{"categories":[{"label":"Utilities","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/utilities/7"},{"label":"Security","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/security/2"},{"label":"Information Analysis","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/scientific-engineering-information-analysis/2"},{"label":"Log Analysis","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/internet-log-analysis"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"Parse binary data using C-like structure definitions, converting raw bytes into typed Python objects and back again.","skillfed_tags":["binary-parsing","forensics","reverse-engineering"],"use_cases":["Parse EXT4 superblocks or other kernel data structures by copying C definitions from Linux source.","Reverse-engineer custom binary file formats by defining their layout and parsing samples.","Handle binary network protocols or file formats where you need bidirectional serialization.","Parse forensic or log data with fixed binary layouts in incident response workflows.","Work with embedded device data or firmware images with known C struct definitions."],"what_it_does":"dissect.cstruct is a binary structure parser that lets you define C-like structures in a simple text format and use them to parse raw binary data into Python objects. It handles common C constructs\u2014basic types, arrays, enums, unions, nested structures, and bit fields\u2014with minimal syntax overhead. You write a structure definition, load it into a parser instance, then call the resulting structure class on binary data (bytes or file-like objects) to get back a Python object with typed fields that you can read, modify, and serialize back to bytes.\n\nThe library is designed for simplicity: no complex syntax, filters, or preprocessing\u2014just straightforward structure parsing. It's particularly useful for reverse-engineering binary file formats, parsing kernel data structures, or handling custom binary protocols where you can reuse structure definitions from existing C codebases with little or no modification. It compiles structures to optimized Python classes by default for better performance.","worth_installing":"Yes. Zero dependencies, active maintenance, stable API, and Apache-2.0 licensing make it a low-risk choice. Install if you need to parse binary data with C-like structures; the straightforward syntax and ability to reuse real C definitions from open-source projects make it significantly more practical than manual struct.unpack() calls for complex formats."},"id":"dissect-cstruct","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/dissect-cstruct","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/dissect-cstruct.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/dissect-cstruct/"},"maintenance":{"status":"active"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2025-11-20","license_spdx":"Apache-2.0","license_treatment":"permissive","name":"dissect.cstruct","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"A Dissect module implementing a parser for C-like structures: structure parsing in Python made easy"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":227946,"position":9162,"tier":"top_15000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"4.7"}