the tool, then restart the selected agent

Review the current runtime requirements and instructions in the installation guide. Its supported setup route is:

npx rea-agents@latest setup

Choose the intended agent, inspect the proposed changes, and approve only that setup plan in your environment. Restart the agent named by setup. Downloading a package and approving configuration changes are separate steps; a native analysis engine may require its own installation and license.

This guide does not execute the command, install software, or configure your agents. For a Claude-specific path, use the Claude REA setup guide.

Your first investigation: explain one CSV export behavior

Use an application you can inspect and a small non-sensitive fixture. The following is an original task template, not a result reported by this site:

Target: My local demo application and its CSV export feature.
Question: How does the export represent a comma, a quote, and a line break?
Scope: Inspect that export path only. Do not change the application yet.
Evidence: Identify the relevant code or observations and their locations.
Check: Compare the explanation with three small records containing those values.
Deliver: Confirmed behavior, evidence, uncertainty, and a proposed next check.

Write down the expected behavior before running the investigation. Keep the exact application build and input fixture with the report. If the agent cannot establish a rule, it should name the missing evidence rather than fill it with a guess.

What a useful report should contain

Only move from explanation to implementation when you understand the rule you want to reproduce. Keep a newly written implementation and its tests separate from the source artifacts used in the investigation.

Look at examples without treating them as your results

The official showcases provide developer-published investigations. Use them to understand the form of evidence and workflow. They are not tests run by this page, and their outcomes do not prove that your application will be supported.

Common setup and analysis problems

For detailed diagnostics, follow the project's installation and scoped readiness guide. Keep private target material out of public issue reports.

Frequently asked questions

Is REA a hosted online reverse-engineering demo?

This page does not upload or analyze files. REA runs in your chosen environment with the tools and agent you configure. Check that agent's data handling as well as REA's behavior.

Does MIT licensing include every external analysis tool?

No. REA's code license does not grant a license for third-party tools or target software. Check the applicable licenses and permissions for the components you actually use.

Can it recover the exact original source?

Do not use that as your acceptance criterion. Aim for an evidence-backed explanation of a specific behavior and, where appropriate, a separately checked implementation.

Where should I go for Claude configuration?

Use the Claude REA guide for client-scoped setup, restart, and first checks.

Open the official installation guide