hexplore

An interactive TUI for serial debugging and byte-level hardware bring-up.

Features

• Binary-first interaction - Send hex bytes, strings, or mixed payloads
• Live hex + ASCII view - Timestamped RX/TX with scrollable history
• Macros - Save and replay common byte sequences
• Repeat loops - Send commands at intervals for testing
• Session logging - Capture traffic to file
• Mock transports - Test without hardware

Installation

cargo install --path .

Or build from source:

cargo build --release
./target/release/hexplore

Quick Start

# List available ports
hexplore
:ports

# Connect to a serial port
:open /dev/ttyUSB0 115200

# Send hex bytes
aa 55 01 02

# Send a string
"AT+GMR\r\n"

# Mixed payload
aa 55 "hello" 0d 0a

Testing Without Hardware

hexplore
:mock echo           # Echoes back everything you send
:mock pattern 100    # Sends periodic data every 100ms
:mock at             # Simulates an AT command device

Commands

Command	Description
:help	Show help overlay
:ports	List available serial ports
:open <port> [baud]	Open serial port (default: 115200)
:close	Close connection
:baud <rate>	Set baud rate
:cfg	Show current configuration
:clear	Clear the stream view
:quit	Exit hexplore

Mock Transports

Command	Description
:mock echo	Echo back all sent data
:mock pattern <ms>	Send periodic test data
:mock at	Simulate AT command device

Macros

Command	Description
:macro <name> = <cmd>	Define a macro
:<name>	Run a macro
:macros	List all macros
:unmacro <name>	Delete a macro

Repeat

Command	Description
:repeat <n|forever> <interval> <cmd>	Repeat a command
:stop	Stop repeating

Logging

Command	Description
:log <path>	Set log file path
:capture on|off	Start/stop capture

Send Syntax

Input without : is treated as data to send.

Format	Example	Description
Hex bytes	aa 55 01	Space-separated
Hex pairs	aa55	Concatenated (even length)
Hex prefix	0xAA 0x55	With 0x prefix
Strings	"hello\r\n"	Quoted with escapes
Mixed	aa "hi" 0d 0a	Combine freely

Supported escapes: \r \n \t \xNN \\ \"

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
Ctrl+C / Ctrl+D	Quit
Up / Down	Command history
PgUp / PgDown	Scroll stream
ESC	Clear input / close help

License

MIT